Ichthyodectes

Ik-fee-o-dek-tees.
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Ichthyodectes.

Phonetic

Ik-fee-o-dek-tees.

Named By

Edward Drinker Cope‭ ‬-‭ ‬1870.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Actinopterygii,‭ ‬Ichthyodectidae,‭ ‬Ichthyodectinae.

Diet

Piscivore/Carnivore.

Species

I.‭ ‬ctenodon‭

Size

Up to‭ ‬4‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Canada,‭ ‬Manitoba‭ ‬-‭ ‬Vermilion River Formation,‭ ‬Saskatchewan‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ashville Formation.‭ ‬USA,‭ ‬Alabama‭ ‬-‭ ‬Mooreville Chalk Formation,‭ ‬Texas‭ ‬-‭ ‬Eagle Ford Formation,‭ ‬Wyoming‭ ‬-‭ ‬Pierre Shale Formation.

Time Period

Cenomnanian through to the Campanian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

‭Many individuals.

In Depth

       Like with relative genera such as Gillicus and Xiphactinus,‭ ‬Ichthyodectes would have been a key predator in the waters of the Western Interior Seaway,‭ ‬the shallow sea that submerged the central portion of North America during the Cretaceous.‭ ‬Ichthyodectes had a long body similar to that of a modern day barracuda and was well adapted for efficient high speed cruising,‭ ‬as well as bursts of intense speed.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Another Sternberg‭ “‬Fish-within-a-Fish‭” ‬Discovery:‭ ‬First Report of Ichthyodectes ctenodon‭ (‬Teleostei‭; ‬Ichthyodectiformes‭) ‬with Stomach Contents.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science‭ ‬113‭(‬3‭ & ‬4‭)‬:197-205.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Michael J.‭ ‬Everhart,‭ ‬Scott A.‭ ‬Hageman‭ & ‬Brian L.‭ ‬Hoffman‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

Adopt A Species
prehistoric-wildlife new logo

Love this species?

Adopt it today!

(UPDATED!)

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

spinosaurus