Fossil Tooth of Enchodus Fish – Morocco
Locality: Morocco
Weight: 179,5g
Dimensions: 8,2 x 6,7 x 3,6 cm
Tooth size: 3,3 x 3,3 cm
| Category: | Fish and cartilaginous fish |
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Fossil tooth of Enchodus fish – saber-toothed predator from the Mesozoic
The fish Enchodus is an extinct genus of bony fish, often referred to as a “saber-toothed herring”. However, it appears to be more closely related to salmon. It is characterized by the presence of large teeth on the front part of the upper and lower jaws.
The shape of the teeth is ideal for biting into small slippery prey such as fish, octopuses, etc., or for catching and impaling prey, which is then consumed through rapid jaw opening and closing. These teeth, together with a long elegant body and large eyes, suggest that Enchodus was a predatory fish species.
The largest individuals reached a length of 1.5 meters and their teeth measured over 6 cm. Although Enchodus was an impressive predator, it stood on a lower level of the food chain. It was commonly preyed upon by sharks, marine lizards and reptiles, and sometimes even by large seabirds.
This genus of fish survived the end of the age of dinosaurs and its fossils have been found almost worldwide, most often as teeth, and sometimes as parts of the skull or jaws.