Info: Enchodus lybicus

Enchodus lybicus

Origin : Morocco (Khouribga)

Geological era : Late Cretaceous (Mastrichtian)

Age : 70 million of years

 fossil tooth of bony fish,  from deposits of Khouribga in Morocco.


Enchodus is an extinct genus of bony fish. It flourished during the Upper Cretaceous and was small to medium in size. One of the genus most notable attributes are the large fangs at the front of the upper and lower jaws and on the palatine bones, leading to its misleading nickname among fossil hunters and paleoichthyologists, "the saber-toothed herring". These fangs, along with a long sleek body and large eyes, suggest Enchodus was a predatory species.

The largest-known species of Enchodus is E. petrosus, remains of which are common in many geological formations deposited. Large individuals of this species had fangs measuring 6+ cm in length, though the total body length was only about 1.5 meters, giving its skull an appearance somewhat reminiscent of modern deep-sea fishes, such as anglerfish and viperfish. 
 Enchodus survived the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event and persisted at least into the Eocene. It was found allover the world.