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Encodus libycus lived during the Late Cretaceous (Maastichtian Stage), about 68 million years ago. The tooth was found in the Kem Kem phosphate pits of Khouribga, Morocco.
Encodus libycus is an extinct salmon-like fish. It has been nicknamed "the saber-toothed herring," but is not related to modern herring. Equipped with these formidable fangs, a sleek body, and large eyes suggests that it was a predator. Endodus occupied an intermediate position in the food chain, feeding on smaller predators and planktonic feeders. It was then fed upon by larger predators like sharks, mosasaurs and other marine reptiles.
Encodus was widespread and different species have been found across most of the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Actinopterygii, Subclass: Neopterygii, Order: Salmoniformes, Suborder: Encodontoidei, Family: Encodontidae, Genus: Encodus, Species: libycus.
Encodus libycus
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