Eubiodectes libanicus
Class Actinopterygii, Infraclass Teleostei, Order Ichthyodectiformes, Family Ichthyodectidae
Geological Time: Middle Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~95 million years ago)
Size (25.4mm=1 inch): 610 mm in length on a 640 mm by 260 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Lebanese Lagerstatt, Hajoula, Lebanon
Fossil Code: RNF01
Price: $7500.00
 Description:
This is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a predatory fish
known as Eubiodectes libanicus. The species derives its name from
Lebanon, and was a member of the Ichthyodectiformes, a group of predatory
fish that arose during the Middle Jurassic. The most famous ichthyodectiforms
were the gigantic ( 5 meters in length) examples from the Late Cretaceous
of North America such as Xiphactinus. Its predatory nature was well
evidenced by several examples of the species that were preserved with
entire prey fish enclosed within the body cavity. My favorite is the
famous Fish-Within-A-Fish on display at the Sternberg Museum in Hays,
Kansas which has a 2 meter long Gillicus preserved within a 4 meter
Xiphactinus. This fine example of Eubiodectes shows the slender shape
of a pursuit predator, and is well-displayed on a large matrix plate
that would grace the wall of any private collector or museum. Like
all the icthyodectids, it went extinct in the terminal Cretaceous
extinction event which saw the passing of the non-avian dinosaurs. |
