Eurypholis Cretaceous Viper Fish Fossil

Description: Eurypholis is betrayed as a predator by its wide gape and needle sharp teeth, allowing it to easily engulf smaller prey fish. The slender shape would allow it to cut through the water easily in pursuit of smaller fish. Indeed, several examples have been preserved with fish in the gut, indicative of its predatory lifestyle. The flanks carry a line of large bony scales, readily visible in the accompanying photos. This genus went extinct by the Upper Cretaceous. The repaired crack does little to intrude upon the impressive nature of this specimen.