#ichthyodectidae

[mesozoicmarket]

A fossilized fish tooth of a Xiphactinus vetus or X-fish from the Blufftown Formation in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The species of X-fish was originally misidentified as a mosasaur under the species, Polygonodon vetus. Xiphactinus vetus can be distinguished from Xiphactinus audax from the prominent carinae and cross-section shape.

[ildarotyrannus]

Reconstruction of Xiphactinus audax from 2021. Yes, that was the time when I drew a fish. This large (up to 5-6 meters) actinopterygian fish was previously known as Porteus molossus. Its characteristic feature is the forward-thrust lower jaw, which gives a resemblance to a bulldog. Several Xiphactinus specimens have been preserved with the ingested prey inside (in one case 4,2 m. individual swallowed 1,9 m. Gillicus). They could have died because of the resistance of the victims, which led to ruptures of internal organs. Done with ballpoint pen, colored pencils and watercolors.

[palaeornithology]

Xiphactinus audax, one of the largest bony fish ever discovered, floating in the calm of the Western Interior Seaway 85 million years ago.  It looks better in full view, I promise