3.7" Ichthyodectes Fish Fossil Bones In Matrix Late Cretaceous Era Niobrara FM Kansas

Location: Niobrara Formation, Gove County, Kansas

Weight: 4.7 Ounces 

Dimensions: 3.7 Inches Long, 3.4 Inches Wide, 1.3 Inches Thick

Late Cretaceous, 83 million years old

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Ichthyodectes is an extinct genus of large, predatory ray-finned fish from the Late Cretaceous. Specifically, Ichthyodectes sp. refers to an unidentified species within this genus found in the Niobrara Formation, Kansas. This formation is a notable geological unit in North America, famous for its well-preserved marine vertebrate fossils, including various fish, mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and birds. Belonging to the family Ichthyodectidae, Ichthyodectes species were successful marine predators with streamlined bodies, powerful tails, and large, sharp teeth, ideal for catching prey. The fossils from the Niobrara suggest these fish were prominent apex predators in the Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland sea covering much of central North America during the Late Cretaceous. Fossil remains, often comprising articulated skeletons with skulls, vertebrae, and fins, provide insight into their anatomy, feeding behavior, and ecological role. The presence of Ichthyodectes in this formation indicates a thriving marine environment capable of supporting large predatory fish.