Fish
Rhizodus hibberti
Rhizodus hibbertiRhizodus hibberti was an apex aquatic predator that prowled freshwater lakes, rivers, and equatorial coal swamps during the Early Carboniferous. Propelled by powerful, muscular paired fins and an elongated body, it ambushed prey with massive tusk-like teeth that exceeded 20 centimeters in length. Pectoral fin anatomy indicates it possessed robust internal skeletal supports capable of lunging onto shorelines or shallow flats to seize early land-dwelling tetrapods.
CarnivorePrehistoricFreshwater
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyEarly tetrapods, Palaeoniscoid fish, Xenacanthid sharks
ThreatsExtinct; likely affected by climatic shifts and swamp contraction during the Carboniferous
HabitatsCarboniferous tropical freshwater swamps, oxbow lakes, and river systems
Life spanUnknown (estimated several decades based on growth rings in scales and teeth)
Classification
- FamilyRhizodontidae
- GenusRhizodus
- SpeciesRhizodus hibberti
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Extinct fossil species; fossils are completely safe to examine.
Responsible observation
- Museum observation: Inspect fossil jaw fragments in museum collections to view the deeply rooted tusks.
- Fossil handling: Support matrix slabs carefully with two hands as Carboniferous shale splits easily.
Image unavailableNeighbor 
Distantly Related Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Close Relative ДиБгд / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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