Fauna
Species

Enchodus gladiolus

Enchodus gladiolus

Also known as Saber-Toothed Herring, Sabre-Toothed Herring

Equipped with enormous, dagger-like fangs projecting from the jaws, this small predator darted through the sunlit epipelagic zones of ancient epicontinental seaways. The disproportionately long anterior teeth interlocked outside the mouth when closed, allowing it to snag slick, agile prey like soft-bodied cephalopods and small fish. While an efficient mid-water hunter, its abundant numbers made it a vital forage fish for the gargantuan marine reptiles and apex predatory sharks of the Cretaceous Period.

CarnivorousPrehistoric
Enchodus gladiolus reference
MCDinosaurhunter / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySmall teleost fish, Belemnites, Squid
Predators
  • Xiphactinus audax
  • Tylosaurus proriger
  • Cretoxyrhina mantelli
ThreatsMarine food web disruption and Late Cretaceous mass extinction
HabitatsWarm shallow epicontinental seaways and open ocean waters
Life spanEstimated 5–10 years
Classification
  1. FamilyDorypteridae
  2. SpeciesEnchodus gladiolus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Extinct species; harmless to observe as fossil specimens.
Responsible observation
  • Fossil Identification: Look for slender, slightly curved tooth crowns with distinct cutting ridges in Cretaceous chalk exposures.
  • Museum Viewing: Examine prepared skulls in paleontology galleries to see the exaggerated palatine fangs set into the upper jaw.
Related species
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