Leedsichthys
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| Leedsichthys Fossil range: Middle Jurassic |
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 Leedsichthys problematicus & Liopleurodon; Ammonite in background.
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| Leedsichthys problematicus |
Leedsichthys problematicus was a giant pachycormid (an extinct group of bony fish) that lived in the oceans of the Middle Jurassic period (Liston, 2004). Unfortunately, although fossils have been found, no one has ever found a complete spine, so its exact size is uncertain. Older estimates have ranged from 18–30 m (60–100 ft) long, with more recent ones suggesting it would have grown to around 16–22 m (54–72 ft) long making it the largest fish to have ever existed. However, the most recent estimate places it at roughly 9 m long [1]. Its closest living relative is the bowfin.
Like the largest fish today, the whale shark, L. problematicus ate only plankton that it filtered out of the water with filter plates in its mouth and gills. Experts suspect that, despite its large size, L. problematicus would have been easy prey for large Jurassic predators such as Liopleurodon, as it is thought to have been slow-moving.
The name Leedsichthys means "Leeds's fish", after fossil collector Alfred Leeds, who discovered it in 1889 near Peterborough, England. The fossils found by Leeds and other Leedsichthys fossils found in Germany gave the fish the species epithet problematicus, because it would have been so enormous that there was great difficulty in imagining that such a tremendous beast existed.
[edit] References
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This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. |
- Liston, J. (2004). An overview of the pachycormiform Leedsichthys. In: G. Arratia & A. Tintori (eds.) Mesozoic Fishes 3 – Systematics, Paleoenvironments and Biodiversity. pp. 379–390.
- "Biggest Fish Ever Found" Unearthed in U.K. National Geographic News. Published October 1, 2003.
- [2]. Most comprehensive overview of Leedsichthys, see further references within for further details.
- Haines, Tim & Chambers, Paul. (2006)The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd.
