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Pycnodus
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<p><i>Pycnodus</i> is an <a href="/facts/Extinct/24p5NP2q">extinct</a> <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> of <a href="/facts/Actinopterygii/3PNaXXmJ">ray-finned fish</a> from the <a href="/facts/Eocene/EYgI8Uco">Eocene</a> period. It is <a href="/facts/Wastebasket_taxon/tSBLEgRv">wastebasket taxon</a>, although many fossils from <a href="/facts/Jurassic/o5Cy4KzX">Jurassic</a> or <a href="/facts/Cretaceous/nwKtFtKx">Cretaceous</a> are assigned to this genus, only Eocene species, <i>P. apodus</i> is valid. As its name suggests, it is the <a href="/facts/Type_genus/vKbAuKph">type genus</a> of <a href="/facts/Pycnodontiformes/3Bl1HLmP">Pycnodontiformes</a>. </p> <p>The known whole fossils of <i>Pycnodus</i> are up to 30.6 centimetres (10 in) long, and have a superficial resemblance to <a href="/facts/Pomacanthidae/TnVKds1n">angelfish</a> or <a href="/facts/Butterflyfish/xlC5GhWA">butterflyfish</a>. The animals, as typical of all other pycnodontids, had many knob-like teeth, forming pavements in the jaws with which to break and crush hard food substances, probably mollusks and echinoderms. These teeth are the most common form of fossil. </p><p>Valid species of <i>Pycnodus</i> is only known from <a href="/facts/Monte_Bolca/0JCDrmux">Monte Bolca Lagerstätte</a> in <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a>, however <a href="/facts/Fossils/by7NzIA1">fossils</a> that were assigned to <i>Pycnodus</i> have been found in present-day <a href="/facts/India/1kKHcnxM">India</a>, <a href="/facts/North_Africa/ItxQAfs7">North Africa</a>, <a href="/facts/Belgium/YKuMXP5j">Belgium</a>, <a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL">England</a>, regions corresponding with the <a href="/facts/Tethys_Ocean/X2b2FIu3">Tethys Ocean</a>. A specimen of the prehistoric whale, <i><a href="/facts/Basilosaurus/S7dLTWP7">Basilosaurus</a> isis</i>, was found in the Eocene-aged <a href="/facts/Wadi_El_Hitan/N5Bl58Bz">Wadi El Hitan</a> with stomach contents of its last meals, including a large specimen of the species <i>P. mokattamensis</i> along with skeletons of a smaller whale called <i><a href="/facts/Dorudon/cYIbufgy">Dorudon</a></i>. </p> <ul> <li>Paleontology portal</li></ul>