Dastilbe elongatus Silva-Santos, 1947

Dastilbe elongatus is an extinct species of prehistoric bony fish, a gonorrhynchiform that lived during the Early Cretaceous (about 120 million years ago) in South America and Africa, known for its well-preserved fossils found primarily in Brazil (Santana Formation). This small fish, typically measuring a few centimeters, was likely a carnivorous predator (cannibal) and an anadromous fish, capable of living in both fresh and brackish water, and fed on other small fish.

Main characteristics:

Period: Early Cretaceous (Aptian).

Habitat: Fresh and brackish water, with finds in South America (Brazil) and Africa.

Diet: Carnivorous, it fed on small fish and could practice cannibalism.

Size: Generally between 25 and 60 mm, but could reach up to 150 mm.

Family: A primitive relative of modern milkfish.

Importance: Fairly common in Brazilian fossil deposits, such as the Santana Formation, although adult specimens are rarer.