An article published in the “Journal of Paleontology” describes the discovery of what might have been a top predator at the beginning of the Triassic period, between 252 and 247 million years ago. Named Birgeria americana, this fish was long probably less than 2 meters (about 6′) but after the great extinction of the end of the Permian it was perhaps at the apex of the food chain in its ecosystem.