How did Dunkleosteus get outcompeted?
Secondarily, Dunkleosteus and its fellow placoderms may have been out-competed by smaller, sleeker bony fish and sharks, which went on to dominate the world's oceans for tens of millions of years thereafter, until the advent of the marine reptiles of the Mesozoic Era.
What parts of Dunkleosteus have been fossilized?
Mainly the armored frontal sections of specimens have been fossilized, and consequently, the appearance of the other portions of the fish is mostly unknown. In fact, only about 5% of Dunkleosteus specimens have more than a quarter of their skeleton preserved.
Was Dunkleosteus a predator or prey?
The predators of the animal kingdom in those prehistoric times were oftentimes much more menacing than the ones that exist today, and the giant fish known as Dunkleosteus was no exception.
Was Dunkleosteus the smallest dinosaur?
Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America." The marine animals of the Devonian period, over 100 million years before the first dinosaurs, tended to be small and meek, but Dunkleosteus was the exception that proved the rule.
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When did Dunkleosteus extinct?
–358 million years agoDunkleosteus is an extinct genus of large armored, jawed fishes that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 382–358 million years ago....Dunkleosteus.Dunkleosteus Temporal range: Late Devonian (Frasnian to Famennian),Genus:†Dunkleosteus Lehman, 1956Type species†Dinichthys terrelli Newberry, 1873Species15 more rows
What hunted the Dunkleosteus?
The top predators in the marine environment were the newly evolved primitive sharks and the armour plated Placoderms such as Dunkleosteus. The model in the picture is a Wild Safari Dinos Dunkleosteus model. Dunkleosteus was a huge prehistoric fish with an armoured head and thorax made up of several interlocking plates.
Is it possible for the Dunkleosteus to still be alive?
A 400 million-year-old Dunkleosteus was found alive and well over the weekend in the quarry of Rockport State Recreation Area. A scientist takes weight and measurements.
What preyed on Dunkleosteus?
Dunkleosteus grew up to 33 feet long and was the largest of a group of armor-plated predatory fish, the placoderms. The top ocean predator of the time, its prey could have included early sharks, large nautiluslike mollusks, arthropods and other placoderms, Westneat says.
What fish did Dunkleosteus eat?
Dunkleosteus lacked true teeth, instead it had two long bony blades that could snap and crush almost anything. Pigment cells suggest Dunkleosteus had dark colours on its back and was silvery on its belly. This fish was anything but picky with its food. It ate fish, sharks and even its own kind.
Did the Dunkleosteus have gills?
The only animal that had the jaw power to do that in that (Devonian) environment was an adult Dunkleosteus.” Hall saw what seems to be a pattern in the wounds in the three specimens. They're concentrated in the area immediately behind Dunkleosteus' jaw hinge, where its gills were.
Is the Dunkleosteus a shark?
Fierce prehistoric predator Up to 20 feet in length and weighing more than 1 ton, this arthrodire fish was capable of chopping prehistoric sharks into chum! Dunkleosteus had a massive skull made of thick, bony plates, and 2 sets of fang-like protrusions near the front of powerful, self-sharpening jawbones.
Is the MEG real?
The Meg was real and it was absolutely massive, scientists say | Metro News.
What was the biggest Dunkleosteus?
Dunkleosteus terrelliThe largest species was eventually named Dunkleosteus terrelli in honor of Dunkle and Terrell. Size: Giant: Around 8 meters (26 feet)! Dunkleosteus terrelli was the largest species and was most likely the largest fish in the Devonian!
Why did armored fish go extinct?
It was thought for a time that placoderms became extinct due to competition from the first bony fish and early sharks, given a combination of the supposed inherent superiority of bony fish and the presumed sluggishness of placoderms.
What was the biggest prehistoric fish?
LeedsichthysLeedsichthys is possibly the largest fish ever, and certainly the largest known bony fish. It is estimated that the largest Leedsichthys could have grown up to sixteen meters. However, not all of them were this massive, and individuals above fourteen meters in length were probably not common.
Was Dunkleosteus a predator or a scavenger?
Dunkleosteus lived during the Devonian Period, from 380-360 Million Years Ago, being one of the widly successful Placoderm (plated skin) Fish Order. Dunkleosteus is known to have been a clear Apex Predator, feeding on literally everything it could get its jaws on - including smaller individuals of its own kind.
What was the largest vertebrate of the Devonian period?
About Dunkleosteus. The marine animals of the Devonian period, over 100 million years before the first dinosaurs, tended to be small and meek, but Dunkleosteus was the exception that proved the rule. This huge (about 30 feet long and three or four tons), armor-covered prehistoric fish was probably the largest vertebrate of its day, ...
Is Dunkleosteus a good swimmer?
Dunkleosteus wouldn't have had to be a particularly good swimmer, since its bony armor would have been sufficient defense against the smaller, predatory sharks and fish of its briny habitat, such as Cladoselache.
What is the fossil record of Dunkleosteus?
As a result, the fossil record indicates it may have routinely regurgitated prey bones rather than digest them.
How much of Dunkleosteus' skeleton is preserved?
In fact, only about 5% of Dunkleosteus specimens have more than a quarter of their skeleton preserved. Because of this, many reconstructions of the hindquarters are often based on fossils of smaller arthrodires, such as Coccosteus, which have preserved hind sections.
What game is Dunkleosteus in?
Dunkleosteus is one of the fossil types that can be found in the game Animal Crossing: New Horizons .
How fast did Dunkleosteus open his jaw?
This mechanism allowed D. terrelli to both achieve a high speed of jaw opening, opening their jaws in 20 milliseconds and completing the whole process in 50–60 milliseconds (comparable to modern fishes that use suction feeding to assist in prey capture;) and producing high bite forces when closing the jaw, estimated at 6,000 N (612 kg f; 1,349 lb f) at the tip and 7,400 N (755 kg f; 1,664 lb f) at the blade edge in the largest individuals. The pressures generated in those regions were high enough to puncture or cut through cuticle or dermal armor suggesting that D. terrelli was adapted to prey on free-swimming, armored prey such as ammonites and other placoderms. Fossils of Dunkleosteus are frequently found with boluses of fish bones, semidigested and partially eaten remains of other fish. As a result, the fossil record indicates it may have routinely regurgitated prey bones rather than digest them. Mature individuals probably inhabited deep sea locations, like other Placoderms, living in shallow waters during adolescence.
How big is a Dunkleosteus skull?
At least ten different species of Dunkleosteus have been described so far. The type species, D. terrelli, is the largest, best-known species of the genus, measuring 8.79 m (28.8 ft) in length. It has a rounded snout.
How much force does a Dunkleosteus have?
Dunkleosteus could quickly open and close its jaw, like modern-day suction feeders, and had a bite force of 6,000 N (612 kg f; 1,349 lb f) at the tip and 7,400 N (755 kg f; 1,664 lb f) at the blade edge. Numerous fossils of the various species have been found in North America, Poland, Belgium, and Morocco .
Where is Dunkleosteus found?
The most famous specimens of Dunkleosteus are displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and others are displayed at the American Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Natural History, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and in the Queensland Museum in Brisbane, Queensland.
What's in a name?
Before we talk about how fearsome Dunkleosteus was, we first need to know where it got its scientific name. According to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), Dunkleosteus was named in honor of Dr.
Dunkleosteus was a large, terrifying creature despite its lack of teeth
Estimates of Dunkleosteus' size tend to vary — per Reuters, scientists from the Field Museum and the University of Chicago described the fish as measuring around 33 feet in length and weighing in at four tons.
Was Dunkleosteus a cannibal?
According to bite analysis done on three specimens at the CMNH, there was "major damage" found on the animals' bone plates that was likely the result of an attack from another Dunkleosteus. There was some evidence of healing on some of the wounds, but in other cases, the attacks proved to be life-threatening.
When was Dunkleosteus discovered?
Dunkleosteus is a fish which lived approximately 380 to 360 million years ago during the Late Devonian Period. Although it was discovered in the late 19 th century, it wasn’t named until 1956.
What is the most interesting thing about Dunkleosteus?
One of the most fascinating facts about Dunkleosteus, however, is the bite force that it had in its jaws. Scientists have done some research and have crunched the numbers and they have determined that this fish could have bit down with a lot of force.
How long did smaller fish dominate?
This would have killed off giant fish like this one but allowed smaller ones to thrive. And that is why smaller fish would dominate for tens of millions of years, or at least until the rise of marine reptiles during the Mesozoic Era.
What is a Dunkleosteus?
Dunkleosteus. Dunkleosteus was a large Placoderm (arthropod fish) that lived in the late Devonian period, about 380–360 million years ago. It grew to 10 metres (33 feet), and was the top predator of its time and one of the top predators of the Paleozoic era.
What episode does Dunkleosteus appear in?
Dunkleosteus appears in the second episode of Animal Armageddon where its extreme hunger drove it to extinction. It appears in Jurassic Park Builder as the first creature in the Aquatic Park. Dunkleosteus appears in Jurassic World: The Game as a legendary cave creature in the aquatic park.
What is the Dunkleosteus in Ecco the Dolphin?
In Ecco the Dolphin, Dunkleosteus appeared as an enemy in the prehistoric levels. Ironically the Dunkleosteus existed in the Devonian period and the prehistoric levels takes place 55 million years ago. They were already extinct during that time. Even its echolocation sprite resembles a shark.
How much force does Dunkleosteus have?
Dunkleosteus could concentrate a force of up to 8,000 pounds (3,628 kg) per square inch at the tip of its mouth, effectively placing Dunkleosteus in the league of Tyrannosaurus rex and modern crocodiles as having the most powerful known bite.
When did Placodermi go extinct?
The Placodermi first started appearing in the Silurian, and all of them were extinct by the late Devonian. There are no modern descendants. Dunkleosteus had one of the most powerful bite of any fish, well ahead of all modern-day sharks, including the Great White shark.
Who is the fifth most dangerous sea predator in Sea Monsters?
In the Dinotopia books and movies a massive Dunkleosteus guards the underwater entrance to the subterranean caves that contain the strutters and sunstones. Dunkleosteus was the fifth most dangerous sea predator in Sea Monsters. The show counted down the top 7 most dangerous sea creatures in history.
Did Cladoselache prey on Dunkleosteus?
Cladoselache did not prey on Dunkleosteus, it was the other way around. It is commonly thought, and commonly said that placoderms, such as Dunkleosteus, were outcompeted by the smaller, swifter fishes, such as the early shark Cladoselache.
When did the Dunkleosteus fish go extinct?
Dunkleosteus is an extinct genus of arthrodire placoderm fish that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 358–382 million years ago . The name Dunkleosteus combines the Greek ὀστέον, osteon, meaning "bone", and Dunkle, in honor of David Dunkle of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
What did Dunkleosteus look like?
Dunkleosteus looked like the violent brute it was: powerfully built and armour-plated round its head. It was streamlined and shark-like. Dunkleosteus lacked true teeth, instead it had two long bony blades that could snap and crush almost anything.
Why did Dunkleosteus go extinct?
The most likely theory is that Dunkleosteus was wiped out by a catastrophe called the “Hangenberg Event.”. During this period, oxygen levels in the oceans dropped dramatically.
What are some interesting facts about Dunkleosteus?
10 Facts About ‘Dunkleosteus’ That Will Keep You Up At Night. by Hannah Stephens. fact checked by Jamie Frater. Although Dunkleosteus is one of the most terrifying fish ever to have roamed the Earth’s oceans, few people know much about this prehistoric creature. Having lived 360 million years ago, Dunkleosteus was one of ...
How much bite force did Dunkleosteus have?
What they found was truly astonishing. The jaws were able to snap shut with about 8000 pounds of bite force per square inch. [3]
How did Dunkleosteus sharpen his own teeth?
As it opened and shut its jaws, the edges of its fangs rubbed together, creating friction. Over time, this kept them perfectly sharpened into razor-edged weapons that could do serious damage even to other massive prehistoric sea animals. [2]
How much force does a Dunkleosteus fang exert?
In more modern terms, a Dunkleosteus fang could exert over double that of a crocodile, which delivers a relatively measly 3,700 pounds per square inch. In fact, even the great white sharks of today are only capable of inflicting around half the force of a Dunkleosteus bite.
Why do Dunkleosteus' fangs increase?
Scientists believe that this is because the diet of this killer fish changed as it got older.
What did scientists find in Dunkleosteus fossils?
When scientists examined skull bones from Dunkleosteus fossils, they found huge scrapes and gashes gouged into the bone . The only sea creature capable of inflicting such wounds was a fellow Dunkleosteus. So ferocious were the attacks that some have even caused complete fractures in the bones.
Overview
Dunkleosteus is an extinct genus of large armored, jawed fishes that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 382–358 million years ago. It consists of ten species, some of which are among the largest placoderms to have ever lived: D. terrelli, D. belgicus, D. denisoni, D. marsaisi, D. magnificus, D. missouriensis, D. newberryi, D. amblyodoratus, and D. raveri. The largest and most well know…
Etymology
Dunkleosteus was named in 1956 to honour David Dunkle (1911–1982), former curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The genus name Dunkleosteus combines David Dunkle's surname with the Greek word ὀστέον (ostéon 'bone'), literally meaning 'Dunkle's-bone'. The type species D. terrelli was originally described in 1873 as a species of Dinichthys, its specific epithet chosen in honor of Jay Terrell, the fossil's discoverer.
Taxonomy
Originally thought to be a member of the genus Dinichthys, Dunkleosteus was later recognized as belonging to its own genus in 1956. It was thought to be closely related to Dinichthys, and they were grouped together in the family Dinichthyidae. However, in the 2010 Carr & Hlavin phylogenetic study, Dunkleosteus and Dinichthys were found to belong to two separate clades. Car…
Description
The largest species, D. terrelli, is estimated to have grown up to 8.8 m (29 ft) in length and 4 t (4.4 short tons) in weight, making it one of the largest placoderms to have existed. Like other placoderms, Dunkleosteus had a two-part bony, armoured exterior, which may have made it a relatively slow but powerful swimmer. Instead of teeth, Dunkleosteus possessed two pairs of sharp bony pl…
Media depictions
Dunkleosteus has occasionally been depicted in various media and games. These include the 2003 BBC TV series Sea Monsters: A Walking with Dinosaurs Trilogy and the Animal Planet series River Monsters episode "Prehistoric Terror", amongst other depictions. Dunkleosteus is one of the fossil types that can be found in the game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Dunkleosteus is one of the playable sharks in the mobile video game Hungry Shark Evolution. Dunkleosteus is featured …
See also
• List of placoderms
Further reading
• Anderson, Philip S. L. (2008). "Shape Variation Between Arthrodire Morphotypes Indicates Possible Feeding Niches". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28 (4): 961–969. doi:10.1671/0272-4634-28.4.961. S2CID 86583150.
External links
• Introduction to the Placodermi: Extinct Armored Fishes with Jaws. Waggoner, Ben (2000). Retrieved Aug 1, 2005
• MSNBC: Prehistoric fish packed a mean bite
• BBC: Ancient 'Jaws' had monster bite