Dunkleosteus Terrelli, commonly known as Dunkleosteus, is a huge arthropod shark-like species that lived in the Late Devonian period, roughly 380–358 million years ago. Technically it comprises 10 species, several of whom are the biggest placoderms that have ever existed, but the D.Terrelli is the most common.
The other parts of the shark’s anatomy are currently unclear because the protective forehead regions of specimens have generally been the ones best preserved and a notable feature of the species.
Appearance
The largest species, Dunkleosteus Terrelli, is among the largest placoderms ever known. It might have been a sluggish but forceful swimmer because of its two-section bony, armored exoskeleton. It has two pairs of pointed bony plates that create a beak-like framework that holds the pair of teeth.
It is believed to have measured between 15 and 19.6 ft in length, according to more moderate estimations. The largest species was estimated to have a huge size of 30 ft and weigh around 9,000 lbs.
Did you know…
David Dunkle was a prominent curator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, who first added the Dunkleosteous to the museum’s collection. For his contribution, he was honored by having its named in his honor in 1956. Their name translates literally to “Dunkle’s bone” – a combination of David Dunkle’s last name and the Greek word Ostéon, which means “bone.”
Habitat
Dunkleosteus survived and thrived in the maritime environment during the Devonian period. As they age, the species in this genus migrate to their environment. As the adults traveled far into the sea, the younger ones resided in the intertidal zone.
Throughout America, Poland, Belgium, and Morocco, countless fossils belonging to different species have been discovered, but due to the inconsistency of locations, it is generally accepted that they had worldwide distribution.
Diet
Dunkleosteus was indeed a hypercarnivorous apex predator of its environment and a pelagic fish that roamed the seas of planet Earth. The skull and jaw muscles were joined by a special linking system that allowed Dunkleosteus to toggle between opening and closing its jaws rapidly. In this manner, the jaw generated a powerful bite force strong enough to shred prey.
Given the size of its entire jaw, the locations of its teeth in contact, and the power it produced, could readily puncture and shatter strong shells. As they grew older, their food likewise evolved, moving from small fish, sharks, and other squishy species to armored ammonites, placoderms, as well as other huge, protected animals.
Reproduction
Due to its cartilaginous skeleton, fossilized evidence of its reproductive processes is extremely rare.
Dunkleosteus likely practiced internal fertilization, similar to some sharks today. Whether they gave birth to live young or laid eggs remains a mystery. Given their predatory nature and large size, it’s probable that they offered little to no parental care, leaving their offspring to fend for themselves in the ancient oceans.
Evidence to give a definitive answer is still lacking due to the fossilization variability of soft anatomy parts, including sexual organs.
Threats
It is regarded as one of the earliest real apex predators on the planet and served as the top predator in its original environment. They were, therefore, unlikely to be attacked by or even be the prey of other creatures. However, recent findings revealed scratches and piercing traces on a fossilized exoskeleton formed from a larger Dunkleosteus.
According to this data, they engaged in cannibalism, with larger animals preying on smaller ones. This may explain why smaller ones inhabited shallower ocean areas, distant from their deeper regions, while larger ones reigned supreme.
5 More Facts about the Dunkleosteus
- It would cannibalize smaller members of its species.
- The largest one was 33 ft long and weighed around 9,000 lbs.
- No real predators were present for these animals.
- Dunkleosteus includes ten species that range in size and habitats but are connected by their signature skull.
- Their lifestyle was similar to that of a pelagic shark.
FAQs
Why did Dunkleosteus become extinct?
During the climax of the Devonian Era, a catastrophic extinction catastrophe caused them to become extinct. Due to the significant drop in oxygen levels brought on by this catastrophe, smaller marine species fared better in terms of survival than large species.
How fast could a Dunkleosteus swim?
Dunkleosteus is thought to have had poor swimming skills. Given their accessibility and the fact that it was primarily found in shallower environments, their rigid build allowed them to protect themselves against many species and prevented Dunkleosteus from going deep underwater in pursuit of food.
Was the Dunkleosteus larger than Megalodons?
Although both were top predators in their time, Megalodons were twice the size and weight of the largest Dunkleosteus. In a hypothetical fight, Megalodon’s teeth would have a chance at piercing the hardened exoskeleton of the Dunkleosteus by swallowing their heads whole and splitting them in half.
How strong was the Dunkleosteus bite?
Dunkleosteus lacked teeth, as with all Placoderms. Its hardened jaw plates, meanwhile, created enormous, self-sharpening blade-like protrusions. Dunkleosteus has a chomping force of 1,000–21,000 pounds per square inch, and It could eat through bone like a cracker. A really huge crocodile could represent a contemporary example.
