![]() ![]() This greatly trumps the bite force of the saltwater crocodile, which is known as the animal with the heaviest bite force of any living creature. But that’s not all: some parts of its jaws had an approximated bite force of an astonishing 80,000 pounds per square inch. Studies approximate that Dunkleosteus terrelli had a bite force of 8,000 pounds per square inch at the tip of its fangs. Could Dunkleosteus Terrelli Have Defeated a Great White Shark? Dunkleosteus had strong jaws that could chop up sharks and other marine creatures. This allowed Dunkleosteus terrelli to open its jaws fast, resulting in a rapid expansion phase seen in modern suction-feeder fishes. Westneat, believe there is a link between how Dunkleosteus terrelli fed and how modern-day suction feeders do.Īccording to a paper published by both researchers, this mega fish had a highly kinetic skull that worked with a four-bar linkage mechanism. In addition, many research scientists, such as Philip S.L Anderson and Mark W. Together, they looked similar to canines and tore prey into shreds.ĭue to the structure of its teeth, Dunkleosteus terrelli could open its mouth really swiftly and clamp down on its prey with massive force. These plates would “grind” against each other, acting as a self-sharpening mechanism. Instead, it had four sharp bony plates, which were arranged in groups of twos. Like many fish today, Dunkleosteus terrelli didn’t have typical teeth. (Image Caption: Dunkleosteus Terrelli’s teeth ground against each other and sharpened themselves.) However, scientists believe it didn’t digest the bones of these animals but regurgitated them. Research shows that its jaw became stronger and wider with age, which increased its predatory abilities.Īdult Dunkleosteus terrelli preyed on armored prey such as ammonites and even other placoderms. ![]() ![]() But as it got older, its diet expanded, and its prey got bigger. As a juvenile, Dunkleosteus terrelli preyed on small sharks and bony. Without its powerful swimming strength, it would have starved due to its inability to hunt the large prey it fed on. So, while we can estimate based on the few available facts, it is possible that Dunkleosteus terrelli was a powerful and fast swimmer. However, it’s worth noting that many other placoderms or armored fishes adapted to fast swimming at the surface and bottom of the ocean. How Fast Could Dunkleosteus Terrelli Swim? Dunkleosteus had a two-part bony, armored exterior that made it a slow but powerful swimmer.Īlthough scientists believe that Dunkleosteus terrelli was a powerful swimmer, its heavy body armor would have made it slow. This is a trait shared by other fishes classified as placoderms. The species is believed to have inhabited shallow waters as juveniles and adolescents before moving to deep-sea locations as adults. Luckily, many other states in America, including New York, Washington, and Illinois, have Dunkleosteus terrelli fossils on display. Some states where fossils were found include Ohio, Tennessee, California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The discovered fossils showed that Dunkleosteus terrelli lived in many parts of Europe and the United States. Dunkleosteus combines “Dunkle” and the Greek word “ὀστέον,” which translates to “bone.” This means that “Dunkleosteus” literally means “Dunkle’s bone.”ĭavid Dunkle worked at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and then at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where his work on fish fossils gained him much recognition. In 1956, Dunkleosteus was named in honor of David Dunkle, a former curator of Vertebrate Paleontology. The 10 Best Books About Sharks – Reviewed and Ranked
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