Dunkleosteus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DunkleosteusTemporal range: late Devonian
380–360 mya |
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| Dunkleosteus skull, Queensland Museum | |
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†Dinichthyidae
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†Dunkleosteus
Lehman, 1956
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Dunkleosteus was a huge, ancient fish that lived a very long time ago. It was a type of arthrodire, which means it was a primitive, armored fish. This amazing creature swam the oceans during the late Devonian period, about 360 million years ago.
Dunkleosteus was a placoderm, meaning it had heavy armor plates covering its head and front body. Scientists have found its fossils in many places around the world. These include Morocco in Africa, Poland, Belgium, China, and the USA.
Placoderms, the group Dunkleosteus belonged to, first appeared in the Silurian period. They later died out at the end of the Devonian period. This group of fish lasted for about 50 million years. This is much shorter than sharks, which have been around for 400 million years!
What was Dunkleosteus like?
This incredible ancient fish was a top predator in its time. It could grow up to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) long. That's about the length of a small car!
Its powerful jaws
Dunkleosteus had very strong, scissor-like jaws. Instead of teeth, it had sharp, bony plates that acted like razor blades. These plates could cut through almost anything. Its skull alone was over 2 feet (65 cm) long.
Body and features
This fish had a special joint in its neck, which helped it open its mouth very wide. It also had an eel-like tail, which means it was probably a fast swimmer. Its body did not have scales, but it did have strong, hinged armor plates. These plates protected its head and the front part of its body.
Images for kids
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D. marsaisi skull
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Restoration and size comparison of D. terrelli
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A skull diagram of Dunkleosteus
See also
In Spanish: Dunkleosteus para niños
