Dunkleosteus

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 osteus (οστεος), meaning "bone", and Dunkle, in honor of David Dunkle of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It consists of ten species: D. terrelli, D. belgicus, D. denisoni, D. marsaisi, D. magnificus, D. missouriensis, D. newberryi, D. amblyodoratus, and D. raveri; some of which are among the largest placoderms to have ever lived. The largest species, D. terrelli, grew up to 6 m (20 ft) long and 1 t (1.1 short tons) in weight. Few other placoderms rivaled Dunkleosteus in size. Dunkleosteus could quickly open and close its jaw, like modern day suction feeders, and had a bite force of 6,000 to 7,400 N (1,350 to 1,660 lbf).
In recent decades, Dunkleosteus has achieved recognition in popular culture, with a large number of specimens on display, and notable appearances in entertainment media like Sea Monsters - A Walking with Dinosaurs Trilogy and River Monsters. Numerous fossils of some species have been found in North America, Poland, Belgium, and Morocco.
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures
Category:Fish
Category:Dunkleosteidae
Category:Placoderms of Africa
Category:Placoderms of Europe
Category:Placoderms of North America
Category:Late Devonian first appearances
Category:Late Devonian animals
Category:Famennian extinctions
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1956
Category:Taxa named by John Strong Newberry
Category:Paleontology in Pennsylvania
Category:Paleontology in Tennessee
Category:Paleontology in Belgium
Category:Paleontology in Canada
Category:Paleontology in Morocco
Category:Paleontology in Missouri