What is Dunkleosteus?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Dunkleosteus'' | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Late Silurian|Late Devonian}} | image = Dunkleosteus skull QM email.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''Dunkleosteus'' skull, [[Queensland Museum]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | subphylum = [[Vertebrata]] | classis = †[[Placodermi]] | ordo = †[[Arthrodira]] | familia = †[[Dinichthyidae]] | genus = [[extinction|†]]'''''Dunkleosteus''''' | genus_authority = [[Lehman]], 1956 }} '''''Dunkleosteus''''' was a prehistoric [[arthrodire]]. It was a primitive [[fish]] from the later [[Devonian]] period, about 360 million years ago. It was a heavily armoured [[placoderm]]. Fossils have been found in [[Morocco]], [[Africa]], [[Poland]], [[Belgium]], [[China]], and the [[United States|USA]]. ''Dunkleosteus'' first appeared in the Late [[Silurian]], and the group became [[extinction|extinct]] during the transition from the Late [[Devonian]] to the Late [[Carboniferous]], leaving no descendants. It lasted barely 50 million years compared to the 400 million year-long history of [[shark]]s. It preyed on ''[[Stethacanthus]]'' and ''[[Cladoselache]]''. == Description == This top predator was up to 11.5 ft (3.5 m) long and had large, scissor-like cutting jaws with serrated, razor-sharp bones but no teeth. Its [[skull]] was over 2 feet (65 cm) long. It had a jointed neck, an eel-like [[tail]], a scale-less body, and hinged body shields. == References == {{commonscat}} {{wikispecies}} {{reflist}} {{taxonbar|from=Q131039}} {{authority control}} [[category:Fossils]] [[Category:Placoderms]]