There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(05-08-2020, 10:27 AM)Spalea Wrote: " Dunkleosteus is a genus of arthrodire placoderm fish that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 360–380 million years ago. Some of the species, such as D. terrelli, D. marsaisi, and D. magnificus, are among the largest arthrodire placoderms ever to have lived.
The largest species, D. terrelli, measuring up to 6 m (20 ft) long and 1 t (1.1 short tons) in weight, was a hypercarnivorous apex predator. Few other placoderms, save, perhaps, its contemporary Titanichthys, rivaled Dunkleosteus in size. "
Hi,
There never was a rigourous study about the size of Dunkleosteus and to my knowledge we don't have a full skeleton of this animal so all estimates about its size are just guess. A new study suggests a size much lower than previously thought with a mean length around 3,5 meters:
A Devonian Fish Tale: A New Method of Body Length Estimation Suggests Much Smaller Sizes for Dunkleosteus terrelli (Placodermi: Arthrodira) - 2023
But until new body parts are recovered, we can't be sure about the real size of this animal.
