This might still exists in our waters. (Not sure whether is it real or not but documentary looks very real - only watched last 10 mins of it :( happen to see the guy using bait to lure this baby)
Name: Dunkleosteus
Type: Placoderm fish
Size: 8 to 10m
Diet: Carnivore
Predators: Probably none
Lived: Late Devonian, 370-360 million years ago.
The Teeth -
It's looking at you!
Dunkleosteus looked like the violent brute it was: powerfully built and armour-plated round its head. It was streamlined and shark-like. Dunkleosteus lacked true teeth, instead it had two long bony blades that could snap and crush almost anything. Pigment cells suggest Dunkleosteus had dark colours on its back and was silvery on its belly.
This fish was anything but picky with its food. It ate fish, sharks and even its own kind. And it seems that Dunkleosteus suffered from indigestion as a result: its fossils are often associated with regurgitated, semi-digested remains of fish.
Dunkleosteus may have been one of the earliest animals to exist as male or female, meaning that pairs of fish had to mate physically.
watch the movie here.
And this, is the prey.
Name: Stethacanthus
Type: Cartiliginous fish
Size: 0.7-2m long
Diet: Carnivore
Predators: Dunkleosteus
Lived: Lived 370-345 million years ago, in the late Devonian and through the Carboniferous era.
And the teeth -
And the teeth -
Stethacanthus resembled modern sharks to an extent, except for its outrageous dorsal fin - the shape of an ironing board - that it seems was part of courtship display as it is found in the males only. The top of this fin was covered in rough, tooth-shaped scales that match a patch of skin on the Stethacanthus' snout. Was this supposed to mimic a huge mouth and make the creature appear more frightening?
Stethacanthus tended to patrol shallow coastal waters on the lookout for food. It ate small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods (eg goniatites).
There's evidence Stethacanthus may have been migratory, returning to particular places to mate and give birth. It could certainly swim quite fast, although not quickly enough to evade a hungry Dunkleosteus.
huge tadpole like armoured creature used as bait. Dunky over there came over to the cage n tried chomping on it whereby the bait fell to the ocean floor. Stethacanthus came over to inspect it, and both were chomped by Dunky. Wow! Dunky puke out all the armour plates and chain mesh that was wrapped around the bait. Nice.
Wanna know more? Watch arts central every wednesday 10pm.
(stupid arts central only view 1/2 hr each time)
