A fish with bite

A fearsome mega-predator of the ancient seas had the most powerful jaws of any fish that ever lived, according to a new study that makes even the biggest great white shark seem like a slack-jawed weakling. . .

The fish in the new study, Dunkleosteus terrelli, was a toothless killer with bladelike jaws and a huge, armored head. Experts believe it grew up to 30 feet long and weighed as much as 4 tons--bigger than most modern sharks, and about the size of a killer whale.

But the animal's jaws would have set it apart from any latter-day seagoing carnivores.

Using fossil remains to build a computer model of the fish's bones and muscles, the Chicago researchers found that it could tear apart its food with a force of 1,100 pounds per square inch.

The fish needed that strength to pierce the bony armor that many sea creatures of that era possessed. Only alligators and Tyrannosaurus rex have had more powerful jaws, experts believe.

Posted by David on November 29, 2006 10:15 AM