Feeding mechanics and bite force modelling of the skull of Dunkleosteus terrelli, an ancient apex predator.

Abstract:

:Placoderms are a diverse group of armoured fishes that dominated the aquatic ecosystems of the Devonian Period, 415-360 million years ago. The bladed jaws of predators such as Dunkleosteus suggest that these animals were the first vertebrates to use rapid mouth opening and a powerful bite to capture and fragment evasive prey items prior to ingestion. Here, we develop a biomechanical model of force and motion during feeding in Dunkleosteus terrelli that reveals a highly kinetic skull driven by a unique four-bar linkage mechanism. The linkage system has a high-speed transmission for jaw opening, producing a rapid expansion phase similar to modern fishes that use suction during prey capture. Jaw closing muscles power an extraordinarily strong bite, with an estimated maximal bite force of over 4400 N at the jaw tip and more than 5300 N at the rear dental plates, for a large individual (6 m in total length). This bite force capability is the greatest of all living or fossil fishes and is among the most powerful bites in animals.

journal_name

Biol Lett

journal_title

Biology letters

authors

Anderson PS,Westneat MW

doi

10.1098/rsbl.2006.0569

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2007-02-22 00:00:00

pages

76-9

issue

1

eissn

1744-9561

issn

1744-957X

journal_volume

3

pub_type

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