Prehistoric fish had bite stronger than a T-rex

[muriel_volestrangler]

It swam in a primordial ocean 400 million years ago and could deliver a more powerful bite than any living fish, including the biggest sharks of today.

Scientists have discovered that the vice-like grip of its jaws enabled Dunkleosteus terrelli to exert a force of 11,000 pounds on its prey, enough to bite the toughest into two.

The extinct creature, which grew 33ft long and weighed up to four tons, was armed with a formidable array of bladed teeth which exerted a pressure of 80,000 pounds per square inch at the tip of its fangs.

A study of the fossilised skull of the fish also revealed that it could open its jaws in one-fiftieth of a second, creating such a strong suction that it would have quickly pulled prey to its mouth.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2023853.ece

Cool! It does look a bit like a pair of bolt-cutters ...

[qnr]

1. Impressive. n/t

[xchrom]

2. a fish as ugly as that HAS to have something to recommend it.

i'm guessing lack of romance doomed the poor thing.

[Ediacara]

3. That fish actually has no teeth

It had sharp bone ridges protruding from the skin that worked like a pair of scissors.

[neilepi]

4. 400 million years of evolution.........

....and "voila" - a Vice President.

The new, unique, 2007 Anti-Bush Grafitti Calendar - Sale ends soon

[frylock]

5. think that thing would hit a plastic worm?

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. How does something like that go extinct?

[enlightenment]

7. Good grief, a 33 foot long, swimming pit bull.

With a vacuum attachment.

dang.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Bolt cutter? Try this ...

(Dunkleosteus = Dinicthys; fossils were described and named twice, but first time takes priority)