Dunkleosteus

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Discovered by Dr. David Dunkle at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in 1867, this remarkable creature was named after its esteemed discoverer, with "osteus" being Greek for "bone," a fitting description given its armored fish appearance, shielded by plates surrounding the head. Alive during the Devonian "Age of Fishes," which spanned over 358 million years ago, Dunkleosteus reigned supreme as the largest predator of its time. Reaching lengths of up to 20 feet and weighing in excess of 1 ton, this formidable fish boasted a massive skull constructed from thick, bony plates and an impressive set of fang-like protrusions near the front of its powerful, self-sharpening jawbones.