In the Swietokrzyskie Mountains the remains of huge armored fish were found

Paleontologists from PIG-PIB and the University of Warsaw have discovered in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains the remains of dunkleosteus – huge Devonian armored fish, one of the largest marine predators in the history of life on Earth. The findings are about 370 million years old.

Dunkleosteus krolowed in the seas poof Devonian wood. In the village of Plucki in the voivodshiposwietokrzyskie province, scientists from the National Geological Institute – State Research Institute (PIG-PIB) and the UW have found the remains of three individualsow. These are the oldest fossils of these creatures found in Europe and the surest remains of fish of this genus – leave no doubt as to whom they belonged.

– This is the first finding of dunkleosteus in Europe, as to whichoregoes no doubt – emphasized Dr. Piotr Szrek during a press conference in Lagow. – The most complete is the five-meter dunkleosteus, whichorego preserved about 40 percent. skeleton – he admitted.

European finds so far have represented very small specimens, as for this type of armored fish. They did not exceed 0.5 meters in length. Fossils unearthed by Dr. Shrek more than 20 years ago indicate a much larger individual – The length of the head alone is 60 centimetersow, and the entire specimen measured as much as seven metersow. Although the find was made more than 20 years ago, it was only the recent excavations of 2013-2015 and wspohe first chemical bit was created at the IPC PAS, in cooperation with other researchers, which made it possible to compile a sufficient amount of material.

A description of the find appeared on „Estonian Journal of Earth Science” and its author is the aforementioned Dr. Szrek and Olga Wilk of the Faculty of Geology at Warsaw University.

Dunkleosteuses dominated the seas for nearly 60 millionoin years. The fish was among the most dangerous inhabitants of theoin the Devonian depths. „It was the largest predator of its timeow. It was located at the top of the marine food pyramid. The length of his body could reach up to a dozen metersow, and the thrust of its jaws reached almost 2 tons, making it one of the largest and most dangerous marine predatorsoin the entire history of life on Earth” – PIB website reads.

These huge fish had no teethow. They were replaced by sharp edges of jawbones sharpening against each other with every closing and opening of the jaws. Their remains are found all over the world – in Europe (Poland, Belgium), in Africa (Morocco) or in America PoNorth (USA).

– This is the first vertebrate thatory reached a very large size and was a predator at the top of the food pyramid in the Devonian sea. After reaching several meters in sizeoIn did not have in the water too many enemiesow. He was the krolem of hunting – Szrek said in an interview with PAP.

The remains of a Devonian fish found in woj. Świętokrzyskie will be on display at the end of February at a temporary exhibition at the Geological Museum in Warsaw.

SourceoSource: PIG-PIB, PAP, photo. photo. CC BY 3.0/ Nobu Tamura/ Wikimedia Commons