Dunkleosteus fossil map
Where fossils of Dunkleosteus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 360 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 360 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Ancient fish & sharks |
|---|---|
| Lived | 387.95–358.86 million years ago (Givetian to Famennian) |
| Periods | Devonian |
| Family | Dunkleosteidae |
| Named by | Newberry 1874 |
| Fossil records | 7 occurrences at 7 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Latvia, Canada |
| Rock formations | Ohio Shale, Lost Burro, Tērvete, Rockport Quarry Limestone, Alpena, Antrim Shale |
About Dunkleosteus
Dunkleosteus is an extinct genus of large arthrodire ("jointed-neck") fish that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 382–358 million years ago. It was a pelagic fish inhabiting open waters, and one of the first vertebrate apex predators of any ecosystem. Fossils of Dunkleosteus have been found in the United States, Canada, Poland, Belgium, Morocco, and Russia.
Dunkleosteus consists of ten species, some of which are among the largest placoderms ("plate-skinned") to have ever lived: D. terrelli, D. belgicus, D. denisoni, D. marsaisi, D. magnificus, D. missouriensis, D. newberryi, D. amblyodoratus, D. raveri, and D. tuderensis. However, the validity of several of these species is unclear. The largest and best known species is D. terrelli, the type species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Dunkleosteus (revision 1374991596), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q131039.
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