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How a prehistoric fish like “Dunkleosteus” terrelli could still exist and be in the waters in present time. Dunkleosteus is an extinct genus of a arthrodire placoderm fish that existed during the Late Devonian period, about 360–380 million years ago. Some of the species, such as D. terrelli, D. marsaisi, and D. magnificus, are among the largest arthrodire placoderms ever to have lived.

 

In 1938 a Coelacanth, thought to be extinct; was found off the coast of Africa by fishermen. Coelacanths belong to the subclass Actinistia - a subclass of mostly fossil lobe-finned fishes. This subclass contains the coelacanths, including the two living coelacanths, the West Indian Ocean coelacanth and the king of the sea. Coelacanths were thought to have become extinct in the late Cretaceous, around 66 million years ago, but were rediscovered in 1938 off the coast of South Africa.

 

Dunkleosteus had armor plating three inches thick on the front third of its body and grew up to be over 30 feet in length. Dunkleosteus was also known to have been a cannibal as well. Dunkleosteus force bite was remarkably powerful at 80,000 pounds per square inch and could suck its prey in its mouth in a 50th of a second.

 

This information could make it very possible for a large fish like Dunkleosteus to exist in present day. After doing some research and speaking with a renowned paleontologist John Long, an Australian paleontologist, who is currently a Professor in Paleontology at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. Mr. Long informed me that large prehistoric fish like Dunkleosteus, would often head to rivers when spawning which is the process of depositing eggs for offspring, which occur in large numbers.