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Photo illustrations demonstrating the jaw and muscle anatomy of Dunkleosteus compared to a typical arthrodire

Biology's Russell Engelman find similarities between Dunkleosteus and turtles

Media | December 02, 2025 | Story by: Editorial Staff

Cleveland's beloved ancient sea monster was more turtle than shark

Popular Science: Russell Engelman, graduate student in biology at the College of Arts and Sciences, collaborated with an international team of researchers from Australia, the United Kingdom and Russia to analyze the world’s largest and most well-preserved collection of Dunkleosteus fossils at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, revealing that Dunkleosteus had a jaw reminiscent of a snapping turtle, allowing it to tear off large chunks of prey.