Friday, 8 February 2013
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Catching Big Fish From Little Boats
Catching Big Fish From Little Boats
When it comes to catching big fish many anglers still feel that you need a big boat. However times are changing and the modern day trailer-boat is a serious weapon that is capable of tackling big fish.
There is no denying that a decent 13m game boat is going to be a lot more comfortable, but the comfort comes at a cost. There is nothing cheap about running a game boat. Trailer-boats, on the other hand, are a lot cheaper to operate and can be run with less crew as well, however they simply can't match the big boats in terms of comfort. Mind you the overall investments are a mere smidgen of a game boat which is a lot easier on the hip pocket. On top of this you can run on a lot smaller crew which is also makes it easier.
The size of your the trailer-boat is not the restriction it used to be thanks to advancements in hull designs, the introduction of four-stroke outboards and major advancements in electronics. Suddenly heading offshore or to remote peninsulas can be done with ease and most importantly safely. The modern day trailer-boat has become a serious weapon cable of tackling big fish and rough seas. Safety is still paramount and the key is to understand your own limitations as well as your vessel's. A five-metre tinny is capable of fishing well offshore in the right hands and appropriate conditions. These days the weather forecasts are pretty accurate so there is no excuse for heading out in crap weather.
The huge improvement in outboards and in particular the introduction of four-strokes have really revolutionised offshore and remote fishing. Not only are they now much more reliable but the fuel consumption has dropped dramatically. On Strikezone I am running the new Honda 225 and it is chewing even less than my old 225hp, effectively increasing my cruising range. The ability to manage fuel consumption has helped further and now with a set of digital gauges I can monitor exactly what the Honda is burning and change the speed to optimum cruising. Add to this the trend towards increased fuel capacity in trailer-boats and we are now able to run some serious miles to remote fishing grounds.
Trailer-boats have limited space whichever way you look at it. Put simply there is never enough room for all the gear you want to take. The only way around this is to become target specific when you head out fishing. If you plan to go marlin fishing offshore, then don’t fill the boat with snapper tackle.
Working as a fishing journalist, one problem I have is that I am continuously chasing different species from day to day. To make matters more complicated, my cameraman Ron Croft runs several cameras for Strikezone TV and he believes his gear has precedence over my tackle - so I end up with even less room!
At the end of the day Strikezone is only 6.5 metres so we really have to be ruthless in what goes in, and what stays behind. One trick I employ is to stack all my gear into fish boxes with snapper gear in one and game fishing gear into another. That way when I go I just grab the box of gear I need. It certainly makes packing and unpacking a lot less painful!
Everything needs a home, be it the chilly bin, tag poles or camera cases. Anything not stowed away securely becomes a hazard, especially in rough weather. Everything in the cabin is prone to moving around since it is close to the bow which is moving the most so you really need to secure everything. Strikezone has a typical V-hull configuration which is perfectly suited to stacking the likes of fish boxes and camera gear. A series of straps locks everything in position while the padding cushions against the constant banging for valuable equipment like cameras.
Personally I prefer upright holders in the boat which don’t get in your way and are easier to access. Tucked away beside the cabin they are also protected from the salt spray. You often see boats heading to sea loaded with dozens of rods poking out in all directions. There is no possible way they could use all those rods so in effect they are simply taking up valuable room. Over the years I have culled my rods and now only take what I need to target specific fish, but the improvements in spin reels has suddenly allowed me to become multi-purpose.
These days with the dramatic improvements in spin reels I am finding I am using my Saltigas far more than my game reels. Looking back over the past marlin season I caught more marlin on spin tackle than overheads. The great thing about these reels is that I also use them for everything from inshore live bait to jigging, so in fact they are multi-purpose. They are so good that I have even sold off some of my game tackle. Reducing the number of rods I load on board has suddenly cleared up the deck, giving us a whole lot room to work with.
I fight different fish in different ways, but the boat is vital when chasing the likes of marlin or kings in shallow water. In the case of marlin, after the hook up we position the angler in the back corner on the driver's side where he can support himself against the coaming or bait board. With the angler comfortable, the skipper has a clear view of the line while he chases the fish. If the fish does something he can react.
The key is not to allow the fish to take too much line so as soon as the fish runs, set off after it driving at a speed where the angler is still capable of retrieving line. High speed spin reels are ideal for this job being lighter and easier to use. There is an old analogy in fishing to drive away from fish, however this is totally illogical because you are there to catch it, not prolong the fight. On the same note, don’t be a cowboy and always play it safe - if you don’t have the confidence to take an early shot at a ‘green’ fish, then don’t.
Even with species like tuna I have found myself using the boat more and more to shorten the fight and get the fish fast. The key is to get the angler and skipper to communicate and work together to predict the fish’s behaviour as opposed to reacting to it. Being one step ahead will mean you will get that fish fast, sometimes even quicker than the big boats. Who said trailer-boats are disadvantaged?
Another big advantage wind-ons offer is that the amount of pressure put on the fish doesn’t change during the final stages the fight. When a trace man takes the leader he immediately applies additional pressure. The sudden increase in weight nearly always causes the fish to react, which is when dangerous situations arise. By using wind-ons the angler maintains steady pressure and as a result the fish is more relaxed and minimises the chance of it suddenly going berserk.
Source: http://www.fishing.net.nz/index.cfm/pageid/56/view/yes/editorialID/...
More News: http://gofishtalk.com/forum/topics/catching-big-fish-from-little-boats
There is no denying that a decent 13m game boat is going to be a lot more comfortable, but the comfort comes at a cost. There is nothing cheap about running a game boat. Trailer-boats, on the other hand, are a lot cheaper to operate and can be run with less crew as well, however they simply can't match the big boats in terms of comfort. Mind you the overall investments are a mere smidgen of a game boat which is a lot easier on the hip pocket. On top of this you can run on a lot smaller crew which is also makes it easier.
The size of your the trailer-boat is not the restriction it used to be thanks to advancements in hull designs, the introduction of four-stroke outboards and major advancements in electronics. Suddenly heading offshore or to remote peninsulas can be done with ease and most importantly safely. The modern day trailer-boat has become a serious weapon cable of tackling big fish and rough seas. Safety is still paramount and the key is to understand your own limitations as well as your vessel's. A five-metre tinny is capable of fishing well offshore in the right hands and appropriate conditions. These days the weather forecasts are pretty accurate so there is no excuse for heading out in crap weather.
The huge improvement in outboards and in particular the introduction of four-strokes have really revolutionised offshore and remote fishing. Not only are they now much more reliable but the fuel consumption has dropped dramatically. On Strikezone I am running the new Honda 225 and it is chewing even less than my old 225hp, effectively increasing my cruising range. The ability to manage fuel consumption has helped further and now with a set of digital gauges I can monitor exactly what the Honda is burning and change the speed to optimum cruising. Add to this the trend towards increased fuel capacity in trailer-boats and we are now able to run some serious miles to remote fishing grounds.
Chase the bite
The great thing about trailer-boats is their flexibility to follow the bite. Bigger boats are largely restricted to their home ports and moving them takes some serious logistics, while all a trailer-boat angler has to do is hitch it up and drive off. Just imagine you hear about a great bite off Tutukaka, in a trailer-boat you can leave Auckland and be there by lunchtime. In a game boat you may have to wait for the weather before you can go. It is a similar case to the largely unexploited west coast. There is some great fishing to be had but harbours are few and far between. There is also beach launching for the more adventurous.Stack it right
If there is one problem with a trailer-boat it is the lack of space. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, there is nowhere near the room in a 6.5m trailer-boat compared to a 10m cruiser. However it isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, instead you just need to pack right and utilise all available space effectively.Trailer-boats have limited space whichever way you look at it. Put simply there is never enough room for all the gear you want to take. The only way around this is to become target specific when you head out fishing. If you plan to go marlin fishing offshore, then don’t fill the boat with snapper tackle.
Working as a fishing journalist, one problem I have is that I am continuously chasing different species from day to day. To make matters more complicated, my cameraman Ron Croft runs several cameras for Strikezone TV and he believes his gear has precedence over my tackle - so I end up with even less room!
At the end of the day Strikezone is only 6.5 metres so we really have to be ruthless in what goes in, and what stays behind. One trick I employ is to stack all my gear into fish boxes with snapper gear in one and game fishing gear into another. That way when I go I just grab the box of gear I need. It certainly makes packing and unpacking a lot less painful!
Everything needs a home, be it the chilly bin, tag poles or camera cases. Anything not stowed away securely becomes a hazard, especially in rough weather. Everything in the cabin is prone to moving around since it is close to the bow which is moving the most so you really need to secure everything. Strikezone has a typical V-hull configuration which is perfectly suited to stacking the likes of fish boxes and camera gear. A series of straps locks everything in position while the padding cushions against the constant banging for valuable equipment like cameras.
Rod issues
Rods are always an issue. They are cumbersome and hard to store. Rocket launchers are okay for travelling with light rods but heavy game rods tend to snap welds pretty quickly. The other problem is if you are planning to cast poppers for kingfish or flick soft plastics for snapper then the rods overhead in the rocket launcher can be a real pain and are guaranteed to meet up with your lure sooner or later.Personally I prefer upright holders in the boat which don’t get in your way and are easier to access. Tucked away beside the cabin they are also protected from the salt spray. You often see boats heading to sea loaded with dozens of rods poking out in all directions. There is no possible way they could use all those rods so in effect they are simply taking up valuable room. Over the years I have culled my rods and now only take what I need to target specific fish, but the improvements in spin reels has suddenly allowed me to become multi-purpose.
These days with the dramatic improvements in spin reels I am finding I am using my Saltigas far more than my game reels. Looking back over the past marlin season I caught more marlin on spin tackle than overheads. The great thing about these reels is that I also use them for everything from inshore live bait to jigging, so in fact they are multi-purpose. They are so good that I have even sold off some of my game tackle. Reducing the number of rods I load on board has suddenly cleared up the deck, giving us a whole lot room to work with.
Beating big fish
Many anglers feel that small boats are disadvantaged when it comes to battling big fish. Big game boats may have twin screws and can spin around with ease, but you are still pushing a massive amount of weight around. A trailer-boat is light and nimble and can move around quickly with a good skipper at the wheel.I fight different fish in different ways, but the boat is vital when chasing the likes of marlin or kings in shallow water. In the case of marlin, after the hook up we position the angler in the back corner on the driver's side where he can support himself against the coaming or bait board. With the angler comfortable, the skipper has a clear view of the line while he chases the fish. If the fish does something he can react.
The key is not to allow the fish to take too much line so as soon as the fish runs, set off after it driving at a speed where the angler is still capable of retrieving line. High speed spin reels are ideal for this job being lighter and easier to use. There is an old analogy in fishing to drive away from fish, however this is totally illogical because you are there to catch it, not prolong the fight. On the same note, don’t be a cowboy and always play it safe - if you don’t have the confidence to take an early shot at a ‘green’ fish, then don’t.
Even with species like tuna I have found myself using the boat more and more to shorten the fight and get the fish fast. The key is to get the angler and skipper to communicate and work together to predict the fish’s behaviour as opposed to reacting to it. Being one step ahead will mean you will get that fish fast, sometimes even quicker than the big boats. Who said trailer-boats are disadvantaged?
Wind-on advantages
The first advantage of wind-on leaders is to remove the need to trace the fish. There are a number of problems involved with tracing a fish from a trailer boat. The lack of space means you can’t all go to the same side of the boat to leader the fish. The best way around this problem is to employ wind-on leaders. Winding the leader directly onto the reel immediately removes the need for a trace man and suddenly things are looking a lot more balanced.Another big advantage wind-ons offer is that the amount of pressure put on the fish doesn’t change during the final stages the fight. When a trace man takes the leader he immediately applies additional pressure. The sudden increase in weight nearly always causes the fish to react, which is when dangerous situations arise. By using wind-ons the angler maintains steady pressure and as a result the fish is more relaxed and minimises the chance of it suddenly going berserk.
Play it safe
1. Always carry an Epirb and keep it handy. 2. Know your own ability as well as your vessel's. 3. Understand your engine's fuel consumption and how it varies in different conditions. 4. Always watch the weather and let someone know where you're fishing. 5. No fishing trip is worth your life.Source: http://www.fishing.net.nz/index.cfm/pageid/56/view/yes/editorialID/...
More News: http://gofishtalk.com/forum/topics/catching-big-fish-from-little-boats
Thursday, 4 October 2012
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Hamparan indah di puncak Bukit Pelangi
Hamparan indah di puncak Bukit Pelangi
Oleh Abdul Hanif Hadis |
AIR terjun Bukit Pelangi di Sungai Lembing, Pahang, dikatakan sangat terkenal kerana keindahannya.
AIR terjun Bukit Pelangi di Sungai Lembing, Pahang, dikatakan sangat terkenal kerana keindahannya. Air terjun yang tingginya melebihi 50 meter itu dan terpaksa meredah bukit yang licin serta sukar memang menjadi tumpuan peminat alam semula jadi. Saban bulan ada saja kumpulan yang meredah hutan untuk melihat kemunculan pelangi pada waktu pagi apabila air terjun disinari matahari.
Kami dua kumpulan satu daripada syarikat akhbar manakala satu kumpulan lagi dari satu bank terkemuka di negara ini semua seramai 24 peserta dengan lapan kereta berlepas dari Kuala Lumpur menuju Kuantan kemudian menuju Sungai Lembing yang sebelum ini memang terkenal sebagai pekan lombong bijih timah dalam tanah yang terbesar di Asia. Bagaimanapun sejak lombong berkenaan ditutup kerana dianggap tidak menguntungkan Pekan Sungai Lembing semakin ditinggalkan dan aktiviti ekonomi bertukar kepada perladangan dan pertanian.
Kira-kira jam 12 tengah hari kami bertolak dari Kuala Lumpur melalui Lebuh raya Karak (waktu itu lebuh raya Karak-Kuantan belum dibina), kami menyusuli Bandar Karak, kemudian Temerloh. Rakan-rakan minta berhenti sekejap untuk makan tengah hari di Temerloh untuk menikmati ikan patin masak tempoyak. Memang menyelerakan kami makan sekenyang-kenyangnya, peniaga gerai di situ senyum memanjang melihat kami makan seolah-olah tidak ada hari esok.
Selepas makan lapan kereta bergerak semula terus ke Kuantan dan menyusuli laluan ke Pekan Sungai Lembing. Dari Sungai Lembing kami terus menyusuli jalan kecil tanah merah ke satu kawasan yang sudah dijanjikan oleh pemandu pelancong. Apabila kami tiba di satu kawasan tempat pengumpulan balak pemandu pelancong meminta kami menyusun kereta di satu kawasan khas yang dikawal penduduk tempatan. Semua peserta ekspedisi itu diminta turun dan menaiki traktor kerana kawasan air terjun berkenaan kira-kira dua jam menaiki traktor dari kawasan kami meletak kereta.
Pemandu pelancong itu memberitahu disebabkan jalan terlalu buruk semua kenderaan tidak dibenarkan masuk dan peserta ekspedisi terpaksa menaiki kenderaan yang disediakan. Mereka tidak ada pilihan hanya traktor saja yang ada jika tidak ekspedisi itu akan dibatalkan. Akhirnya semua peserta akur dan menganggap ini satu pengalaman yang perlu ditempuh.
Disebabkan traktor hanya ada dua unit kumpulan kami diangkut berkumpulan. Kumpulan pertama 12 orang dari kumpulan kakitangan bank perlu masuk dulu kemudian 12 lagi kumpulan kami dari syarikat akhbar menyusuli kemudian yang akan diambil oleh kenderaan yang sama. Selepas dua jam menunggu akhirnya giliran kami tiba untuk menaiki traktor untuk menuju kaki bukit kawasan air terjun.
Apabila kumpulan kami tiba di kaki bukit air terjun berkenaan, kumpulan pertama yang sepatutnya menunggu kami sudah tidak sabar dan terus naik ke puncak bukit kawasan air terjun yang menjadi tujuan ekspedisi. Pada mulanya semua peserta akan bergerak bersama dan tiba di kemuncak serta berkhemah sehingga esok dan turun bersama selepas melihat pelangi air terjun berkenaan.
Ketika kami tiba di kaki bukit berkenaan hari sudah lewat petang, kumpulan kami terpaksa meredah hutan dan memanjat bukit untuk ke tempat tujuan. Kami bergerak dengan satu pemandu pelancong penduduk tempatan yang memang mahir di kawasan itu. Dalam perjalanan pemandu berkenaan bercerita ada kumpulan yang terpaksa pulang kosong kerana mempunyai niat tidak baik. Beliau berharap semua peserta tidak terlalu celupar ketika berkhemah atau melihat sesuatu di kawasan puncak air terjun.
Kira-kira lebih satu jam kami mendaki tiba-tiba terdengar suara kumpulan yang pertama tadi menuruni bukit. Ketika kami berselisih mereka bercerita tidak dapat melihat apa pun di puncak air terjun selain hutan tebal. Apatah lagi untuk mendirikan khemah jadi mereka mengambil keputusan untuk turun semula dan berkhemah di kaki bukit.
Kami sedar ini ada sesuatu yang tidak kena terhadap kumpulan berkenaan, pemandu pelancong bertanya kami sama ada ingin terus atau berpatah balik. Kumpulan kami menjawab serentak ingin terus dan kalau boleh berkhemah di puncak bukit. Akhirnya kumpulan pertama menuruni bukit manakala kumpulan kami terus mendaki.
Kira-kira satu jam mendaki akhirnya kami terdengar deruan air terjun dan di situlah tujuan asal kami. Setiba kami di kawasan berkenaan kami melihat satu kawasan lapang seperti hamparan permaidani berwarna hijau dan suasananya sangat nyaman dan sejuk. Terfikir oleh ahli kumpulan kami kenapa kumpulan yang pertama tadi tidak melihat suasana ini dan terpaksa berpatah balik kerana tidak ada kawasan langsung untuk berkhemah.
Malam itu kami berkhemah, selepas makan malam dengan hidangan yang dibawa kami sempat melihat keindahan alam pada waktu malam ketika berada di puncak bukit. Bintang-bintang bertaburan menyebabkan keadaan malam sungguh indah dan damai. Malam itu kami dapat pula memancing udang di air terjun ada di antara kami pula bertanya dari mana datangnya udang ini semua tidak menjawab hanya sekadar diam.
Keesokan pagi selepas solat subuh, kami berkumpul di satu sudut menghala ke tengah kawasan air terjun menunggu terbitnya matahari. Daripada pancaran matahari itu terbentuklah pelangi yang sangat indah. Berjam-jam lamanya kami menikmati keindahan itu dan sempat mengambil gambar sebagai kenangan. akhirnya menjelang tengah hari apabila matahari meninggi pelangi hampir hilang dari pandangan kami pun berangkat untuk pulang dengan satu kenangan yang tidak dapat dilupakan.
Setibanya di kaki bukit kumpulan pertama yang berkhemah di situ bertanya kami bagaimana kumpulan kami tidur dan mereka terpinga-pinga apabila kami menceritakan apa yang dapat kami lihat dan rasakan.
Selain itu kami juga sempat merakamkan pelangi di air terjun berkenaan dan gambarnya disimpan sehingga ke hari ini.
Pemandu pelancong yang membawa kaki ke puncak bukit pelangi itu hanya tersenyum kerana sebelum ini pun perkara berkenaan pernah berlaku. Apa yang penting untuk memastikan setiap tujuan kita mencapai matlamat, niat kita perlu jujur dan sentiasa muafakat dalam semua hal.
Kumpulan kami pulang ke Kuala Lumpur dengan penuh kegembiraan manakala rakan kumpulan satu lagi merasa kesal kerana terlalu gelojoh dalam setiap tindakan sehingga lupa bahawa mereka datang bersama dan sepatutnya pulang bersama.
Sumber: Hamparan indah di puncak Bukit Pelangi Oleh Abdul Hanif Hadis AIR terjun
Ikan Pelik dan Aneh Yang Mempunyai Gigi Manusia
Ikan Pelik dan Aneh Yang Mempunyai Gigi Manusia
By
Subhanallah. Maha Suci Allah. Tiada apa yang mustahil bagi Allah. Perlu diingat, ikan yang pelik dan aneh ini bukan lah dibuat-buat atau diedit oleh photoshop. Tetapi ini merupakan seekor ikan yang sangat luar biasa yang dijumpai oleh sekumpulan saintis tidak lama dahulu. Saintis pun tidak pasti jenis ikan ini dan dari keluarga mana. Kalau orang melayu, senang saje bagi depa nak namakan. Melayu kan kreatif. Panggil je ikan gigi. Takpun ikan gigi kuning. Tengok sahaja lah gigi ikan pelik lagi aneh ini, giginya sangat kuning. Lepas tu berlapis-lapis pulak tu kat dalam. Korang rasa ikan aneh dan pelik ni makan apa eh untuk hidup? Jeng jeng jeng…saja buat suspen. Apa-apa pun, perlu aku ingatkan yang kejadian ikan pelik dan aneh yang mempunyai gigi ini tidak la mustahil bagi Allah untuk menjadikannya. 70% lautan 30% daratan. Binatang kat darat pun kita tak abis jumpa, ni kan lautan yang penuh misteri? Betul tak?
Sumber Gambar: New Global Warming
Sumber: Melayukini.net/ Ikan Pelik dan Aneh Yang Mempunyai Gigi Manusia <!--google_ad_client = "ca-pub
Cancun Underwater Museum
Cancun Underwater Museum
7 May 2012No Comment
Underwater Museum in Cancun, Mexico – Submerge yourself in one of the most beautiful and clear waters of the world, The Mexican Caribbean. Cancun Underwater Museum is located underwater off the coast of Isla de Mujeres and Cancun, Mexico. It is an underwater museum with a series of sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor. The project began in November 2009 with placement of a hundred statues which had been previously damaged by storms, in shallow waters of the Cancún National Marine Park.
Source: Google image
The sculptures are created with pH-neutral marine concrete and are based on members of the local community. The artist planned the sculptures as artificial reefs with fire coral planted in the initial sculptures. Soon, it is going to be home to one of the largest underwater museums on the planet, located in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Forming this museum will be a series of underwater sculptural installations all sited within the protected National Marine Park, of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Source: Google image
Source: Google image
Divers and snorkellers will have the opportunity to admire more than 400 original sculptures in depths ranging from 9 to 20 feet. Jason deCaires Taylor offers a contemporary and cultural view to people around the world of how the Mayan people have evolved through out the years in “The Silent Evolution”. This monumental installation consists of more than 400 life size figurative sculptures. Also located in the museum, near the island of Isla Mujeres, a sculpture entitled “The Dream Collector” will be submerged, along with many other unique master pieces.
Source: Google image
Source: Google image
The purpose of having this underwater museum is to provide the visitors the opportunity to visit our pristine natural reefs while giving the opportunity to see the gorgeous sculptures. Other than that, it helps the conservation of the natural corals a lot This underwater museum also promote Cancun as a cultural and artistic developing area. This project can be continued as well because the growth of the project can invite many other fine artists for many years to come.
Being environmentally friendly, the sculptures are all designed to become artificial reefs and are constructed from special materials which promote marine life and create areas for corals and marine creatures to breed, take refuge, and this boost the local ecosystem. The appearance of the sculptures will change over time as the coral grows and marine life colonize the structures.
Source: Cancun Travel
Prehistoric Fish
Scientists: Prehistoric Fish had Bite Stronger than a T-rex; 'Able to Devour Anything'
Even more surprising is the fact that this fish could also open its mouth very quickly—in just one fiftieth of a second—which created a strong suction force, pulling fast prey into its mouth. Usually a fish has either a powerful bite or a fast bite, but not both.
CHICAGO, Illinois -- It could bite a shark in two. It might have been the first “king of the beasts.” And it could teach scientists a lot about humans, because it is in the sister group of all jawed vertebrates.
Dunkleosteus terrelli lived 400 million years ago, grew up to 33 feet long and weighed up to four tons. Scientist have known for years that it was a dominant predator, but new research to be published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters on November 29 reveals that the force of this predator’s bite was remarkably powerful: 11,000 pounds. The bladed dentition focused the bite force into a small area, the fang tip, at an incredible force of 80,000 pounds per square inch.
Even more surprising is the fact that this fish could also open its mouth very quickly—in just one fiftieth of a second—which created a strong suction force, pulling fast prey into its mouth. Usually a fish has either a powerful bite or a fast bite, but not both.
“The most interesting part of this work for me was discovering that this heavily armored fish was both fast during jaw opening and quite powerful during jaw closing,” said Mark Westneat, Curator of Fishes at The Field Museum and co-author of the paper. “This is possible due to the unique engineering design of its skull and different muscles used for opening and closing. And it made this fish into one of the first true apex predators seen in the vertebrate fossil record.” This formidable fish was a placoderms, a diverse group of armored fishes that dominated aquatic ecosystems during the Devonian, from 415 million to 360 million years ago. Dunkleosteus’ bladed jaws suggest that it was among the first vertebrates to use rapid mouth opening and a powerful bite to capture and fragment evasive prey prior to ingestion.
To determine the bite force, scientists used the fossilized skull of a Dunkleosteus terrelli to recreate the musculature of the ancient fish. This biomechanical model showed the jaw’s force and motion, and revealed a highly kinetic skull driven by a unique mechanism based on four rotational joints working in harmony. The extinct fish had the strongest bite of any fish ever, and one of the strongest bites of any animal, rivaling the bites of large alligators and Tyrannosaurus rex.
Thus Dunkleosteus was able to feast on armored aquatic animals that also lived during the Devonian, including sharks, arthropods, ammonoids, and others protected by cuticle, calcium carbonate, or dermal bone.
“Dunkleosteus was able to devour anything in its environment,” said Philip Anderson, at the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and lead author of the research. The bladed jaws, capable of ripping apart prey larger than its own mouth, is a feature sharks didn’t develop until 100 million years later.
“Overall, this study shows how useful mechanical engineering theory can be in studying the behavior of fossil animals,” he added. “We cannot actually watch these animals feed or interact, but we can understand the range of possible behaviors by examining how the preserved parts are shaped and connected to each other.”
Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of UnderwaterTimes.com, its staff or its advertisers.
Source: Underwatertime.com
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