Monster 9ft long prehistoric SALMON with spikes that could kill sharks discovered by boffins

Last updated: 2024/04/25 at 1:13 PM

Chloe Cawood

3 Min Read

Oncorhynchus rastrosus, the largest member of the Salmonidae family - fossil compared with artists impression. (Picture: Jam Press)

A monster 9ft long prehistoric SALMON that could kill sharks has been discovered by boffins.

The fish had tusk-like spikes.

It was believed to live in the north west Pacific Ocean waters millions of years ago.

It went extinct around almost five million years ago, as reported by What’s The Jam.

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Researchers found that the fish – which is the largest member of the Salmonidae family – was almost 9ft (2.7m) long.

They previously thought that the aquatic creature had huge teeth that pointed backwards – similar to fangs.

But they recently discovered these pointed out to the sides like razor sharp tusks.

The latest study, by researchers at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine looked at CT scans of fish fossils.

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Boffins have unearthed a monstrous 9ft prehistoric salmon armed with tusk-like spikes, suggesting it could have been a formidable predator in the ancient Pacific Ocean, capable even of fending off sharks. — *Oncorhynchus rastrosus, the largest member of the Salmonidae family – Fossil. (Picture: Jam Press)*

This has led them to dub the fish the ‘spike-toothed salmon.’

Scientist Kerin Claeson led the study.

He said it could have “easily killed a shark.”

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Claeson and his team believe that the terrifying-looking salmon, likely swam in side-to-side motions.

This would have allowed the fish to take swings against predators.

However, other researchers think that male salmon could have been using the spikes to intimidate competitors for mates.

The study reads: “Extant Pacific salmon are sexually dimorphic, anadromous fishes navigating complex terrains to successfully breed.

”They undergo impressive physiological and morphological transformations prior to and during migration inland to spawn.

”Oncorhynchus rastrosus was no exception, despite its huge size and unusual filter feeding ecology.

”The newly recovered specimens from the Gateway Locality of Oregon represent mature individuals with subtle dimorphism in the vomer, rostro-dermethmoid-supraethmoid, and dentary.

It adds: “These spikes on the hypertrophied premaxilla could have defended against predators, enhanced agonism against conspecific individuals, and/or aided nest construction.”

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