Researchers believe the creature, named Nihohae matakoi, used its horizontal teeth to thrash at prey before gulping it down.
A bizarre predatory dolphin that lived 25 million years ago and had long, sharp teeth jutting straight out from its snout has been discovered in a museum collection in New Zealand.
Ambre Coste, a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand and lead author of a study on the dolphin, had noticed the strange skull in the collection and realized how well preserved and complete it was."That's what made this skull so interesting," she told Live Science. Close examination of the teeth showed very little wear and tear, suggesting it is unlikely the animal was rooting around in the sand for food.
Sawfish are rays with snouts that look like long, flat chainsaws. According to a 2012 study in the journal Current Biology, juvenile sawfish"thrash" at food by hitting them with their teeth."They just whack their heads back and forth," Coste said."And that will injure or stun and kill that sort of prey, so then it’s easier to go and slurp it up."
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