Review
Dunkleosteus Strike Attack Jurassic World Survival Review
The Dunkleosteus is a marine creature me and my son enjoy in the Feed and Grow Fish. This is a terrifying prehistoric fish with a massive bone plates instead of teeth was terrorising the oceans. The figure is definitely smaller than I expected even though I was not expecting much since it is a Strike Attack figure. Still it looks better in hand than pre-release images that were circulating the internet.
🎮 About the Survival Line
📋 Sculpt Note
About the Toy
1. Sculpt and painting
Paint Scheme: Dark Blue, Ligh Blue, White/Yellow, Black and Red
The primary body color is a very dark, almost navy blue that works well for a deep-water predator. There are stripes of light blue on top of the head and the face. The bone plate instead in body color is painted in very light yellow and stands out as a very big, even comically big single tooth.
Dunkleosteus did not have true teeth. Instead, it had self-sharpening bony jaw plates that were extensions of its jawbones, forming razor-sharp blades capable of slicing through armor and crushing bone.
These plates sharpened themselves every time the fish closed its mouth. The Mattel figure stylizes these plates into prominent fang-like protrusions that look very much like oversized teeth, especially with the off-white paint applied. The actual plates of the real animal are what made it one of the most powerful biters in vertebrate history.
The head sculpt carries a bumpy skin texture that reads as armored plating throughout the face, fitting the natural look of a placoderm. The jaw plate protrusions are prominent and dominate the front of the figure, giving it a menacing look that will be liked by all the kids, how menacing it looks.
The fin damage detail is the best thing about this figure. The dorsal fin carries visible holes and worn edges that give it a genuine battle-worn look. One of the rear fins has holes that go completely through the material which is a very nice touch.
This kind of wear storytelling, consistently used through the Survival line, is particularly effective here because Dunkleosteus was the kind of apex predator that would have been in regular violent contact with armored prey. The damage reads as earned rather than decorative.
The rest of the body has a solidly armored appearance throughout, fitting the natural biology of a placoderm. Moving from the head into the body, the armored look continues along the top, with the dark blue providing good contrast against the silver dorsal fin rising above it.
The tail fin looks good with the same damage aesthetic carried through. Lots of edges and surface texture consistent with the rest of the figure. The tail curves slightly when viewed from above, adding a natural swimming posture feel.
2. Action Feature & Articulation
Dunkleosteus comes with a button on the top of the head that activates the jaw chomp, moving both upper and lower jaws. This is the primary action feature. The tail moves left and right, but is a loose articulated joint rather than button-driven, which gives it a slightly unintentional wobble in the hand. The overall action feature package is straightforward as the jaw chomp for Strike Attack format is exactly what you would expect, and it works cleanly.
- Jaw (both upper and lower, button activated)
- All four fins (swivel)
- Tail (left and right articulation)
Verdict Should I buy it?
If you love the prehistoric moster fish Dunkleosteus. The very affordable price of the figure is a good trade of for the actual size of the figure. But the damage detail on the fins is some of the best in the Strike Attack range, the metallic silver elements read well against the dark blue body.
How to unlock
How to unlock Dunkleosteus Strike Attack in Jurassic World Survival Collection?
Open up your Jurassic World Play App (previously known as the Jurassic World Facts App), press the Scan button and point it towards the DNA code here:
3. About the Dunkleosteus
"In its time, Dunkleosteus terrelli was likely the largest and most undefeatable animal to have existed in Ohio. Three hundred and fifty-eight million years ago, a shallow sea teeming with marine life covered Northeast Ohio, and Dunkleosteus ruled it."
Dunkleosteus is an extinct genus of large arthrodire placoderm fish that lived during the Late Devonian period, approximately 382 to 358 million years ago, predating the dinosaurs by over 150 million years. Its name honors paleontologist David Dunkle, who studied the fossils extensively. The largest and best-known species is Dunkleosteus terrelli, named for Jay Terrell, who first discovered remains along the Lake Erie cliffs in 1867. Fossils have been found in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Poland, and Morocco. At least ten species are currently recognized, though the validity of several remains debated.
Dunkleosteus had no true teeth. Instead it possessed self-sharpening bony jaw plates that formed razor-sharp cutting blades, re-sharpening themselves every time the animal closed its mouth. Biomechanical studies suggest it could open its jaws in approximately 20 milliseconds and generate bite forces estimated among the highest of any fish, living or extinct. The armored head and thorax were covered in thick interlocking bony plates, while the rear of the body was unarmored and likely cartilaginous. Because only the armored front portions are typically preserved as fossils, estimates of the animal’s total length vary enormously: a 2023 study using a new orbital measurement method suggested typical adults were approximately 3.4 metres (11 feet), much smaller than older estimates of 6 to 9 metres, though the debate continues. Whatever its actual length, it was among the first true vertebrate apex predators in Earth’s history and was capable of hunting armored prey including other placoderms.
No. Dunkleosteus did not have true teeth at all. Instead, it had self-sharpening bony jaw plates, which were extensions of the jawbones forming razor-sharp blades. These plates re-sharpened themselves every time the animal closed its mouth. The Mattel figure stylizes these plates to look like large fang-like protrusions painted in an off-white tooth color, which is an exaggeration, but it is inspired by the real, extraordinary jaw structure of Dunkleosteus.
The figure measures approximately 15 cm (just over 6 inches) from mouth to tail tip and stands around 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) tall propped on its fins. This is smaller than I have expected but for the price and novelty it is a perfect purchase
A button on the top of the head activates a jaw chomp feature, moving both upper and lower jaws. The tail is articulated with a loose left/right joint. All four fins have swivel articulation and can be repositioned.
This is actively debated. Older estimates placed Dunkleosteus terrelli at 6 to 9 metres in length, but a 2023 study using a new measurement method suggested typical adults were closer to 3.4 metres (about 11 feet), with the largest known specimen reaching roughly 4.1 metres. Because only the armored front portions are typically preserved as fossils, body shape and total length remain uncertain.
Open the Jurassic World Play App, tap the Scan button, and point it at the DNA barcode on the Dunkleosteus front right fin.
