During which geological ages did Xiphactinus maintain its predatory success?
Answer
Campanian and Maastrichtian ages
The fossil record clearly indicates that the highly successful predatory body plan and established apex niche of *Xiphactinus* persisted consistently across the Campanian and Maastrichtian ages. These two ages constitute a significant portion of the Late Cretaceous period. This morphological stability suggests that the creature was perfectly adapted to its environment for that extended duration until the K-Pg extinction event caused a massive ecological turnover that ultimately erased this specialized evolutionary line.
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