To what modern aquatic shape is the unique, elongated body of Xenacanthus often compared?
Answer
An eel.
The anatomy of Xenacanthus featured a morphology quite distinct from many modern, streamlined sharks built for speed. Instead, the text highlights that Xenacanthus possessed a unique, elongated body shape that is frequently compared to that of an eel. This morphology, combined with its preference for benthic zones in freshwater systems throughout the Carboniferous and Permian periods, strongly suggested a lifestyle rooted in bottom-dwelling rather than open-water swimming or high-speed pelagic hunting.
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