What common name did Edward Drinker Cope coin for some *Xiphactinus* specimens?
Answer
Bulldog Fish
Edward Drinker Cope, the paleontologist responsible for naming the genus *Xiphactinus*, also gave the common name "Bulldog Fish" to certain specimens he examined. This designation was likely influenced by the notably robust structure observed in the skull and jaw region of these particular fossil remains. The naming highlights Cope's direct interaction with the physical evidence and his interpretation of the fish's formidable head morphology as reminiscent of a bulldog, emphasizing its powerful appearance even among large predatory fish of the era.
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