What does the Greek derivation of the name Xiphactinus roughly reference?
Answer
The large pectoral fin spine discovered at that time.
The genus name *Xiphactinus* was constructed from Greek components that translate roughly to 'sword-ray.' This nomenclature choice was directly linked to specific physical evidence available to Joseph Leidy when he established the genus in 1870. The term was specifically intended to reference the large pectoral fin spine that had been discovered, which gave the ancient fish a distinct, sharp, sword-like appearance in that specific anatomical feature, rather than referencing its overall body shape or predatory success.
Related Questions
What physical characteristic defines membership in Class Actinopterygii for Xiphactinus?How did Xiphactinus compare in size to its contemporaries in the Order Ichthyodectiformes?Who formally established the genus name Xiphactinus in 1870?Which family did Joseph Leidy initially suspect Xiphactinus belonged to?What does the Greek derivation of the name Xiphactinus roughly reference?Which species discovery in 1997 expanded the known temporal distribution of the genus?What characteristic confirms Xiphactinus's placement within Phylum Chordata?What synonym, used by Cope in the 1870s, was eventually superseded by Xiphactinus?What ecological niche did the Order Ichthyodectiformes primarily dominate during the Mesozoic?What criteria likely determined the placement of Xiphactinus within Family Ichthyodectidae?When did Xiphactinus cease to exist following the K–Pg extinction event?