What scenario involving a beached carcass suggests dietary flexibility for Xenotarsosaurus?
Answer
Scavenging
Visual representations, such as artwork, link Xenotarsosaurus to the behavior of scavenging, specifically suggesting it fed on a beached carcass. This behavior is ecologically significant because it indicates dietary flexibility, meaning the animal was not exclusively reliant on the high energy output and significant risk associated with actively pursuing and overpowering large, living prey. Accessing an already deceased animal provides a substantial, relatively safe caloric intake, representing an opportunistic resource exploitation tactic vital for survival.
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