Which common victim appears frequently cited as a favored meal for Xiphactinus?
Answer
Protosphyraena
Paleontological evidence derived from stomach contents frequently associates Xiphactinus with Protosphyraena. The text specifically notes that Protosphyraena seems to have been a favored meal, suggesting it was targeted more often than other known prey species. This implies that Protosphyraena was readily available, perhaps due to its prevalence in the ecosystem, making it a primary component of the apex predator's diet alongside other large fish like Ichthyodectes.
Related Questions
What type of massive predator was Xiphactinus in terms of skeletal classification?Which common victim appears frequently cited as a favored meal for Xiphactinus?How large was the specific Gillicus found inside the Xiphactinus specimen relative to the predator?What consistent fossil evidence defines the dramatic method of consumption utilized by Xiphactinus?What feeding capability did Xiphactinus demonstrate regarding prey size compared to its own head?What was Xiphactinus's ecological status among predatory Osteichthyes in its environment?What crucial detail is noted about the contemporary fish Ichthyodectes and Protosphyraena?To which modern ecological roles is the feeding strategy of Xiphactinus sometimes analogized?What environmental condition characterized the seas where Xiphactinus thrived and required substantial prey?What characteristic suggests Xiphactinus had a highly specialized oral structure for consumption?