Which geological periods define the span of the Xenacanthiformes order mentioned?
Answer
The Carboniferous well into the Triassic.
The longevity of the order Xenacanthiformes demonstrates the success of their specialized dietary strategy over vast expanses of geological time. The text explicitly states that this order persisted spanning from the Carboniferous period and continued well into the Triassic period. This extensive survival across major environmental shifts implies that their core dietary approach—harvesting smaller aquatic life in freshwater niches—was highly adaptable and efficient for millions of years.
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