Who formally established the genus name Xiphactinus in 1870?
Answer
Joseph Leidy
The formal establishment of the genus name *Xiphactinus* is attributed specifically to Joseph Leidy. This designation occurred in the year 1870. The name was derived from Greek words that were interpreted to mean 'sword-ray,' a name likely chosen due to the initial discovery of a large pectoral fin spine associated with the creature. This initial naming was significant, though it was based on limited material, contributing to later classification instability until the synonymy issues were resolved.
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confirms Xiphactinus's placement within Phylum Chordata?What synonym, used by Cope in the 1870s, was eventually superseded by Xiphactinus?What ecological niche did the Order Ichthyodectiformes primarily dominate during the Mesozoic?What criteria likely determined the placement of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?