Tag

Xiphactinus

All articles tagged with #xiphactinus

science12 days ago•6 min saved

Tooth in the Neck: Evidence of a Fatal Cretaceous Ocean Duel

Paleontologists describe a four-meter Polycotylus fossil from Alabama with a large Xiphactinus tooth embedded in its neck. CT scans and 3D modeling by UT undergraduates revealed a violent, likely fatal encounter in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, highlighting how even top marine predators faced deadly dangers in ancient oceans.

via SciTechDaily|

#cretaceous-oceans #ct-scanning #mooreville-chalk

animals22 days ago•19 min saved

Giant Xiphactinus likely killed a Polycotylus plesiosaur in a prehistoric predator clash

CT scans of a Polycotylus plesiosaur fossil reveal a giant Xiphactinus tooth lodged in its neck, providing direct evidence that top predators in Cretaceous seas fought or attacked each other; the bite likely contributed to the plesiosaur’s death and highlights a violent prehistoric ecosystem where apex predators occasionally clashed.

via Earth.com|

#animals #fossil #plesiosaur