Xiphiorhynchus

Artist's reconstruction of X. rotundus

Xiphiorhynchus is an extinct, prehistoric swordfish that lived from the Eocene until the Oligocene. It is closely related to the modern-day swordfish.

Description

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Xiphiorhynchus resembled a swordfish. However, there's one minor difference. Its upper and lower jaws were extended to look like the point of a sword.

Lifestyle

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Xiphiorhynchus probably spent time in coastal areas of tropical seas. There are specimens of X. priscus and the holotype of X. kimbalocki.

Type species

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The type species is Xiphiorhynchus elegans.

The fossils

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Xiphiorhynchus is known from incomplete fossils.

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References

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  1. Xiphiorhynchus Archived 2024-01-24 at the Wayback Machine at Fossilworks.org.