| Xiphactinus had a dark blue back and light silver belly to
camouflage it from above and below. Sharp teeth at one end and a
powerful tail at the other combined to make it a formidable pursuit
hunter. Xiphactinus cruised in surface waters of the oceans. It caught
other large fish (swallowing creatures up to 2m long whole) and was
prepared to have a go at seabirds on the surface, like a floating
Hesperornis.
Above all else, Xiphactinus was a great swimmer, able to speed
towards or away from virtually anything else in the seas of the time. It
may have been able to leap above the waves at times to help dislodge
parasites from its skin. It was not however immune from attack. If
injured, its large size meant it was easy to spot and could become prey
for sharks.
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