Re: CROCODYLOMORPH ENDOTHERMY

["Nicholas J. Pharris" <pharrinj@PLU.edu>]

On Fri, 26 Jan 1996 Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 96-01-25 21:15:07 EST, pharrinj@PLU.edu (Nicholas J.
> Pharris) writes:
> 
> >Just as they are secondarily sprawling, have secondarily short necks and 
> >limbs, and have a secondarily imperfectly divided heart.  Anyway, I heard 
> >someone mention that crocs do retain *some* heat-producing capability.
> >
> >
> 
> A lot of secondaries here, methinks. A secondarily imperfectly divided heart?
> Since when?

Yes, but all of the secondaries mentioned above are well attested by 
fossils--except for the heart, of course.  The croc heart, as I 
understand it, is essentially four-chambered, but there is a valve that 
can allow mixing of blood when the animal is submerged and therefore 
cannot breathe.

Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(206)535-8204
PharriNJ@PLU.edu

"If you can't convince them, confuse them." -- Harry S. Truman