Re: CROCODYLOMORPH ENDOTHERMY

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

On Fri, 26 Jan 1996 grenard@herpmed.com wrote:

> All living crocodilians have 4 fully formed heart chambers with a
> small "defect" or window known as the foramen of Panizza which diverts
> blood from useless lungs during submergence. Otherwise they have
> separate arteial, pulmonary and venous circulations with little or
> no venous admixture when surfaced or on land. I believe it is 
> the opinion of some that a 4-chambered heart predisposes to endothermy. 
> 

Indeed, or, rather, that only endothermy predisposes to a 4-chambered heart!

> -------------------------------------
> Steve Grenard
> 

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