Re: JP3 Thoughts (frilled Dilophosaurus revisited)

["Demetrios M. Vital" <vita0015@umn.edu>]

On 20 Jul 2001, Bruce E Shillinglaw wrote:
>     Which leads to another topic - sort of... In terms of venomous
snakes, I
> thought that the venom was highly modified saliva, not a derivative of
> protective body-toxins. This would make sense, since the venom would
start
> the digestive process from the inside out...
>     Any thoughts or comments?

THat's what I have heard, too.  The venom glands, like I wrote in a post a
few days ago, are highly modified external oral glands, and I believe the
original glandular function was saliva.  Again, that's why theropods can't
be venomous like snakes and lizards; they don't have external oral glands.

-Demetrios Vital