Re: JP3 Thoughts (frilled Dilophosaurus revisited)

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

On 24 Jul 2001, christopher robert noto wrote:
> Waaaiiit a minute...how do we know that dinosaurs didn't have external
> oral glands?  Is it something found lacking in extant archosaurs (birds
> and crocs)?  Is there skeletal evidence on the skull to support this
> conclusion?
>
> Chris Noto

Crocs don't have them, neither do birds.  That's why those two groups don't
have lips.  The lips in lizards and snakes are a result of the growth of
skin over those glands.  I'll have to refer you to a paper written by HP
Tracy Ford, about lipless theropods (the refs of which I don't have on
hand), for more information.

-Demetrios Vital