Re: Dinosaurs and the virus [Was simply: Re:]

[Jura <archosaur@reptilis.net>]

The most popular non-dinosaurian reptiles to go extinct were the marine 
reptiles: the plesiosaurs and the mosasaurs. In the air, pterosaurs were 
another large group to disappear. On an interesting (if not entirely arguable) 
note, crocodilians, lizards, snakes, turtles, mammals and birds seemed to have 
come through the extinction pretty well.

Jura

___________________


>Dear Jura,
>
>Thank you so much for your excellent responses!
>
>You brought to my mind a lot of questions that I never considered...like I 
>said, I'm no dinosaur expert :o) But I am really interested, so thanks for 
>sharing your thoughts.
>
>Also, when I mentioned level four viruses, I was referring to the ones that 
>are generally untreatable, and almost always fatal. There are about 20 viruses 
>categorized in level four, including Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa. After talking 
>with a few zoologists and herpetologists, I learned that there has (so far) 
>been no documented case of a reptile contracting one of these diseases. I have 
>also learned that there is little research in this area, and whether they can 
>get these "level fours" is actually unknown at this point. And I know this 
>doesn't have much to do with my point, but it was really what made me wonder 
>about reptiles getting viruses that can be spread not only between themselves, 
>but to other species, including birds and humans. And then, of course, I 
>started wondering about the dinosaurs and possibly whether they may have 
>succumbed to a level-four-type virus because they were warm-blooded, while the 
>cold-blooded animals escaped. 
>
>But after talking with you, I realize that I made a huge generalization -- I 
>implied that all reptiles survived. I see my error in plain light. I didn't 
>consider (or even research) the idea that there may have been herps that 
>didn't make it. And I was wondering if you might be able to give me some 
>examples of reptiles that perished along with the dinosaurs...
>
>Again, thanks for your communication; I think this forum is wonderful!
>
>Sincerely,
>Jomana