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Tuatara (living fossil)



>>>>> On Wed, 22 Mar 1995 16:45:54 -0500, Tom Holtz
>>>>> <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov> said:

>> The tuatara appears, from first glance, to be the most primitive (i.e.,
>> least derived) reptile alive.  In fact, recent discoveries show that it is
>> a secondarily "primitive" animal, having ancestors with a more derived
>> anatomical condition.

To the lay-person, tuatatas look like a lizard.  Are lizards in fact
their closest relatives?

--
Jim Foley                             Symbios Logic, Fort Collins
Jim.Foley@FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM                (303) 223-5100 x9765