Re: Tanystropheus

[Mark Sumner <range@inlink.com>]

Steve Jackson wrote:

> My problem beast of the day is Tanystropheus. I've got one personal
> communication and one (old) reference, and they disagree wildly on length
> (20' vs. 35') and vertebrae in neck (10 vs. 29). One also stated that it
> was a probable ancestor of modern lizards. Pointers or references would be
> appreciated!

At the risk of invoking further ire, I would venture that Tanystropheus
is far too specializes a beast to be the direct ancestor of modern
lizards.

(But, by God, someone probably has the cladistics to prove me 
wrong. <g>)

Mark
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