Fwd: Re: Dominant Mesozoic varanids?

["Larry Dunn" <larrydunn@hotmail.com>]

From: Bill Adlam <wa105@mead.anglia.ac.uk>

>Dear Larry,
>
>You asked the Dino List:
>
>>Were there any varanids in the Mesozoic comparable in size to 
Megalania 
>>prisca...
>
>I didn't know about Megalania.  How big was it?

It was really big.  Possibly twice as long as a Komodo Monitor.  The 
Australian paleontologists apparently call it the Great Ripper in their 
picturesque way.  

>I'm sure some smart Alec is going to say 'Mosasaurus'.

Not so smart, actually.  That response A) totally ignores the context of 
the question and B) skips over the fact that the mosasaur-varanid 
connection has been called into question lately.  I believe that 
mosasaurs are now thought to have been more closely related to snakes.

I've forwarded this to the list because Bill predicted accurately.  Any 
actual responses still welcome.

Larry

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