Re: Caudipteryx and "Whulks"

[Danvarner@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/26/99 3:20:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Jonkeria@aol.com 
writes:

<< 
 The complete lack of probable planktivorous (suspension-feeding) seagoing 
 reptiles in the Mesozoic is indeed a puzzler, and although people like Mike 
 Everhart or Dan Varner could probably answer this question much better than 
 I, one answer is that diapsid reptiles, unlike marine mammals, do not have 
 the morphology needed to form a tight seal at the back of the mouth in order 
 to expel unwanted water but retain plankton. Also, of course the reptiles 
 have no neck slits like gills which fish use to filter feed.  >>

  You pretty much say it all. 
  There is a very strange pliosaurid(?)( Darren, help!) from South America 
that is known mainly from pen-and-ink drawings to my knowledge- I tried to 
find a reference, maybe someone out there can help me.
  The oceans literally bloomed in the Cretaceous, hence the name. 
  A very interesting survivor of the K/T event is the whale shark, 
Rhinocodon(?). This is one animal that really shouldn't have made it across 
the threshold. But I'm glad it did and hope to see one someday. Perhaps it 
survived because it is not strictly a filter-feeder. Dan Varner.