Re: "lateral vein"

[Danvarner@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/6/02 1:43:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
j_mallon@hotmail.com writes:


<< Really?  I could almost swear it looks like some kind of giant vein or 
artery... >>


       I've never thought of it that way, but I can see what you mean. They 
do have a veiny look. I (unfortunately) had a female collared lizard named 
Daisy when I was a kid. She had the same structure on her sides on the 
outside of the ribs. It was a fold of very thin and loose skin. I loved to 
watch her run on her hindlegs like a little tyrannosaur. Other iguanids and 
varanids show this too. I don't know if he was the first, but Chas.R.Knight 
showed this feature on his dinosaurs quite often and made them quite 
decorative.
       I now always restore my mosasaurs with thick, wrinkled throats. You 
have to have some stretchin' room when you swallow big things whole. DV