Re: Prolacerta/Prolacertaform Sources

In article <8hRYf.66807$dW3.4171@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
John Harshman <jharshman.diespamdie@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Alan Kellogg wrote:

Did a 'clusty' on 'prolacerta' and found a number of sources. I am now
looking for more, both online and offline. Yes, I did locate a listing
for a book on prolacerta in Antarctica, but it's out of print. If you
know where I can find information on the beast it would be most
appreciated.

From the one picture I found on the web I'd have to say the animal
somewhat resembled a monitor lizard superficially. Perhaps the artist
was thinking monitor when he did the rendition.

Wouldn't Tanystropheus work better from your perspective?

Not really, Tanystropheus is already too specialized. Prolacerta, while
specialized to soom degree, still has a degree of evolutionary wiggle
room. Understand that in the world creation business - even when said
world is a fantastical one - versimilitude and plausibility count for a
lot. You would think that it would be a case of anything goes, but in
truth the aim is to be as faithful to reality in the mundane aspects,
the better to encourage the acceptance of the fantastic when it appears.

Using a real world animal as ancestor to a suite of fantasy creatures
(pseudo-mamalliforms for example) adds to the reader's experience.
(Think Dinotopia, only without the quasi-utopianism.)

Really, when you want to explore alternate evolutionary pathways you
need an animal with potential, not one that has become highly
specialized.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Prolacerta/Prolacertaform Sources
    ... for a book on prolacerta in Antarctica, ... Using a real world animal as ancestor to a suite of fantasy creatures ... (pseudo-mamalliforms for example) ... The first members of the sub-order Draciform rather resembled North ...
    (sci.bio.paleontology)
  • Re: Prolacerta/Prolacertaform Sources
    ... for a book on prolacerta in Antarctica, ... Using a real world animal as ancestor to a suite of fantasy creatures ... real problem to swallow is that duplication of the forelimbs, ... nothing of the sort has ever happened in vertebrate evolution. ...
    (sci.bio.paleontology)