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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Extinction
Message-ID: <763@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Nov-84 10:18:57 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.763
Posted: Fri Nov  9 10:18:57 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 04:43:22 EST
References: <1072@ihuxr.UUCP>, <240@uf-csg.UUCP> <247@uf-csg.UUCP>, <443@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
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[I have this neurotic fear of nuclear war.]

>> 	If the major reason for the extinction of the dinosaurs is the Flood
>> that Noah survived, then why did the aquatic dinosuars die?  Many of them 
>> were as adapted, if not better adapted, than whales, which survived.

>Aquatic dinosaurs?  Like crocodiles and alligators?

I believe the reference here is to the plesiosaurs.  On the basis of
their skeletal features they are distinctly different from crocodiles
and alligators.  In fact, they were true aquatic animals (as opposed
to crocs which have an amphibious lifestyle).  They are usually
assigned, on the basis of their skeletons, a closer degree of relationship
to dinosaurs than to crocodiles.  
                         
"I can't help it if my     Ethan Vishniac
    knee jerks"         {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                           Department of Astronomy
                           University of Texas
                           Austin, Texas 78712