Jávorka Sándor - Soós Lajos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 29. (Budapest 1935)

Fejérváry, G. J.: Further contributions to a monograph of the Megalanidae and fossil Varanidae - with notes on recent Varanians

the dorsal surface of the centre, in its anterior recess only. viz. so far as the anterior triangular prominence of the spinal canal reaches. Proceeding caudad, just before reaching the intervertebral space, it might have skimmed the vertebral canal's posterior triangular prominence (Text fig. 4.) though there are no cogent morphological proofs in favour of its having really done so: for the morphological and topographical conditions obtaining in the posterior portion of the neural canal make allowance for the supposition of the spinal cord's eventual\y having been separated from the said prominence by means of connective tissue that partly sundered, and, may be, partly overlaid the lateral spinal venes at their exit. In the latter case the spinal cord would have been excluded from the contact with the posterior osseous floor of the canal, there is, of course, no coercive evidence to be adduced to the benefit of such possibility. The osteological conditions, upon which these neurological and angiological inferences are based, are so plain (cfr. Pl. II. Fig. 3 & PI. III. Fig. 1) that they need not to be more closely explained to the reader who will find them speaking for themselves. The striking fact resulting from such analytic considerations is that the volume of Megalanian spinal cord proves to have been smaller even than we actually thought up to now. Those who are in the lucky position to dispose over full material may easily calculate the proportional ratio of spinal cord's volume and general body bulk, vertebral column bulk, &c, in Megalania. deriving, herefrom, valuable bionomic conclusions as to the peculiarities of this gigantic Lizard if compared to other forms, its nearest allies, the Varanians, in particular. I would, especially, recommend a thorough comparison with the famous Komodo „Dragon", Placovaranus komodoensis Ouw., the habit, skull and geographical occurrence of which seems particularly suggestive of drawing such parallel. We should also think of the question if Megalania too did not, after all, possess dermal ossifications? That possibility should be kept in view in both instances: either palaeontological field work or museal revision be concerned. As to the neural arch the most striking peculiarity consists in its shortness and considerable breadth — Megalania is, herein, approached, among \ aranians, by V. sivalensis FALC. only — as well as in its dorsal surface being very oblique: the angle enclosed by it and the median surface of the vertebral canal's anterior triangular prominence measuring about 41°. It is by this strong declivity and the very narrow spinal canal running, as it obviously has to, horizontally enough, that the enormous bulk of the neural arch, especial-