The intrinsic viscosity data for poly(decyl acrylate), poly(cetyl acrylate), poly(vinyl laurate), poly(vinyl stearate) and two polymethacrylates with long mesogenic side groups are reviewed and analysed by means of three sensitive plots. Unusual values of the Mark-Houwink-Kuhn-Sakurada exponent a(0) under theta conditions or in good solvents (A(2) not equal 0 but a(0) = 1/2) are assigned to a combination of the effects of long-chain branching, chain thickness and, in the last case, excluded volume.