Re: Use of the term "raptor" for theropod dinosaurs

["Nicholas J. Pharris" <pharrinj@PLU.edu>]

On Tue, 30 Apr 1996, Colin Swift wrote:

> Perhaps we can at least start a movement to put an apostrophe at the
> beginning of the word( " 'raptor ") - to acknowledge that it's a
> contraction?  But on the other hand, it's being used for _all_ dromaeosaurs,
> isn't it?

Yes, because Mr. Crichton, following the lead of our own dear Dr. Paul,
lumped all genera in the Velociraptorinae (_Velociraptor_, _Deinonychus_,
_Saurornitholestes_) into _Velociraptor_--not without justification,
BTW.  As _Dromaeosaurus_ and _Adasaurus_ are rarely referred to in
particular by the lay public, I don't know whether these fit under the
new definition of "raptor" or not.

BTW, I imagine the new meaning of "raptor" is spreading not only because
of JP and because it sounds "cool" but also because most of the general
public had NEVER KNOWN THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION.  I myself only ever heard
it in the occasional nature documentary.


> Regards to all!
> Colin Swift


Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(206)535-8206
PharriNJ@PLU.edu