Re: stego time line, thagomizer

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>I think this classic cartoon has been picked up by (some subset of) the
>paleontology community, and the word thagomizer semi-officially refers
>to the grouping of 4 or 6 spikes at the tail of a Stegosaurus.
>does anyone know if `thagomizer' been used as a specific term in a
>refereed paper?  Conference lecture?

Since Ken hasn't yet posted a response:

At the 1993 meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carpenter
and Small described a new specimen of Stegosaurus stenops.  During this
lecture, Ken described the discovery, the plate arrangement (two pairs,
alternating), and said "...and now, on the the Thagomizer" while he showed
a slide of the famous Far Side cartoon.

Several of us in the dino community have picked up on this, and have
informally used "thagomizer" as the 4 or more (much more than 6 in
stegosaurs like Kentrosaurus!)-spiked weapon at the end of stegosaur tails.
I don't think anyone has used this term yet in a techincal paper or text
book, but that may change soon.

(And, since this structure is morphologically distinct from true tail
clubs, such as ankylosaurids, polacanthids, and some sauropods possessed,
it really does need a name...).

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.