Comments on: Watch Out For That Thagomizer!

By: Kentrosaurus Had a Formidable Swing | Dinosaur Tracking

Kentrosaurus Had a Formidable Swing | Dinosaur Tracking — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:37:50 +0000

[...] one of my favorite bits of fossil terminology, the spiked tails of stegosaurs are known as “thagomizers.”) Get hit with a tail like that and you’d be turned into an instant shish kebab. But just [...]

By: Art

Art — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:30:32 +0000

I wonder if the breakage of the spikes isn’t something of a design feature. Porcupine quills, sea urchin spines, even a common wood splinter in a finger all tend to break off and stay embedded. Where they fester until removed. Once removed they heal well enough but until that time they are a constant annoyance and object lesson. Carry a railroad-size spike in your flesh for a few weeks and, assuming it doesn’t get so infected it kills you, or make you vulnerable to other predators, you might find thagomizer armed dinosaurs less appetizing.

By: Friday Fun Link Roundup « Galileo's Pendulum

Friday Fun Link Roundup « Galileo's Pendulum — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:44 +0000

[...] What’s a “thagomizer? (Hint: scientists still miss “The Far Side”. A lot. We don’t like to talk about it much. It’s still too painful.) [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:13:04 +0000

I had forgotten the Larson cartoon until you reminded me about it. Unfortunately, I lost my Far Side collection in a house fire a few years ago.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:32 +0000

Well I’d say a broken tail spike is preferable to being eaten!