RE: New issue of JVP 2001(2) (no JOKE)

["Tracy L. Ford" <dino.hunter@home.com>]

Tracy L. Ford
P. O. Box 1171
Poway Ca  92074

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
Jaime A. Headden
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 9:54 PM
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Cc: kinman@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: New issue of JVP 2001(2) (no JOKE)

Ken,

  There is precedent in regarding etymologies in these names by
their meaning, and not given interpretation. I will never call
*Tyrannosaurus* the "Hitler Lizard" for instance.<<

 Ah, I thought the use of raptor meant 'theif or robber, not snatcher.
Snatcher gives it a totally different meaning.

  *Oviraptor* = snatcher of eggs
Etymology: Latin, ovum "egg" and Latin, raptor, "robber", Egg stealer.

  *Conchoraptor* = snatcher of shells

Etymology: Greek, konche, "shellfish, mussel" and Latin, raptor, "rober,
plunder", Shell plunder.
 *Velociraptor* = snatcher of swift[ness]
Latin, velocis (Velox), "swift", and Latin, raptor "robber", Swift robber.
So it's not snatcher of swiftness, but was a Swift (quick, fast, etc.)
animal.

  *Utahraptor* = snatcher of [a/the] Utah [as if there was an
object called a Utah that could be grasped between the limbs]
Etymology: Name refers to the occurrence of this formidable predatory
dinosaur in Utah, " Utah's predator." Not snatcher of Utah, but Utah's
thief.

  *Bambiraptor* = snatcher of Bambi [not _ever_ in reference to
the Disney character, or the Italian word "bambino", but as a
nickname for the specimen]
Etymology: Bambi: from the now widely used nickname for the holotype,
originally coined by the Linster family, Greek, 'raptor', robber.


  *Rapator* [probably? a "revision" of _raptor_] = snatcher?
Etymology: Latin, raptor "plunderer".


  *Eoraptor* = snatcher of the dawn
Etymology: Eos, dawn (Greek) in reference to its primitive nature and early
temporal occurrence, raptor , plunder (Latin) in reference to its
carnivorous habits and grasping hand.


  *Variraptor* = snather of [a/the] Var [same as Utahraptor]
Etymology: French, Var, A river and an administrative department, and Latin,
raptor, "thief": Var theif.


  *Pyroraptor* = snatcher of fire
Etymology: Greek, pyros, " fire ", and Latin, raptor, " theif " : Alluding
to the fact that this new, agile small theropod has been discovered after a
forest fire.

  >>These are the etymological definitions. The intended and
utilized construct requires an _object_ to precede the suffix
 -raptor, a word that refers to "one who snatches ..." where the
ellipsis is the object refered to. Perhaps Nick Pharris or Ben
Creisler can explain this better.

  The inference of the use of the term "raptor" to apply to a
small predator has been to indicate some form of
"dromaeosaurid-like" theropod dinosaur, instead of the use of
the etymology; it is used as such even in birds of prey, which
_snatch_ with the feet. They are those who snatch prey.<<

I doubt that they meant to say that the animal 'snatched' prey with their
feet.

Tracy