RE: The One True King

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

Tracy Ford wrote:

> Their museums are und down or in a big building (except now for Coria 
> and his museum because of GIGANOTOSAURUS.  And I like the name. Not 
> every name NEEDS to roll off the tongue of an English speaking person 
> (that's a superiority concept) and I must add that it
> rolls of the tongue of Coria very nicely). 

I love the name (and it sure beats _Megapnosaurus_, that's for darn sure).
However, it's a fact of life that certain names are more prone to capturing
the public's imagination than others - at least in the English- speaking
world (of which the U.S. comprises a sizeable chunk).  _Tyrannosaurus_ and
_Spinosaurus_ certainly have a public profile; _Giganotosaurus_ does not - I
believe this was the gist of Dan's post, and my own.  I won't lose any sleep
if WalMart refuses to stock rubber models of _Giganotosaurus_.  

>From a scientific perspective, _Giganotosaurus_ is a truly fascinating
beast.  Apart from anything else, I find the occurrence of forelimb
reduction in many (but not all) large-bodied theropods especially
interesting. 


> I've been to dozens of talks done by the SA paleontologist and I admire 
> them for the working conditions and how well they have strived. 

I couldn't agree more.  Recent events won't have improved the situation.
:-(



Tim


------------------------------------------------------------ 

Timothy J. Williams 

USDA-ARS Researcher 
Agronomy Hall 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50014 

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 3163