The term “thagomizer” is an amusing example of how humor can influence scientific terminology. It refers to the distinctive spiked tail of the Stegosaurus, a well-known herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period. But how did this spiked tail come to be known by such an unusual name?

The answer lies in a single comic panel drawn by cartoonist Gary Larson in his famous series, The Far Side. In a 1982 comic, a caveman points to the tail spikes of a Stegosaurus and says, “Now this end is called the thagomizer…after the late Thag Simmons.” The joke implied that “Thag Simmons” had met an unfortunate end due to the Stegosaurus’s tail, and thus it was humorously named in his honor.

While the term “thagomizer” was created as a joke, it was quickly adopted by paleontologists. The spiked tail, which was used by Stegosauruses for defense, didn’t have a formal name before the comic’s release. Larson’s humorous take filled that gap. Over time, the scientific community embraced the term “thagomizer,” and it has since become the informal but widely recognized name for the tail weapon of Stegosauruses and other related dinosaurs.

In a quirky twist, even scientists who describe fossils now refer to these tail spikes as thagomizers in technical papers and public talks, cementing the term’s place in both pop culture and paleontology.

So, in summary, the spiked tail of the Stegosaurus is called the “thagomizer” thanks to a lighthearted comic, and the term stuck due to its popularity and charm.