CINXE.COM
Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too | Discover Magazine
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><meta name="viewport" content="minimum-scale=1, initial-scale=1, width=device-width"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon16.png" sizes="16x16"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon32.png" sizes="32x32"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon128.png" sizes="128x128"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon152.png" sizes="152x152"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon167.png" sizes="167x167"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon180.png" sizes="180x180"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon192.png" sizes="192x192"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon196.png" sizes="196x196"/><link rel="icon" href="/assets/favicon/favicon512.png" sizes="512x512"/><title>Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too | Discover Magazine</title><meta name="user-type" content="anonymous"/><script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Discover Magazine","url":"https://www.discovermagazine.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/assets/globalAssets/siteLogo.png","width":"224px","height":"64px"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverMag","https://twitter.com/discovermag","https://www.instagram.com/discover.magazine/","https://www.youtube.com/user/discovermagazine","https://soundcloud.com/its-only-science-discover-magazine"]}</script><meta name="description" content="A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club."/><meta property="og:title" content="Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too"/><meta property="og:description" content="A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club."/><meta property="og:image" content="https://images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too"/><meta property="og:site_name" content="Discover Magazine"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="twitter:site" content="@DiscoverMag"/><meta name="twitter:creator"/><meta name="twitter:title" content="Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too"/><meta name="twitter:description" content="A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club."/><meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg"/><meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="(Credit: Orla/Shutterstock)"/><meta property="fb:app_id" content="2856110197797247"/><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too"/><script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","headline":"Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too","articleSection":"The Sciences Article","description":"A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club.","keywords":["dinosaurs","evolution"],"url":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","image":"https://images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg","thumbnailUrl":"https://images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg?fm=jpg&fl=progressive&w=350&h=233&fit=fill","datePublished":"2024-11-20T10:00-06:00","dateModified":"2024-11-21T14:35:04.840Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jeanne Timmons","url":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/author/jeanne-timmons"},"publisher":{"name":"Discover Magazine","@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/assets/globalAssets/siteLogo.png","width":"224px","height":"64px"}},"isAccessibleForFree":"False","hasPart":{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":"False","cssSelector":"article"}}</script><script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.discovermagazine.com","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences","name":"The Sciences"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","name":"Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too"}}]}</script><link rel="preload" as="image" href="//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg?fm=jpg&fl=progressive&w=660&h=433&fit=fill"/><meta name="next-head-count" content="32"/><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com"/><link rel="preload" as="style" data-href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Martel:wght@400;600;700&family=Nunito+Sans:wght@400;600;700&family=Fjalla+One:wght@400;500&display=swap"/><link rel="stylesheet" data-href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Martel:wght@400;600;700&family=Nunito+Sans:wght@400;600;700&family=Fjalla+One:wght@400;500&display=swap"/><noscript data-n-css=""></noscript><script defer="" nomodule="" src="/_next/static/chunks/polyfills-c67a75d1b6f99dc8.js"></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/webpack-af839d38801e558e.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/framework-0fc59b8ee59ea6b8.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/main-9e054408e324f7f1.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/_app-43cd3baa4f4d13ec.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/2b7b2d2a-16715b71c0048900.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/689-6dc30b994aad0311.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/173-85454e52850f56a0.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/the-sciences/%5B%5B...slug%5D%5D-c7208abfbbd8acde.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/my-build-id/_buildManifest.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/my-build-id/_ssgManifest.js" defer=""></script><style data-styled="" data-styled-version="5.3.11">html{line-height:1.15;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;}/*!sc*/ body{margin:0;}/*!sc*/ main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ h1{font-size:2em;margin:0.67em 0;}/*!sc*/ hr{box-sizing:content-box;height:0;overflow:visible;}/*!sc*/ pre{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ abbr[title]{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration:underline dotted;text-decoration:underline dotted;}/*!sc*/ b,strong{font-weight:bolder;}/*!sc*/ code,kbd,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0;position:relative;vertical-align:baseline;}/*!sc*/ sub{bottom:-0.25em;}/*!sc*/ sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ img{border-style:none;}/*!sc*/ button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;line-height:1.15;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ button,input{overflow:visible;}/*!sc*/ button,select{text-transform:none;}/*!sc*/ button,[type="button"],[type="reset"],[type="submit"]{-webkit-appearance:button;}/*!sc*/ button::-moz-focus-inner,[type="button"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="reset"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="submit"]::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ button:-moz-focusring,[type="button"]:-moz-focusring,[type="reset"]:-moz-focusring,[type="submit"]:-moz-focusring{outline:1px dotted ButtonText;}/*!sc*/ fieldset{padding:0.35em 0.75em 0.625em;}/*!sc*/ legend{box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit;display:table;max-width:100%;padding:0;white-space:normal;}/*!sc*/ progress{vertical-align:baseline;}/*!sc*/ textarea{overflow:auto;}/*!sc*/ [type="checkbox"],[type="radio"]{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ [type="number"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto;}/*!sc*/ [type="search"]{-webkit-appearance:textfield;outline-offset:-2px;}/*!sc*/ [type="search"]::-webkit-search-decoration{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ ::-webkit-file-upload-button{-webkit-appearance:button;font:inherit;}/*!sc*/ details{display:block;}/*!sc*/ summary{display:list-item;}/*!sc*/ template{display:none;}/*!sc*/ [hidden]{display:none;}/*!sc*/ html{box-sizing:border-box;}/*!sc*/ *,*::before,*::after{box-sizing:inherit;}/*!sc*/ a{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ body{margin:0;font-family:"Nunito Sans",sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:hsl(0,0%,0%);background-color:hsl(0,0%,100%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g2[id="sc-global-erQJQW1"]{content:"sc-global-erQJQW1,"}/*!sc*/ .cgZEsQ{color:hsl(0,0%,0%);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .cgZEsQ:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .bxBBvR{color:hsl(4,68%,52%);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .bxBBvR:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g3[id="sc-acb0869a-0"]{content:"cgZEsQ,bxBBvR,"}/*!sc*/ .gNbimG::before{content:'';display:block;height:150px;margin-top:-150px;visibility:hidden;pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g4[id="sc-81445bbc-0"]{content:"gNbimG,"}/*!sc*/ .hIuHOm{width:100%;height:auto;max-width:660px;max-height:433px;}/*!sc*/ .cBLqYz{width:100%;height:auto;max-width:215px;}/*!sc*/ .cBpdBS{width:100%;height:auto;max-width:50px;max-height:50px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g5[id="sc-e706b2c9-0"]{content:"hIuHOm,cBLqYz,cBpdBS,"}/*!sc*/ .bmCIia{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-color:hsl(0,0%,0%);opacity:0;pointer-events:none;-webkit-transition:opacity 200ms ease-in-out;transition:opacity 200ms ease-in-out;z-index:1100;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g8[id="sc-bdc700bb-0"]{content:"bmCIia,"}/*!sc*/ .jeZlQy{position:relative;margin:1.67em 0;width:100%;font-size:0.75em;font-weight:600;line-height:1;text-align:center;z-index:1;}/*!sc*/ .jeZlQy:before{content:'';position:absolute;left:0;right:0;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);border-bottom:1px dashed hsl(0,0%,38%);z-index:-1;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g9[id="sc-4fbbd49c-0"]{content:"jeZlQy,"}/*!sc*/ .EckBW{padding:0 16px;text-transform:uppercase;background-color:hsl(0,0%,100%);pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g10[id="sc-4fbbd49c-1"]{content:"EckBW,"}/*!sc*/ .haeKWy{padding:0.5em 1.5em;text-transform:uppercase;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition: background-color 300ms ease-in-out, border-color 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out;transition: background-color 300ms ease-in-out, border-color 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .haeKWy:hover,.haeKWy:active,.haeKWy:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ .haeKWy:disabled{box-shadow:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g11[id="sc-c8bbe1ac-0"]{content:"haeKWy,"}/*!sc*/ .OrBVy{color:hsl(0,0%,100%);background-color:hsl(4,68%,52%);border:3px solid hsl(4,68%,52%);font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ .OrBVy:hover,.OrBVy:active,.OrBVy:focus{box-shadow: 0 0 10px 0px rgba(216,60,49,0.4), 0 0 3px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}/*!sc*/ .OrBVy:active{background-color:#b42c22;border-color:#b42c22;}/*!sc*/ .OrBVy:disabled{color:hsl(0,0%,94%);background-color:#a76762;border-color:#a76762;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g13[id="sc-b65b6186-0"]{content:"OrBVy,"}/*!sc*/ .gdbaPI{margin:0px auto 0px;padding:0 32px;width:calc(64rem + 32px);max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g14[id="sc-87d213a0-0"]{content:"gdbaPI,"}/*!sc*/ .gUBdPx{margin:1em 0;border:0;border-top:1px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g15[id="sc-c49dd42c-0"]{content:"gUBdPx,"}/*!sc*/ .glnGeY{width:10px;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;padding:0.25em 1em;font-size:1rem;line-height:1;border:1px solid hsl(0,0%,74%);border-right:0;}/*!sc*/ .glnGeY::-webkit-input-placeholder{font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ .glnGeY::-moz-placeholder{font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ .glnGeY:-ms-input-placeholder{font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ .glnGeY::placeholder{font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g16[id="sc-335967e1-0"]{content:"glnGeY,"}/*!sc*/ .kHOLMP{display:none;width:0;height:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g18[id="sc-d6b1ce84-0"]{content:"kHOLMP,"}/*!sc*/ .bcBuPb{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;margin:0;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .bcBuPb > li:not(:last-child){margin-right:1.8em;}/*!sc*/ .dCQrMY{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .dCQrMY > li:not(:last-child){margin-right:1.8em;}/*!sc*/ .fPfgyR{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;margin:0;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .fPfgyR > li:not(:last-child){margin-right:0.6em;}/*!sc*/ .bcBsUH{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;margin:0;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .bcBsUH > li:not(:last-child){margin-right:0.5em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g19[id="sc-685c5c16-0"]{content:"bcBuPb,dCQrMY,fPfgyR,bcBsUH,"}/*!sc*/ .ffSxBo{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.ffSxBo{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ .kAFiyK{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:808px){.kAFiyK{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ .iYZeLh{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g20[id="sc-f80919c6-0"]{content:"ffSxBo,kAFiyK,iYZeLh,"}/*!sc*/ .kvvjnQ{margin:0.55em 0;font-size:0.88em;font-weight:400;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:768px){.kvvjnQ{font-size:1em;}}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:992px){.kvvjnQ{font-size:1.15em;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g24[id="sc-44728060-0"]{content:"kvvjnQ,"}/*!sc*/ .kxCvEg{margin:0.33em 0 0;font-size:1.5em;font-family:"Fjalla One",sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:768px){.kxCvEg{font-size:2.25em;}}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:992px){.kxCvEg{font-size:3em;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g25[id="sc-4868f6b2-0"]{content:"kxCvEg,"}/*!sc*/ .fChjmv{margin:4px 0;text-align:right;-webkit-transition:color 300ms ease-in-out;transition:color 300ms ease-in-out;font-size:0.65rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.05em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.05em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.05em;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g26[id="sc-92081554-0"]{content:"fChjmv,"}/*!sc*/ .cbcdaX{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;padding:16px;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.cbcdaX{-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g35[id="sc-a0a15a8f-0"]{content:"cbcdaX,"}/*!sc*/ .dORPcO{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.dORPcO{-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-align-items:flex-end;-webkit-box-align:flex-end;-ms-flex-align:flex-end;align-items:flex-end;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g36[id="sc-a0a15a8f-1"]{content:"dORPcO,"}/*!sc*/ .bPMdAY{font-size:1.125em;text-transform:uppercase;vertical-align:middle;line-height:1;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.bPMdAY{font-size:1.25em;}}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:992px){.bPMdAY{font-size:1.3em;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g37[id="sc-a0a15a8f-2"]{content:"bPMdAY,"}/*!sc*/ .bmSFuJ{text-transform:uppercase;vertical-align:middle;padding-left:5px;line-height:1;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g38[id="sc-a0a15a8f-3"]{content:"bmSFuJ,"}/*!sc*/ .bgntqP{display:inline-block;padding:1em 1.2em 0.9em;font-weight:700;color:#1a1a1a;line-height:1.1;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;border:3px solid hsl(4,68%,52%);}/*!sc*/ .bgntqP:hover,.bgntqP:active,.bgntqP:focus{box-shadow: 0 0 10px 0px rgba(216,60,49,0.4), 0 0 3px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .bgntqP:active{background-color:rgba(240,182,178,0.4);}/*!sc*/ .cOuSSg{display:inline-block;padding:0.55em 1.2em 0.45em;font-weight:700;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);line-height:1.1;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;border:3px solid hsl(0,0%,100%);}/*!sc*/ .cOuSSg:hover,.cOuSSg:active,.cOuSSg:focus{box-shadow: 0 0 10px 0px rgba(216,60,49,0.4), 0 0 3px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .cOuSSg:active{background-color:rgba(240,182,178,0.4);}/*!sc*/ .iMktqk{display:inline-block;padding:0.55em 1.2em 0.45em;font-weight:700;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);line-height:1.1;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;border:3px solid hsl(4,68%,52%);}/*!sc*/ .iMktqk:hover,.iMktqk:active,.iMktqk:focus{box-shadow: 0 0 10px 0px rgba(216,60,49,0.4), 0 0 3px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .iMktqk:active{background-color:rgba(240,182,178,0.4);}/*!sc*/ .ckUKXg{display:inline-block;padding:0.75em 1.2em 0.65em;font-weight:700;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);line-height:1.1;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 300ms ease-in-out, padding 450ms ease-in-out;border:3px solid hsl(4,68%,52%);}/*!sc*/ .ckUKXg:hover,.ckUKXg:active,.ckUKXg:focus{box-shadow: 0 0 10px 0px rgba(216,60,49,0.4), 0 0 3px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .ckUKXg:active{background-color:rgba(240,182,178,0.4);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g40[id="sc-f3730634-0"]{content:"bgntqP,cOuSSg,iMktqk,ckUKXg,"}/*!sc*/ .dAELGB{border-bottom:2px solid hsl(0,0%,46%);-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border-bottom 300ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border-bottom 300ms ease-in-out;display:inline-block;margin-top:1em;font-size:0.75em;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;color:hsl(0,0%,46%);}/*!sc*/ .dAELGB:hover{color:hsl(0,0%,0%);border-bottom:2px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g42[id="sc-4e016ad2-0"]{content:"dAELGB,"}/*!sc*/ .dkOAOU{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;margin:0.5em auto;max-width:308px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g46[id="sc-61d99178-0"]{content:"dkOAOU,"}/*!sc*/ .eSTMOo{margin:0.75em 0 0;font-family:"Martel",serif;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g47[id="sc-61d99178-1"]{content:"eSTMOo,"}/*!sc*/ .kmluij{font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ .kmluij::before{content:'| Last Updated';margin:0 4px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g57[id="sc-92d150c4-0"]{content:"kmluij,"}/*!sc*/ .fuTWQQ{font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g58[id="sc-2fa50208-0"]{content:"fuTWQQ,"}/*!sc*/ .gguonj{font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g59[id="sc-73638515-0"]{content:"gguonj,"}/*!sc*/ .bePCqU{margin-top:1.325em;font-size:0.75em;line-height:1.5;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g60[id="sc-47c53dda-0"]{content:"bePCqU,"}/*!sc*/ .fHxosg > .lazyload-wrapper{max-width:660px;margin:0 auto;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g61[id="sc-202ecc93-0"]{content:"fHxosg,"}/*!sc*/ .dqnBTe{padding:1em 0;line-height:1.25;color:hsl(0,0%,46%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g62[id="sc-202ecc93-1"]{content:"dqnBTe,"}/*!sc*/ .bJxiBI{width:auto;position:relative;height:auto;width:100%;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;vertical-align:top;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g63[id="sc-6fbfc10d-0"]{content:"bJxiBI,"}/*!sc*/ .bzmMhn{outline:none;width:0%;min-height:1px;margin:0;padding:0;display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;white-space:normal;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g64[id="sc-c6956122-0"]{content:"bzmMhn,"}/*!sc*/ .gplNqD{position:relative;padding:0px 20px;margin:0px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g67[id="sc-53249186-0"]{content:"gplNqD,"}/*!sc*/ .durxKK{-webkit-transform:translateX( 0% );-ms-transform:translateX( 0% );transform:translateX( 0% );-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 0.6s ease-in-out;-webkit-transition:transform 0.6s ease-in-out;transition:transform 0.6s ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g68[id="sc-37efb70a-0"]{content:"durxKK,"}/*!sc*/ .ebjPRL{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;overflow:hidden;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g71[id="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0"]{content:"ebjPRL,"}/*!sc*/ .fFLeJP{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .fFLeJP svg{color:hsl(0,0%,74%);width:32px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g72[id="sc-5145e07e-0"]{content:"fFLeJP,"}/*!sc*/ .jVpYly{display:none;position:absolute;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);left:8px;padding:0;background:transparent;border:0;outline:none;cursor:not-allowed;}/*!sc*/ .gHCgCv{position:absolute;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);right:8px;padding:0;background:transparent;border:0;outline:none;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g73[id="sc-b4fec831-0"]{content:"jVpYly,gHCgCv,"}/*!sc*/ .brMNmo{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(12.5rem,1fr));grid-gap:1rem;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:711px){.brMNmo{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(15.5rem,1fr));}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g77[id="sc-a30dccf3-0"]{content:"brMNmo,"}/*!sc*/ .iatIbm{font-family:"Martel",serif;font-weight:400;font-size:1.5em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g84[id="sc-739331d9-0"]{content:"iatIbm,"}/*!sc*/ .jhHupj{font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g86[id="sc-be2fc1e4-0"]{content:"jhHupj,"}/*!sc*/ .cCmAPS + li{margin-top:0.25em;}/*!sc*/ .cCmAPS p:first-child{margin-top:0;}/*!sc*/ .cCmAPS p:last-child{margin-bottom:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g87[id="sc-7beeca48-0"]{content:"cCmAPS,"}/*!sc*/ .cOwLcG{font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ .hmYLKc{font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g89[id="sc-4df7a8a0-0"]{content:"kkhobw,cOwLcG,hmYLKc,"}/*!sc*/ .jtLjaC{margin:1em 0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g90[id="sc-dd02e337-0"]{content:"jtLjaC,"}/*!sc*/ .brfCEM{margin-top:8px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g93[id="sc-72ae8fdf-0"]{content:"brfCEM,"}/*!sc*/ .iqmVao{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr;grid-gap:20px;justify-items:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;text-align:center;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.iqmVao{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:992px){.iqmVao{grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);}}/*!sc*/ .iqmVao a{color:hsl(0,0%,100%);text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g94[id="sc-131d9e26-0"]{content:"iqmVao,"}/*!sc*/ .izHfgR{text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g95[id="sc-6832a32a-0"]{content:"izHfgR,"}/*!sc*/ .eFVKFk{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-content:stretch;-ms-flex-line-pack:stretch;align-content:stretch;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:0 0 64px;}/*!sc*/ .eFVKFk a{display:inline-block;max-width:100px;margin-top:32px;-webkit-flex:1 1 50%;-ms-flex:1 1 50%;flex:1 1 50%;}/*!sc*/ .eFVKFk img{border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:430px){.eFVKFk{margin:0 32px 64px;}.eFVKFk a{-webkit-flex-basis:50%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:50%;flex-basis:50%;}}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:520px){.eFVKFk a{-webkit-flex-basis:33%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:33%;flex-basis:33%;max-width:33%;}}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:620px){.eFVKFk{margin:0 auto 64px;max-width:500px;}.eFVKFk a{-webkit-flex-basis:auto;-ms-flex-preferred-size:auto;flex-basis:auto;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g96[id="sc-6832a32a-1"]{content:"eFVKFk,"}/*!sc*/ .SiWEt{margin-top:32px;padding:16px;font-size:1rem;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);background:hsl(0,0%,0%);}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.SiWEt{padding:64px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g97[id="sc-e3de11d5-0"]{content:"SiWEt,"}/*!sc*/ .dIiUhA{position:relative;max-width:1280px;margin:0 auto;padding:64px;border:4px solid hsl(0,0%,100%);}/*!sc*/ .dIiUhA:before{content:'';position:absolute;top:4px;right:4px;bottom:4px;left:4px;border:4px solid hsl(0,0%,100%);pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g98[id="sc-e3de11d5-1"]{content:"dIiUhA,"}/*!sc*/ .hJGlvP{padding:16px 16px 64px;font-size:0.75em;text-transform:uppercase;text-align:center;border-bottom:16px solid hsl(4,68%,52%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g99[id="sc-e3de11d5-2"]{content:"hJGlvP,"}/*!sc*/ .iwYtAo{display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .iwYtAo{color:hsl(0,0%,13%);text-transform:uppercase;line-height:1;border-top:0.1em solid transparent;border-bottom:0.1em solid transparent;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .iwYtAo:hover,.iwYtAo:active,.iwYtAo:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .iwYtAo:hover,.iwYtAo:active,.iwYtAo:focus{color:hsl(0,0%,46%);border-bottom-color:hsl(0,0%,46%);}/*!sc*/ .hnlzuM{display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .hnlzuM > span{color:hsl(0,0%,13%);text-transform:uppercase;line-height:1;border-top:0.1em solid transparent;border-bottom:0.1em solid transparent;-webkit-transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out;transition: color 300ms ease-in-out, border 300ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .hnlzuM:hover,.hnlzuM:active,.hnlzuM:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .hnlzuM:hover > span,.hnlzuM:active > span,.hnlzuM:focus > span{color:hsl(0,0%,46%);border-bottom-color:hsl(0,0%,46%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g101[id="sc-5cbbf008-0"]{content:"iwYtAo,hnlzuM,"}/*!sc*/ .kCgQEO{display:none;position:relative;top:0;height:55px;padding:1.13em 0;text-align:center;line-height:1;background:hsl(0,0%,100%);border-bottom:3px solid;z-index:50;-webkit-transition:top 450ms cubic-bezier(0.455,0.03,0.515,0.955);transition:top 450ms cubic-bezier(0.455,0.03,0.515,0.955);}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.kCgQEO{display:block;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g102[id="sc-b1ea1876-0"]{content:"kCgQEO,"}/*!sc*/ .fyduLz > li + li:before{content:'|';display:inline-block;margin-right:0.6em;-webkit-transform:translateY(-1px);-ms-transform:translateY(-1px);transform:translateY(-1px);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g103[id="sc-b1ea1876-1"]{content:"fyduLz,"}/*!sc*/ .kGyWxr{display:inline-block;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ .kGyWxr a{color:hsl(0,0%,46%);border-bottom:2px solid transparent;-webkit-transition: color 400ms ease-in-out, border-bottom-color 400ms ease-in-out;transition: color 400ms ease-in-out, border-bottom-color 400ms ease-in-out;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .kGyWxr a:hover,.kGyWxr a:active,.kGyWxr a:focus{color:hsl(0,0%,13%);border-bottom-color:hsl(0,0%,13%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g104[id="sc-b1ea1876-2"]{content:"kGyWxr,"}/*!sc*/ .fMXzcs{display:block;position:relative;margin:0 1em;height:100%;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g105[id="sc-f4c5ff7a-0"]{content:"fMXzcs,"}/*!sc*/ .joqyyC{max-width:220px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: opacity 450ms ease-in-out, max-height 450ms ease-in-out;transition: opacity 450ms ease-in-out, max-height 450ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .joqyyC img{display:block;max-width:100%;max-height:100%;}/*!sc*/ .jtBFzW{position:absolute;top:50%;right:0;left:0;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);max-width:220px;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: opacity 450ms ease-in-out, max-height 450ms ease-in-out;transition: opacity 450ms ease-in-out, max-height 450ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .jtBFzW img{display:block;max-width:100%;max-height:100%;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g106[id="sc-f4c5ff7a-1"]{content:"joqyyC,jtBFzW,"}/*!sc*/ .ctuXvq{margin:0;padding:0;width:30px;background-color:transparent;border:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g107[id="sc-3dc1f73d-0"]{content:"ctuXvq,"}/*!sc*/ .gYluLJ{font-size:0.75em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g108[id="sc-3dc1f73d-1"]{content:"gYluLJ,"}/*!sc*/ .ckxTzE{font-size:0.75em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g109[id="sc-64a3e7e-0"]{content:"ckxTzE,"}/*!sc*/ .cuTKaf{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g110[id="sc-64a3e7e-1"]{content:"cuTKaf,"}/*!sc*/ .jhKouo{position:relative;height:85px;font-size:1rem;z-index:1000;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:808px){.jhKouo{height:141px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g111[id="sc-45df63c3-0"]{content:"jhKouo,"}/*!sc*/ .hgWsmb{position:fixed;top:0;right:0;left:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g112[id="sc-45df63c3-1"]{content:"hgWsmb,"}/*!sc*/ .casDRa{position:relative;display:grid;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;grid-gap:10px;grid-template-columns:1fr auto 1fr;padding:0 32px;height:85px;background:hsl(0,0%,100%);border-bottom:1px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);-webkit-transition:height 450ms cubic-bezier(0.455,0.03,0.515,0.955);transition:height 450ms cubic-bezier(0.455,0.03,0.515,0.955);z-index:100;}/*!sc*/ .casDRa > div:last-child{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g113[id="sc-45df63c3-2"]{content:"casDRa,"}/*!sc*/ .eCfiVt{font-size:0.85rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.05em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.05em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.05em;letter-spacing:0.05em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g139[id="sc-3ef8760c-0"]{content:"eCfiVt,"}/*!sc*/ .dnIUZI{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:700;-webkit-transition:opacity 200ms ease-in-out;transition:opacity 200ms ease-in-out;}/*!sc*/ .dnIUZI:hover{opacity:0.75;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g140[id="sc-3ef8760c-1"]{content:"dnIUZI,"}/*!sc*/ .gdFmEX{margin:0;line-height:1.5;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g141[id="sc-3ef8760c-2"]{content:"gdFmEX,"}/*!sc*/ .kRJNMy{display:none;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:992px){.kRJNMy{display:grid;max-width:1200px;min-height:6.25em;margin:0.5em auto;padding:0 2em;-webkit-column-gap:1em;column-gap:1em;row-gap:0.5em;grid-template-columns:auto 2fr auto auto;grid-template-areas:'left midleft midright right';place-items:center;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g142[id="sc-e64f09bb-0"]{content:"kRJNMy,"}/*!sc*/ .hNEEqm{grid-area:left;justify-self:right;text-align:right;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g143[id="sc-e64f09bb-1"]{content:"hNEEqm,"}/*!sc*/ .eZzrtd{grid-area:midleft;text-align:left;line-height:1.5;font-size:0.9em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g144[id="sc-e64f09bb-2"]{content:"eZzrtd,"}/*!sc*/ .NnTsm{grid-area:midright;justify-self:left;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g145[id="sc-e64f09bb-3"]{content:"NnTsm,"}/*!sc*/ .kLscOL{grid-area:right;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g146[id="sc-e64f09bb-4"]{content:"kLscOL,"}/*!sc*/ .gzwArZ{background:hsl(0,0%,0%);max-height:0;-webkit-transition:max-height 300ms ease-in-out;transition:max-height 300ms ease-in-out;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g147[id="sc-24a7fbea-0"]{content:"gzwArZ,"}/*!sc*/ .hGxOas{padding:1em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g148[id="sc-24a7fbea-1"]{content:"hGxOas,"}/*!sc*/ .jqQDPZ{margin-top:0.75em;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g149[id="sc-24a7fbea-2"]{content:"jqQDPZ,"}/*!sc*/ .FJGVX{font-size:0.85em;font-weight:600;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.05em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.05em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.05em;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:hsl(46,71%,58%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g150[id="sc-24a7fbea-3"]{content:"FJGVX,"}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:992px){.bntQfD{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g151[id="sc-a2aa4e38-0"]{content:"bntQfD,"}/*!sc*/ .jcjUUT{text-align:center;padding:2.4em 0.5em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g152[id="sc-a2aa4e38-1"]{content:"jcjUUT,"}/*!sc*/ .fYazMM{display:inline-block;margin-right:0.75em;font-size:1.1em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g153[id="sc-a2aa4e38-2"]{content:"fYazMM,"}/*!sc*/ .dhwHRZ{background:transparent;border:0;outline:0;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g154[id="sc-a2aa4e38-3"]{content:"dhwHRZ,"}/*!sc*/ .fIkXwQ{position:fixed;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;text-transform:uppercase;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);background:hsl(4,68%,52%);box-shadow:0px -2px 04px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);z-index:1000;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g155[id="sc-aeb3ddd8-0"]{content:"fIkXwQ,"}/*!sc*/ .clgllF{margin-bottom:4em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g162[id="sc-ef5242ab-1"]{content:"clgllF,"}/*!sc*/ .kFFBpt{line-height:24px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g182[id="sc-426c7a0c-0"]{content:"kFFBpt,"}/*!sc*/ .duTNrl{margin:2.5em 0;text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g183[id="sc-342deb74-0"]{content:"duTNrl,"}/*!sc*/ .kZLSoz{padding-top:1.2em;font-size:0.9em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g184[id="sc-342deb74-1"]{content:"kZLSoz,"}/*!sc*/ .gecSKd{padding:16px;text-align:right;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g185[id="sc-93418c49-0"]{content:"gecSKd,"}/*!sc*/ .lbrRCn{padding:0;width:24px;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);background:transparent;border:0;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g186[id="sc-93418c49-1"]{content:"lbrRCn,"}/*!sc*/ .fLfSeK{padding:0.5em 0;border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.25);}/*!sc*/ .fLfSeK:last-child{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.25);}/*!sc*/ .fLfSeK > a{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g187[id="sc-16326799-0"]{content:"fLfSeK,"}/*!sc*/ .edRbLk{display:inline-block;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g188[id="sc-16326799-1"]{content:"edRbLk,"}/*!sc*/ .gDzKSJ{display:inline-block;width:24px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g189[id="sc-16326799-2"]{content:"gDzKSJ,"}/*!sc*/ .bppzWr{margin:0 1em;padding:0;list-style:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g190[id="sc-5ef19ac2-0"]{content:"bppzWr,"}/*!sc*/ .kYxrvQ{position:fixed;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;font-size:1rem;pointer-events:none;z-index:1300;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g191[id="sc-c114e581-0"]{content:"kYxrvQ,"}/*!sc*/ .jXVATq{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:-262px;width:262px;background-color:hsl(0,0%,0%);color:hsl(0,0%,100%);overflow-y:auto;-webkit-transition:left 200ms ease-in-out;transition:left 200ms ease-in-out;pointer-events:auto;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:576px){.jXVATq{left:-350px;width:350px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g192[id="sc-c114e581-1"]{content:"jXVATq,"}/*!sc*/ .bkOpQU{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:16px 0;padding:0 16px;height:32px;background:repeating-linear-gradient(-45deg,rgba(0,0,0,0) 0px,#bdbdbd 1px,#bdbdbd 1px,rgba(0,0,0,0) 2px,rgba(0,0,0,0) 3px);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g193[id="sc-ea6cad81-0"]{content:"bkOpQU,"}/*!sc*/ .dtcmRn{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:16px;text-transform:uppercase;background:hsl(0,0%,100%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g194[id="sc-ea6cad81-1"]{content:"dtcmRn,"}/*!sc*/ .dEvxDw{border-top:3px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);border-bottom:8px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g195[id="sc-bb8c2e70-0"]{content:"dEvxDw,"}/*!sc*/ .gaMYLq{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.gaMYLq{margin-bottom:16px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g196[id="sc-bb8c2e70-1"]{content:"gaMYLq,"}/*!sc*/ .iOtZCv{display:grid;grid-template-rows:repeat(2,1fr);min-height:300px;margin-left:8px;margin-right:8px;-webkit-box-pack:stretch;-webkit-justify-content:stretch;-ms-flex-pack:stretch;justify-content:stretch;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ .iOtZCv > *:not(:last-child){border-bottom:2px solid hsl(0,0%,0%);margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.iOtZCv > *:not(:last-child){border-bottom:0;margin-bottom:0;border-right:2px solid hsl(0,0%,94%);margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.iOtZCv{grid-template-rows:none;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);max-width:1200px;min-height:auto;max-height:250px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g197[id="sc-bb8c2e70-2"]{content:"iOtZCv,"}/*!sc*/ .eztMZN{width:100%;font-size:0.75em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g205[id="sc-dd7abf72-0"]{content:"eztMZN,"}/*!sc*/ .eifopM{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:auto;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g206[id="sc-dd7abf72-1"]{content:"eifopM,"}/*!sc*/ .fwcCIP{margin:16px 0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g207[id="sc-539cc9d9-0"]{content:"fwcCIP,"}/*!sc*/ .hGVYrY{width:100%;text-align:center;margin:16px;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:372px){.hGVYrY{text-align:right;padding-right:16px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g208[id="sc-539cc9d9-1"]{content:"hGVYrY,"}/*!sc*/ .bJeNAn{-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;margin:0 auto;padding:16px;max-width:256px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g209[id="sc-8eaa343d-0"]{content:"bJeNAn,"}/*!sc*/ .gcujOa{display:block;width:100%;text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g210[id="sc-8eaa343d-1"]{content:"gcujOa,"}/*!sc*/ .ixbrMF{margin:16px 0;border:1px solid hsl(0,0%,84%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g211[id="sc-8eaa343d-2"]{content:"ixbrMF,"}/*!sc*/ .djqOxY{color:hsl(0,0%,46%);font-size:0.625em;font-weight:700;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.1em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.1em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.1em;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g212[id="sc-8eaa343d-3"]{content:"djqOxY,"}/*!sc*/ .kaFnJo{display:block;margin-top:8px;color:hsl(0,0%,13%);font-family:"Martel",serif;font-weight:700;line-height:1.25;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g213[id="sc-8eaa343d-4"]{content:"kaFnJo,"}/*!sc*/ .ernAPE{margin:16px 0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g219[id="sc-8c045442-0"]{content:"ernAPE,"}/*!sc*/ .XCZAi{color:hsl(4,68%,52%);font-weight:bold;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g220[id="sc-8c045442-1"]{content:"XCZAi,"}/*!sc*/ .kBtZqG{margin:0 auto;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g221[id="sc-8c045442-2"]{content:"kBtZqG,"}/*!sc*/ .NNFyi{font-size:0.75em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g222[id="sc-8c045442-3"]{content:"NNFyi,"}/*!sc*/ .cSQUFG{display:inline-block;margin:0 0.5em 0.5em 0;padding:0.25em 0.5em;font-weight:600;text-transform:lowercase;background:hsl(0,0%,94%);}/*!sc*/ .cSQUFG > a{color:hsl(0,0%,13%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g223[id="sc-de217756-0"]{content:"cSQUFG,"}/*!sc*/ .hULpA-D{margin:2em 0 0;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g224[id="sc-fc31822f-0"]{content:"hULpA-D,"}/*!sc*/ .dzIqeJ{margin-top:1.25em;font-weight:700;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g227[id="sc-200b33bd-0"]{content:"dzIqeJ,"}/*!sc*/ .eqHUlL{display:inline-block;margin-top:1.6em;padding:0.9em 1.1em 0.8em;font-size:0.625em;font-weight:700;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.1em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.1em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.1em;letter-spacing:0.1em;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase;color:hsl(0,0%,100%);background-color:hsl(209,62%,32%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g228[id="sc-36739995-0"]{content:"eqHUlL,"}/*!sc*/ .ersxds{display:inline-block;margin-top:1em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g229[id="sc-f4d70fa7-0"]{content:"ersxds,"}/*!sc*/ .llLGAK{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:40px;}/*!sc*/ .llLGAK > button + button{margin-left:8px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g246[id="sc-5fc35b96-0"]{content:"llLGAK,"}/*!sc*/ .kGGzyr{-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;-webkit-flex-shrink:1;-ms-flex-negative:1;flex-shrink:1;max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g251[id="sc-4abb9ce9-0"]{content:"kGGzyr,"}/*!sc*/ .dJAeue{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:1em 0;border-top:1em solid hsl(0,0%,26%);border-bottom:1px solid hsl(0,0%,74%);}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:590px){.dJAeue{-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g253[id="sc-2dbade60-0"]{content:"dJAeue,"}/*!sc*/ .ivnhTC{margin:0 0 1em 0;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:590px){.ivnhTC{margin:0 4em 0 0;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g254[id="sc-2dbade60-1"]{content:"ivnhTC,"}/*!sc*/ .cdTYpC{margin:0;font-family:"Fjalla One",sans-serif;font-weight:400;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g255[id="sc-2dbade60-2"]{content:"cdTYpC,"}/*!sc*/ .deMHqo{font-size:0.75em;margin-top:0.34em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g256[id="sc-2dbade60-3"]{content:"deMHqo,"}/*!sc*/ .gnCDei::after{content:'';display:block;margin:1em 0 2em;width:2em;border-bottom:5px double hsl(0,0%,0%);}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g260[id="sc-4b98f9c7-0"]{content:"gnCDei,"}/*!sc*/ </style><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Martel:wght@400;600;700&family=Nunito+Sans:wght@400;600;700&family=Fjalla+One:wght@400;500&display=swap"/></head><body><div id="__next"><div class="sc-45df63c3-0 jhKouo"><div class="sc-45df63c3-1 hgWsmb"><div class="sc-45df63c3-2 casDRa"><div><ul class="sc-685c5c16-0 sc-3dc1f73d-1 bcBuPb gYluLJ"><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 ffSxBo"><button class="sc-3dc1f73d-0 ctuXvq"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M3 18h18v-2H3v2zm0-5h18v-2H3v2zm0-7v2h18V6H3z"></path></svg></button></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 kAFiyK"><a href="/magazine" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">The Magazine</a></li></ul></div><div><a href="/" class="sc-f4c5ff7a-0 fMXzcs"><div class="sc-f4c5ff7a-1 joqyyC"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:64px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></div><div class="sc-f4c5ff7a-1 jtBFzW"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:14px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></div></a></div><div><ul class="sc-685c5c16-0 sc-64a3e7e-0 dCQrMY ckxTzE"><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 kAFiyK"><a class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Login</a></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 kAFiyK"><a class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Register</a></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 kAFiyK"><a href="/newsletter-signup" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 sc-64a3e7e-1 hnlzuM cuTKaf"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" height="24" width="24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="hsl(0, 0%, 100%)" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" stroke="hsl(4, 68%, 52%)" style="margin-right:4px;margin-top:1px;flex-shrink:0" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M20 4H4c-1.1 0-1.99.9-1.99 2L2 18c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h16c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V6c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm0 4-8 5-8-5V6l8 5 8-5v2z"></path></svg><span>Stay Curious</span></a></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 iYZeLh"><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 bgntqP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="sc-b1ea1876-0 kCgQEO"><ul class="sc-685c5c16-0 sc-b1ea1876-1 fPfgyR fyduLz"><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/the-sciences" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">The Sciences</a></li><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/mind" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Mind</a></li><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/technology" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Technology</a></li><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/health" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Health</a></li><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/environment" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Environment</a></li><li class="sc-b1ea1876-2 kGyWxr"><a href="/planet-earth" class="sc-5cbbf008-0 iwYtAo">Planet Earth</a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="sc-87d213a0-0 sc-4b98f9c7-0 gdbaPI gnCDei"><div id="articlePageTopMobile"></div><ul class="sc-685c5c16-0 bcBsUH"><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 iYZeLh"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f4d70fa7-0 ersxds" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" height="24" width="24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="hsl(0, 0%, 100%)" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" stroke="hsl(4, 68%, 52%)" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 20v-6h4v6h5v-8h3L12 3 2 12h3v8z"></path></svg></a></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 iYZeLh"><div class="sc-200b33bd-0 dzIqeJ">/</div></li><li class="sc-f80919c6-0 iYZeLh"><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-36739995-0 eqHUlL" href="/the-sciences">The Sciences</a></div></li></ul><h1 class="sc-4868f6b2-0 kxCvEg">Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too</h1><h2 class="sc-44728060-0 kvvjnQ">A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club.</h2><div class="sc-47c53dda-0 bePCqU"><div><span class="sc-2fa50208-0 fuTWQQ">By <a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/author/jeanne-timmons">Jeanne Timmons</a></span></div><div><span class="sc-73638515-0 gguonj">Nov 20, 2024 4:00 PM</span><span class="sc-92d150c4-0 kmluij">Nov 21, 2024 2:35 PM</span></div></div></div><div class="sc-87d213a0-0 gdbaPI"><div style="display:flex"><div class="sc-4abb9ce9-0 kGGzyr"><div class="sc-5fc35b96-0 llLGAK"><button class="react-share__ShareButton" style="background-color:transparent;border:none;padding:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;cursor:pointer"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="32" height="32"><rect width="64" height="64" rx="0" ry="0" fill="#0965FE"></rect><path d="M34.1,47V33.3h4.6l0.7-5.3h-5.3v-3.4c0-1.5,0.4-2.6,2.6-2.6l2.8,0v-4.8c-0.5-0.1-2.2-0.2-4.1-0.2 c-4.1,0-6.9,2.5-6.9,7V28H24v5.3h4.6V47H34.1z" fill="white"></path></svg></button><button class="react-share__ShareButton" style="background-color:transparent;border:none;padding:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;cursor:pointer"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="32" height="32"><rect width="64" height="64" rx="0" ry="0" fill="#000000"></rect><path d="M 41.116 18.375 h 4.962 l -10.8405 12.39 l 12.753 16.86 H 38.005 l -7.821 -10.2255 L 21.235 47.625 H 16.27 l 11.595 -13.2525 L 15.631 18.375 H 25.87 l 7.0695 9.3465 z m -1.7415 26.28 h 2.7495 L 24.376 21.189 H 21.4255 z" fill="white"></path></svg></button><button class="react-share__ShareButton" style="background-color:transparent;border:none;padding:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;cursor:pointer"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="32" height="32"><rect width="64" height="64" rx="0" ry="0" fill="#FF5700"></rect><path d="M 53.34375 32 C 53.277344 30.160156 52.136719 28.53125 50.429688 27.839844 C 48.722656 27.148438 46.769531 27.523438 45.441406 28.800781 C 41.800781 26.324219 37.519531 24.957031 33.121094 24.863281 L 35.199219 14.878906 L 42.046875 16.320312 C 42.214844 17.882812 43.496094 19.09375 45.066406 19.171875 C 46.636719 19.253906 48.03125 18.183594 48.359375 16.644531 C 48.6875 15.105469 47.847656 13.558594 46.382812 12.992188 C 44.914062 12.425781 43.253906 13.007812 42.464844 14.367188 L 34.625 12.800781 C 34.363281 12.742188 34.09375 12.792969 33.871094 12.9375 C 33.648438 13.082031 33.492188 13.308594 33.441406 13.566406 L 31.070312 24.671875 C 26.617188 24.738281 22.277344 26.105469 18.59375 28.609375 C 17.242188 27.339844 15.273438 26.988281 13.570312 27.707031 C 11.863281 28.429688 10.746094 30.089844 10.71875 31.941406 C 10.691406 33.789062 11.757812 35.484375 13.441406 36.257812 C 13.402344 36.726562 13.402344 37.195312 13.441406 37.664062 C 13.441406 44.832031 21.792969 50.65625 32.097656 50.65625 C 42.398438 50.65625 50.753906 44.832031 50.753906 37.664062 C 50.789062 37.195312 50.789062 36.726562 50.753906 36.257812 C 52.363281 35.453125 53.371094 33.800781 53.34375 32 Z M 21.34375 35.199219 C 21.34375 33.433594 22.777344 32 24.542969 32 C 26.3125 32 27.742188 33.433594 27.742188 35.199219 C 27.742188 36.96875 26.3125 38.398438 24.542969 38.398438 C 22.777344 38.398438 21.34375 36.96875 21.34375 35.199219 Z M 39.9375 44 C 37.664062 45.710938 34.871094 46.582031 32.03125 46.464844 C 29.191406 46.582031 26.398438 45.710938 24.128906 44 C 23.847656 43.65625 23.871094 43.15625 24.183594 42.839844 C 24.5 42.527344 25 42.503906 25.34375 42.785156 C 27.269531 44.195312 29.617188 44.90625 32 44.800781 C 34.386719 44.929688 36.746094 44.242188 38.6875 42.847656 C 39.042969 42.503906 39.605469 42.511719 39.953125 42.863281 C 40.296875 43.21875 40.289062 43.785156 39.9375 44.128906 Z M 39.359375 38.527344 C 37.59375 38.527344 36.160156 37.09375 36.160156 35.328125 C 36.160156 33.5625 37.59375 32.128906 39.359375 32.128906 C 41.128906 32.128906 42.558594 33.5625 42.558594 35.328125 C 42.59375 36.203125 42.269531 37.054688 41.65625 37.6875 C 41.046875 38.316406 40.203125 38.664062 39.328125 38.65625 Z M 39.359375 38.527344" fill="white"></path></svg></button><button class="react-share__ShareButton" style="background-color:transparent;border:none;padding:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;cursor:pointer"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="32" height="32"><rect width="64" height="64" rx="0" ry="0" fill="#EF3F56"></rect><path d="M41.084 29.065l-7.528 7.882a2.104 2.104 0 0 1-1.521.666 2.106 2.106 0 0 1-1.522-.666l-7.528-7.882c-.876-.914-.902-2.43-.065-3.384.84-.955 2.228-.987 3.1-.072l6.015 6.286 6.022-6.286c.88-.918 2.263-.883 3.102.071.841.938.82 2.465-.06 3.383l-.015.002zm6.777-10.976C47.463 16.84 46.361 16 45.14 16H18.905c-1.2 0-2.289.82-2.716 2.044-.125.363-.189.743-.189 1.125v10.539l.112 2.096c.464 4.766 2.73 8.933 6.243 11.838.06.053.125.102.19.153l.04.033c1.882 1.499 3.986 2.514 6.259 3.014a14.662 14.662 0 0 0 6.13.052c.118-.042.235-.065.353-.087.03 0 .065-.022.098-.042a15.395 15.395 0 0 0 6.011-2.945l.039-.045.18-.153c3.502-2.902 5.765-7.072 6.248-11.852L48 29.674v-10.52c0-.366-.041-.728-.161-1.08l.022.015z" fill="white"></path></svg></button><button class="react-share__ShareButton" style="background-color:transparent;border:none;padding:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;cursor:pointer"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="32" height="32"><rect width="64" height="64" rx="0" ry="0" fill="#7f7f7f"></rect><path d="M17,22v20h30V22H17z M41.1,25L32,32.1L22.9,25H41.1z M20,39V26.6l12,9.3l12-9.3V39H20z" fill="white"></path></svg></button></div><div class="sc-202ecc93-0 fHxosg"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg?fm=jpg&fl=progressive&w=660&h=433&fit=fill" alt="Ankylosaurs" height="660px" width="433px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 hIuHOm"/><div class="sc-202ecc93-1 dqnBTe">(Credit: Orla/Shutterstock)</div></div><section class="sc-2dbade60-0 dJAeue"><div class="sc-2dbade60-1 ivnhTC"><h2 class="sc-2dbade60-2 cdTYpC">Newsletter</h2><div class="sc-2dbade60-3 deMHqo">Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news</div></div><form class="sc-dd7abf72-0 eztMZN"><div class="sc-dd7abf72-1 eifopM"><input aria-label="Email Address" autoComplete="email" placeholder="Email Address" class="sc-335967e1-0 glnGeY"/><button aria-label="Sign Up for Newsletter" type="submit" color="hsl(4, 68%, 52%)" class="sc-c8bbe1ac-0 sc-b65b6186-0 haeKWy OrBVy">Sign Up</button></div><div class="sc-92081554-0 fChjmv"> </div></form></section><div class="instaread-audio-player" style="margin-top:1em"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" id="instaread_iframe" loading="lazy" name="instaread_playlist" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-forms allow-modals" title="Audio Article" class="sc-d6b1ce84-0 kHOLMP"></iframe></div><article class="sc-426c7a0c-0 kFFBpt"><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Tail clubs were a rare trait that didn’t survive past the Pleistocene, a period that ended about 11,700 years ago. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The last species to have them were glyptodonts – large dome-shaped armadillos from South America, and extinct turtle species from South America and Australasia. Before this, only two species of dinosaurs had tail clubs: the quadrupedal armored tanks known as ankylosaurs and the long-necked sauropods. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Of those approximately 250 sauropod species, only three were known to have tail clubs. Those three were from basal (or early forms of) sauropods from China. That number has now jumped to four, thanks to </span><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2024.2396814" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">research</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> published in September 2024.</span></p><div id="insticator-container" class="embedid-4b651d8f-ea11-445f-9ea7-e776ca36eef3"><div id="div-insticator-ad-1"></div><div id="insticator-embed"></div><div id="div-insticator-ad-2"></div></div><div id="a-new-sauropod-with-a-tail-club" class="sc-81445bbc-0 gNbimG"><h2 class="sc-739331d9-0 iatIbm"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">A New Sauropod With a Tail Club</span></h2></div><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The newest tail club member, </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">that</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG"> </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">was also a basal sauropod, comes from the Jurassic of India, about 201.4 million years to 145 million years ago. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The species itself is relatively new to science and was discovered in the 1970s. Geologist and paleontologist, P. Yadagiri first named the fossil in 1988, after excavating the </span><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/0272-4634%282001%29021%5B0242%3ATOOKYA%5D2.0.CO%3B2" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">fossils</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> of about 12 individuals of different ages at a site in south-central India. That site produced over 800 vertebrate fossils that remain in the collection of the Geological Survey of India Southern Region in Hyderabad. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla is a co-author, professor, and curator of the Museum of Paleontology at the University of Michigan. He had reviewed the approximately 400 fossils related to </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">in 2001 and realized that four were tail clubs. This led to the eventual research of those tail clubs from lead author Tariq Abdul Kareem. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">“Basal sauropods represent roughly 10 percent of all known sauropods,” Kareem explains, “yet all the known sauropod tail clubs are from these basal taxa. This distribution makes it look unusual, but we do not know much about the relationships of basal sauropods and much less about what these tail clubs were used for.”</span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">Read More: </span><a color="accent" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" href="/the-sciences/how-sauropods-evolved-to-their-enormous-size"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">How Sauropods Evolved to Their Enormous Size</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><div id="researching-tail-clubs" class="sc-81445bbc-0 gNbimG"><h2 class="sc-739331d9-0 iatIbm"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Researching Tail Clubs</span></h2></div><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Much of tail club research has focused on ankylosaurs. It has largely been believed that their tail clubs were defense weapons, but a 2022 </span><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0404" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">paper</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> challenged that hypothesis saying that tail clubs may have been used for combat between ankylosaurs during mating season.</span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Could the same be true of </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">? The challenge in studying basal sauropods, Kareem says, is due to the small number and fragmentary state of available fossils. This makes it difficult to ascertain any intraspecific usage.</span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">And why would defense be a primary purpose? The approximately 36-foot long dinosaur was substantial. But fossils of coexisting predators have not yet been found in India, Kareem notes. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The team turned to CT scanning to uncover more about the </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> tail clubs. On the outside, Kareem says, “there are signs that these tail clubs are basically vertebrae that have been fused together and then modified.” </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">If they were indeed modified vertebrae, CT scanning would show the neural canal: “an internal canal that the spinal cord runs through,” he explains. Which is exactly what they found. </span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">Read More: </span><a color="accent" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" href="/planet-earth/these-dinosaurs-did-battle-with-their-tails"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">These Dinosaurs Did Battle With Their Tails</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><div id="fossil-growth-rings" class="sc-81445bbc-0 gNbimG"><h2 class="sc-739331d9-0 iatIbm"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Fossil Growth Rings</span></h2></div><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">But they also found evidence of potential growth rings – a surprising revelation if true, as most growth rings are known from other parts of dinosaur skeletons such as femurs or ribs. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The team is cautious with this finding, stating that further research is needed. But the evidence suggested that tail clubs in </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> changed shape as the animal grew, corresponding to those growth rings.</span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">“One of the important aspects of this study is the realization that their sampled tail clubs come from </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> at different body sizes,” says Kristi Curry Rogers, a vertebrate paleontologist at Macalester College who was not involved in the research, “including smaller and larger individuals. Data like these make it possible to begin to understand how tail clubs changed throughout life, and how they consolidated from vertebrae at the tip of the tail.” </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Most of what we know about sauropods comes from the neosauropods, or new sauropods, the species that evolved millions of years after the basal forms like </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">. Among them are the giants many of us recognize from museums or movies such as </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">, and </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">Diplodocus</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">. </span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">But studying these later species, Kareem says, “tells us little about their early evolutionary history, before they had a cosmopolitan presence and reached extreme body sizes.” Which is why studying the earlier forms such as </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">K. yamanpalliensis</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> is so important.</span></p><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Indeed, “</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG">Kotasaurus </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">and the tail clubs are just one picture of the unique fossils that India has to offer,” Kareem adds.</span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">Read More: </span><a color="accent" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" href="/the-sciences/dinosaur-dimensions-werent-one-size-fits-all"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 hmYLKc">Dinosaur Dimensions Weren't One-Size-Fits-All</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p><hr class="sc-c49dd42c-0 gUBdPx"/><div id="article" class="sc-81445bbc-0 gNbimG"><h2 class="sc-739331d9-0 iatIbm"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Article</span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 cOwLcG"> </span><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Sources</span></h2></div><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Our writers at</span><a href="http://discovermagazine.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> Discovermagazine.com</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"> use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:</span></p><ul class="sc-dd02e337-0 jtLjaC"><li class="sc-7beeca48-0 cCmAPS"><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. </span><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2024.2396814" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Sauropod tail clubs from the Kota Formation (Lower to Middle Jurassic) of India and their implications for early sauropod evolution</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p></li><li class="sc-7beeca48-0 cCmAPS"><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. </span><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/0272-4634%282001%29021%5B0242%3ATOOKYA%5D2.0.CO%3B2" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">The osteology of Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, a sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Kota Formation of India</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p></li><li class="sc-7beeca48-0 cCmAPS"><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Biology Letters. </span><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0404" class="sc-acb0869a-0 bxBBvR sc-be2fc1e4-0 jhHupj" color="accent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw">Palaeopathological evidence for intraspecific combat in ankylosaurid dinosaurs</span></a><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p></li></ul><p><span class="sc-4df7a8a0-0 kkhobw"></span></p></article><ul class="sc-fc31822f-0 hULpA-D"><li class="sc-de217756-0 cSQUFG"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/tag/dinosaurs">dinosaurs</a></li><li class="sc-de217756-0 cSQUFG"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/tag/evolution">evolution</a></li></ul><div class="sc-aeb3ddd8-0 fIkXwQ"><div class="sc-e64f09bb-0 kRJNMy"><div class="sc-e64f09bb-1 hNEEqm">1<!-- --> free <!-- -->article<!-- --> left</div><div class="sc-e64f09bb-2 eZzrtd">Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month</div><div class="sc-e64f09bb-3 NnTsm"><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D8" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 cOuSSg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a></div><div class="sc-e64f09bb-4 kLscOL"><div class="sc-3ef8760c-0 eCfiVt"><p class="sc-3ef8760c-2 gdFmEX">Already a subscriber?</p><p class="sc-3ef8760c-2 gdFmEX"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-3ef8760c-1 dnIUZI">Register</a> <!-- -->or <a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-3ef8760c-1 dnIUZI">Log In</a></p></div></div></div><div class="sc-a2aa4e38-0 bntQfD"><div class="sc-a2aa4e38-1 jcjUUT"><span class="sc-a2aa4e38-2 fYazMM">1<!-- --> free <!-- -->article</span><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 cOuSSg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a><button aria-label="Show subscription benefits" class="sc-a2aa4e38-3 dhwHRZ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="m12 8-6 6 1.41 1.41L12 10.83l4.59 4.58L18 14z"></path></svg></button></div><div class="sc-24a7fbea-0 gzwArZ"><div class="sc-24a7fbea-1 hGxOas"><img src="/assets/globalAssets/DSC_white_small.png" alt="Discover Magazine Logo" height="215px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBLqYz"/><div class="sc-24a7fbea-2 jqQDPZ">Want more?</div><p class="sc-24a7fbea-3 FJGVX">Keep reading for as low as $1.99!</p><p><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 iMktqk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a></p><div class="sc-3ef8760c-0 eCfiVt"><p class="sc-3ef8760c-2 gdFmEX">Already a subscriber?</p><p class="sc-3ef8760c-2 gdFmEX"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-3ef8760c-1 dnIUZI">Register</a> <!-- -->or <a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-3ef8760c-1 dnIUZI">Log In</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="sc-87d213a0-0 gdbaPI"><div class="sc-4fbbd49c-0 jeZlQy"><span class="sc-4fbbd49c-1 EckBW">More From Discover</span></div><div class="sc-a30dccf3-0 brMNmo"><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="New Flying Lizard Species Fills in Evolutionary Gap for Pterosaurs " class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/the-sciences/new-flying-lizard-species-fills-in-evolutionary-gap-for-pterosaurs"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/the-sciences">The Sciences</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/the-sciences/new-flying-lizard-species-fills-in-evolutionary-gap-for-pterosaurs">New Flying Lizard Species Fills in Evolutionary Gap for Pterosaurs </a></div><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="Bears Attacking — and Eating — Other Bears Is Considered Normal" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/planet-earth/bears-attacking-and-eating-other-bears-is-considered-normal"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/planet-earth">Planet Earth</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/planet-earth/bears-attacking-and-eating-other-bears-is-considered-normal">Bears Attacking — and Eating — Other Bears Is Considered Normal</a></div><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="Largest ‘Terror Bird’ Fossil Identified — Sat Atop Food Chain 12 Million Years Ago" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/the-sciences/largest-terror-bird-fossil-identified-sat-atop-food-chain-12-million-years"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/the-sciences">The Sciences</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/the-sciences/largest-terror-bird-fossil-identified-sat-atop-food-chain-12-million-years">Largest ‘Terror Bird’ Fossil Identified — Sat Atop Food Chain 12 Million Years Ago</a></div><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="Animal Embryos Can Sense Predators and Food While Still Inside the Egg" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/planet-earth/animal-embryos-can-sense-predators-and-food-while-still-inside-the-egg"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/planet-earth">Planet Earth</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/planet-earth/animal-embryos-can-sense-predators-and-food-while-still-inside-the-egg">Animal Embryos Can Sense Predators and Food While Still Inside the Egg</a></div><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="Besides a Cozy Home, Burrowing May Have Given Animals an Evolutionary Advantage" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/planet-earth/besides-a-cozy-home-burrowing-may-have-given-animals-an-evolutionary"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/planet-earth">Planet Earth</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/planet-earth/besides-a-cozy-home-burrowing-may-have-given-animals-an-evolutionary">Besides a Cozy Home, Burrowing May Have Given Animals an Evolutionary Advantage</a></div><div class="sc-61d99178-0 dkOAOU"><div><a aria-label="Robots That Mimic Ancient Creatures Could Recreate Key Moments in Evolution" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" style="position:relative" href="/the-sciences/robots-that-mimic-ancient-creatures-could-recreate-key-moments-in-evolution"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:205px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a></div><div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-4e016ad2-0 dAELGB" href="/the-sciences">The Sciences</a></div><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-61d99178-1 eSTMOo" href="/the-sciences/robots-that-mimic-ancient-creatures-could-recreate-key-moments-in-evolution">Robots That Mimic Ancient Creatures Could Recreate Key Moments in Evolution</a></div></div><section class="sc-ef5242ab-1 clgllF"><div class="sc-4fbbd49c-0 jeZlQy"><span class="sc-4fbbd49c-1 EckBW">Recommendations From Our Store</span></div><div><div class="sc-53249186-0 gplNqD"><div class="sc-6fbfc10d-0 bJxiBI"><div style="opacity:0" class="sc-37efb70a-0 durxKK"><div width="0" class="sc-c6956122-0 bzmMhn"><div class="sc-8eaa343d-0 bJeNAn"><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/product/gift/82404" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-1 gcujOa" aria-label="Periodic Mug" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:180px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a><hr class="sc-8eaa343d-2 ixbrMF"/><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-3 djqOxY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Science Shop</a><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/product/gift/82404" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-4 kaFnJo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Periodic Mug</a></div></div><div width="0" class="sc-c6956122-0 bzmMhn"><div class="sc-8eaa343d-0 bJeNAn"><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/product/stem-toy/82402" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-1 gcujOa" aria-label="Foucault's Pendulum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:180px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a><hr class="sc-8eaa343d-2 ixbrMF"/><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-3 djqOxY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Science Shop</a><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/product/stem-toy/82402" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-4 kaFnJo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foucault's Pendulum</a></div></div><div width="0" class="sc-c6956122-0 bzmMhn"><div class="sc-8eaa343d-0 bJeNAn"><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/catalog/stem-toys?filters=d45e08f03e9445408452b70ccbacfd9d" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-1 gcujOa" aria-label="Discover STEM Kits" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:180px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a><hr class="sc-8eaa343d-2 ixbrMF"/><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-3 djqOxY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Science Shop</a><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/catalog/stem-toys?filters=d45e08f03e9445408452b70ccbacfd9d" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-4 kaFnJo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Discover STEM Kits</a></div></div><div width="0" class="sc-c6956122-0 bzmMhn"><div class="sc-8eaa343d-0 bJeNAn"><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/search?q=Elements+Flashcards" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-1 gcujOa" aria-label="Elements Flashcards" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:180px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div></a><hr class="sc-8eaa343d-2 ixbrMF"/><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-3 djqOxY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Science Shop</a><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/search?q=Elements+Flashcards" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-8eaa343d-4 kaFnJo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elements Flashcards</a></div></div></div></div><button disabled="" class="sc-b4fec831-0 jVpYly"><div class="sc-5145e07e-0 fFLeJP"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M15.41 7.41 14 6l-6 6 6 6 1.41-1.41L10.83 12z"></path></svg></div></button><button class="sc-b4fec831-0 gHCgCv"><div class="sc-5145e07e-0 fFLeJP"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></button></div></div></section><div class="sc-bb8c2e70-0 dEvxDw"><div class="sc-ea6cad81-0 bkOpQU"><div class="sc-ea6cad81-1 dtcmRn">Stay Curious</div></div><div class="sc-bb8c2e70-1 gaMYLq"><div class="sc-bb8c2e70-2 iOtZCv"><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-0 cbcdaX"><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-1 dORPcO"><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-2 bPMdAY">Join</div><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-3 bmSFuJ">Our List</div></div><p class="sc-539cc9d9-0 fwcCIP">Sign up for our weekly science updates.</p><form class="sc-dd7abf72-0 eztMZN"><div class="sc-dd7abf72-1 eifopM"><input aria-label="Email Address" autoComplete="email" placeholder="Email Address" class="sc-335967e1-0 glnGeY"/><button aria-label="Sign Up for Newsletter" type="submit" color="hsl(4, 68%, 52%)" class="sc-c8bbe1ac-0 sc-b65b6186-0 haeKWy OrBVy">Sign Up</button></div><div class="sc-92081554-0 fChjmv"> </div></form><div class="sc-539cc9d9-1 hGVYrY"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/">View our privacy policy</a></div></div><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-0 cbcdaX"><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-1 dORPcO"><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-2 bPMdAY">Subscribe</div><div class="sc-a0a15a8f-3 bmSFuJ">To The Magazine</div></div><p class="sc-8c045442-0 ernAPE">Save up to <span class="sc-8c045442-1 XCZAi">40% off</span> the cover price when you subscribe to <em>Discover</em> magazine.</p><div class="sc-8c045442-2 kBtZqG"><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 sc-8c045442-3 bgntqP NNFyi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="sc-e3de11d5-0 SiWEt"><div class="sc-e3de11d5-1 dIiUhA"><div class="sc-6832a32a-0 izHfgR"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div style="height:146px" class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div><div class="sc-6832a32a-1 eFVKFk"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverMag" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/discover.magazine" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/instagram.png" alt="Instagram" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a><a href="https://twitter.com/discovermag" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/discovermagazine" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/youtube.png" alt="YouTube" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a><a href="https://soundcloud.com/its-only-science-discover-magazine" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/soundcloud.png" alt="Soundcloud" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/rss"><img src="/assets/socialIcons/rss.png" alt="RSS" height="50px" width="50px" class="sc-e706b2c9-0 cBpdBS"/></a></div></div><div class="sc-131d9e26-0 iqmVao"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/magazine">The Magazine</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/about">About Discover</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/">Privacy Policy</a><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/advertise">Advertise</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/newsletter-signup">Newsletter</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/">Terms of Use</a><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSC_custserv" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Customer Service</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/contact-us">Contact</a><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/">Copyright Policy</a></div></div></div><div class="sc-e3de11d5-2 hJGlvP"><div><span>Copyright © <!-- -->2024<!-- --> </span><a href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LabX Media Group</a></div><div class="sc-72ae8fdf-0 brfCEM"><a href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Website Accessibility</a></div></div><div role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Dismiss Dialog" class="sc-bdc700bb-0 bmCIia"></div><div class="sc-c114e581-0 kYxrvQ"><div class="sc-c114e581-1 jXVATq"><div class="sc-93418c49-0 gecSKd"><button aria-label="Close Sidebar" class="sc-93418c49-1 lbrRCn"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M19 6.41 17.59 5 12 10.59 6.41 5 5 6.41 10.59 12 5 17.59 6.41 19 12 13.41 17.59 19 19 17.59 13.41 12z"></path></svg></button></div><nav><ul class="sc-5ef19ac2-0 bppzWr"><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/magazine"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">The Magazine</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a href="https://myscienceshop.com/?utm_source=discovermag&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=site_header" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Shop</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/the-sciences"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">The Sciences</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/mind"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Mind</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/technology"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Technology</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/health"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Health</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/environment"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Environment</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" href="/planet-earth"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Planet Earth</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="sc-16326799-0 fLfSeK"><a href="https://kalmbach.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=DSS_New&pk=DSF43D1" class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="sc-16326799-1 edRbLk">Subscribe</div><div class="sc-16326799-2 gDzKSJ"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="StyledIconBase-sc-ea9ulj-0 ebjPRL"><path d="M10 6 8.59 7.41 13.17 12l-4.58 4.59L10 18l6-6z"></path></svg></div></a></li></ul></nav><div class="sc-342deb74-0 duTNrl"><div class="lazyload-wrapper "><div class="lazyload-placeholder"></div></div><div class="sc-342deb74-1 kZLSoz"><a class="sc-acb0869a-0 cgZEsQ sc-f3730634-0 ckUKXg">Login</a></div></div></div></div></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"page":{"title":"Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too","path":"/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","announce":{},"slug":"tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","adTargetingId":null},"permission":{"isAuthenticated":false,"isClientSessionValid":false,"hasAccess":true,"viewsRemaining":1,"isEntitled":false,"meterHasReduced":false,"previouslyMetered":false,"exceedsLimit":false},"user":{"isLoggedIn":false,"hasMagazineSub":false,"hasNewsletterSub":false,"newsletterSelections":[]},"content":{"article":{"id":"mpAGBkLuciU4VPuwvU8hm","meta":{"publicationDate":"2024-11-20T10:00-06:00","template":"Standard","contentIndex":"None","mostPopular":false,"featured":false,"paywall":true,"modifiedDate":"2024-11-21T14:35:04.840Z","excludeFromListing":false,"canonicalUrl":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too"},"refs":{"authors":[{"id":"34uPq6PCb2UTCg4nOKO7dP","name":"Jeanne Timmons","slug":"jeanne-timmons","image":{},"hideRightRail":false}],"category":{"id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","name":"The Sciences","slug":"the-sciences","sortOrder":1,"hideRightRail":false,"image":{}},"tags":[{"id":"5QbPH4ojMaTlnJfsGttrkP","name":"dinosaurs","slug":"dinosaurs","image":{},"hideRightRail":false},{"id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","name":"evolution","slug":"evolution","image":{},"hideRightRail":false}]},"title":"Tail Clubs Weren't Just for Ankylosaurs – Some Sauropods Had Them, Too","subtitle":"A new discovery of basal sauropod helps dive a little deeper into the purpose behind the tail club.","slug":"tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too","image":{"id":"5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ","title":"Ankylosaurs","description":"(Credit: Orla/Shutterstock)","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5OM00GZ0c2SgEbRgIoQTeQ/4926f9ec50ce26b5c941771598cd1f55/ankylosaurs.jpg"},"body":{"nodeType":"document","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Tail clubs were a rare trait that didn’t survive past the Pleistocene, a period that ended about 11,700 years ago. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The last species to have them were glyptodonts – large dome-shaped armadillos from South America, and extinct turtle species from South America and Australasia. Before this, only two species of dinosaurs had tail clubs: the quadrupedal armored tanks known as ankylosaurs and the long-necked sauropods. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Of those approximately 250 sauropod species, only three were known to have tail clubs. Those three were from basal (or early forms of) sauropods from China. That number has now jumped to four, thanks to ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2024.2396814"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"research","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":" published in September 2024.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"insticator","data":{},"marks":[]},{"nodeType":"heading-2","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"A New Sauropod With a Tail Club","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The newest tail club member, ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis ","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"that","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" ","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"was also a basal sauropod, comes from the Jurassic of India, about 201.4 million years to 145 million years ago. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The species itself is relatively new to science and was discovered in the 1970s. Geologist and paleontologist, P. Yadagiri first named the fossil in 1988, after excavating the ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/0272-4634%282001%29021%5B0242%3ATOOKYA%5D2.0.CO%3B2"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"fossils","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":" of about 12 individuals of different ages at a site in south-central India. That site produced over 800 vertebrate fossils that remain in the collection of the Geological Survey of India Southern Region in Hyderabad. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla is a co-author, professor, and curator of the Museum of Paleontology at the University of Michigan. He had reviewed the approximately 400 fossils related to ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis ","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"in 2001 and realized that four were tail clubs. This led to the eventual research of those tail clubs from lead author Tariq Abdul Kareem. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"“Basal sauropods represent roughly 10 percent of all known sauropods,” Kareem explains, “yet all the known sauropod tail clubs are from these basal taxa. This distribution makes it look unusual, but we do not know much about the relationships of basal sauropods and much less about what these tail clubs were used for.”","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Read More: ","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-sauropods-evolved-to-their-enormous-size"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"How Sauropods Evolved to Their Enormous Size","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"heading-2","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Researching Tail Clubs","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Much of tail club research has focused on ankylosaurs. It has largely been believed that their tail clubs were defense weapons, but a 2022 ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0404"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"paper","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":" challenged that hypothesis saying that tail clubs may have been used for combat between ankylosaurs during mating season.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Could the same be true of ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"? The challenge in studying basal sauropods, Kareem says, is due to the small number and fragmentary state of available fossils. This makes it difficult to ascertain any intraspecific usage.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"And why would defense be a primary purpose? The approximately 36-foot long dinosaur was substantial. But fossils of coexisting predators have not yet been found in India, Kareem notes. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The team turned to CT scanning to uncover more about the ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" tail clubs. On the outside, Kareem says, “there are signs that these tail clubs are basically vertebrae that have been fused together and then modified.” ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"If they were indeed modified vertebrae, CT scanning would show the neural canal: “an internal canal that the spinal cord runs through,” he explains. Which is exactly what they found. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Read More: ","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/these-dinosaurs-did-battle-with-their-tails"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"These Dinosaurs Did Battle With Their Tails","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"heading-2","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Fossil Growth Rings","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"But they also found evidence of potential growth rings – a surprising revelation if true, as most growth rings are known from other parts of dinosaur skeletons such as femurs or ribs. ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The team is cautious with this finding, stating that further research is needed. But the evidence suggested that tail clubs in ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" changed shape as the animal grew, corresponding to those growth rings.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"“One of the important aspects of this study is the realization that their sampled tail clubs come from ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" at different body sizes,” says Kristi Curry Rogers, a vertebrate paleontologist at Macalester College who was not involved in the research, “including smaller and larger individuals. Data like these make it possible to begin to understand how tail clubs changed throughout life, and how they consolidated from vertebrae at the tip of the tail.” ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Most of what we know about sauropods comes from the neosauropods, or new sauropods, the species that evolved millions of years after the basal forms like ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":". Among them are the giants many of us recognize from museums or movies such as ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":", and ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Diplodocus","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":". ","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"But studying these later species, Kareem says, “tells us little about their early evolutionary history, before they had a cosmopolitan presence and reached extreme body sizes.” Which is why studying the earlier forms such as ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"K. yamanpalliensis","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" is so important.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Indeed, “","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Kotasaurus ","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"and the tail clubs are just one picture of the unique fossils that India has to offer,” Kareem adds.","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Read More: ","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/dinosaur-dimensions-werent-one-size-fits-all"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Dinosaur Dimensions Weren't One-Size-Fits-All","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"hr","data":{},"content":[]},{"nodeType":"heading-2","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Article","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" ","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Sources","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Our writers at","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"http://discovermagazine.com/"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":" Discovermagazine.com","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":" use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"unordered-list","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"list-item","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2024.2396814"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Sauropod tail clubs from the Kota Formation (Lower to Middle Jurassic) of India and their implications for early sauropod evolution","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]}]},{"nodeType":"list-item","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/0272-4634%282001%29021%5B0242%3ATOOKYA%5D2.0.CO%3B2"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The osteology of Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, a sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Kota Formation of India","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]}]},{"nodeType":"list-item","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Biology Letters. ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"hyperlink","data":{"uri":"https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0404"},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Palaeopathological evidence for intraspecific combat in ankylosaurid dinosaurs","marks":[],"data":{}}]},{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]}]}]},{"nodeType":"paragraph","data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"","marks":[],"data":{}}]}]}},"related":[{"image":{"description":"(Credit: Warpaint/Shutterstock)","id":"3sxiqBRfKCQEzTz0SvIzQO","title":"Parasaurolophus illustration from the Cretaceous period","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/3sxiqBRfKCQEzTz0SvIzQO/87aa2984a49b3fa4a89e62bed3249ae7/Parasaurolophus-illustration.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"dinosaurs","id":"5QbPH4ojMaTlnJfsGttrkP","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"dinosaurs"},{"image":{},"name":"behavior \u0026 society","id":"3R8ur7E8yXSVaJuRchTYIU","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"behavior-and-society"},{"image":{},"name":"animal behavior","id":"5X9d6nNjvEkrLgup8Nddut","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animal-behavior"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-11-22T13:00-06:00"},"subtitle":"Researcher draws on Parasaurolophus skull structure to build a device that emulates how the ancient creatures sounded.","id":"2BhuQj3M764A2XreOu0Lss","title":"This Dinosaur's Cry Could Have Sounded Like a Huge Trumpet","slug":"this-dinosaurs-cry-could-have-sounded-like-a-huge-trumpet"},{"image":{"description":"(Credit: José Antonio Peñas Artero)\nReconstruction of the life form of Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra.\n\n","id":"50efj3aT7KMS97SO32dJIF","title":"Reconstruction of the life form of Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/50efj3aT7KMS97SO32dJIF/4b754f9d0e18a831f57c38b6605c5cdc/Low-Res_Qunka_Fig2a_Reconstruccion_JAPen_as.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"dinosaurs","id":"5QbPH4ojMaTlnJfsGttrkP","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"dinosaurs"},{"image":{},"name":"paleontology","id":"2gjZ0Iodxqbj3abTIS8v5V","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"paleontology"},{"image":{},"name":"archaeology","id":"713zocXdSkYNPj9kTm1KRH","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"archaeology"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-09-30T10:00-05:00"},"subtitle":"'Outstanding' sauropod fossils found in Spain suggest Qunkasaura likely came from Asia. Paleontologists reveal how this shapes our understanding of dinosaur migration.","id":"43kD7zPneJ62GpMScjEz7P","title":"Unique Discovery Paints New Picture of Sauropod Migration Patterns","slug":"unique-discovery-paints-new-picture-of-sauropod-migration-patterns"},{"image":{"description":"(Credit: FOTOKITA/Shutterstock) ","id":"6g8BbsW5ZvoYX692R1am7C","title":"swimming trex with head above water","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/6g8BbsW5ZvoYX692R1am7C/83a28eef2f1bf2fecdc2529484e130f3/swimming-trex.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"dinosaurs","id":"5QbPH4ojMaTlnJfsGttrkP","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"dinosaurs"},{"image":{},"name":"fossils","id":"5Utw40n1f9hTttvVf3JhP7","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"fossils"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-09-24T10:00-05:00"},"subtitle":"T. rex and Megalodon dominated their ecosystems, but which was one was more fierce? Paleontologists explore how size, speed, and bite force compare between these ancient mega-predators.","id":"4rk97WQjDy80uwnGTLU2UU","title":"From Bite Force To Speed, Here's How T. Rex and Megalodon Compare","slug":"from-bite-force-to-speed-heres-how-t-rex-and-megalodon-compare"}],"more":[{"image":{"description":"Life restoration of two Skiphosoura bavarica in flight. (Credit: Gabriel Ugueto)","id":"7f9sqXjIR1zkPYS0MkIKnI","title":"Skiphousoura life reconstruction","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/7f9sqXjIR1zkPYS0MkIKnI/79b892d461475cc98f18ed294c89d0e3/Skiphousoura-life-reconstruction.jpeg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"paleontology","id":"2gjZ0Iodxqbj3abTIS8v5V","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"paleontology"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-11-18T12:30-06:00"},"subtitle":"Fossil find in Germany helps solve paleontological puzzle between earlier and later pterosaurs.","id":"NJAdNL83qbI3dZwtzkig7","title":"New Flying Lizard Species Fills in Evolutionary Gap for Pterosaurs ","slug":"new-flying-lizard-species-fills-in-evolutionary-gap-for-pterosaurs"},{"image":{"description":"(Credit: Vladimir Wrangel/Shutterstock)","id":"7fuJN8fMd0dXbkjXBSEG7D","title":"brown bears fighting in the water","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/7fuJN8fMd0dXbkjXBSEG7D/c0193b55ba8fe76fa4a7a498eaa781e7/brown-bear-fighting.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"Planet Earth","id":"1vyzIfctc2Eu4Q25qEDaUb","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"planet-earth"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"animals","id":"2jUyt0vvmkhhfrmFsQzT2q","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animals"},{"image":{},"name":"animal behavior","id":"5X9d6nNjvEkrLgup8Nddut","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animal-behavior"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-11-18T10:00-06:00"},"subtitle":"When Fat Bear Week witnessed the bear attack between male bear 469 and female bear 402, they had to delay the week. While it was not fun to watch, it could have been normal behavior. ","id":"JQTVFMw5IhJ0Fh6RoKSRB","title":"Bears Attacking — and Eating — Other Bears Is Considered Normal","slug":"bears-attacking-and-eating-other-bears-is-considered-normal"},{"image":{"description":"The end of a terror bird’s left tibiotarsus, a lower leg bone in birds equivalent to that of a human tibia or shin bone, dates back to the Miocene epoch around 12 million years ago. (Credit: Degrange et al.)\n","id":"5DSDa5ZCWH5LLksqldYhPZ","title":"The terror bird’s left tibiotarsus","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5DSDa5ZCWH5LLksqldYhPZ/f55431ce0a7dc492aec5032f75e0874f/Terror-Bird-Tibia.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"paleontology","id":"2gjZ0Iodxqbj3abTIS8v5V","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"paleontology"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-11-04T14:15-06:00"},"subtitle":"Researchers confirm the terror bird fossil 20 years after its South American discovery, comparing the creature to a massive, carnivorous-like ostrich.","id":"3YazCoiG0IFLkyh0kijGJb","title":"Largest ‘Terror Bird’ Fossil Identified — Sat Atop Food Chain 12 Million Years Ago","slug":"largest-terror-bird-fossil-identified-sat-atop-food-chain-12-million-years"},{"image":{"description":"(Credit: Gherzak/Shutterstock) ","id":"5UMrGulLXxkInnZu9U00bx","title":"common frog eymbros","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5UMrGulLXxkInnZu9U00bx/0376db14340db16d12d37fb62d05a80d/common-frog-eymbros.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"Planet Earth","id":"1vyzIfctc2Eu4Q25qEDaUb","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"planet-earth"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"animal behavior","id":"5X9d6nNjvEkrLgup8Nddut","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animal-behavior"},{"image":{},"name":"animals","id":"2jUyt0vvmkhhfrmFsQzT2q","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animals"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-10-29T08:00-05:00"},"subtitle":"Animal embryos can adapt to their surroundings in remarkable ways like sensing predators and food sources to improve their survival. But can it help them face climate change?","id":"3atZVCzkFDKcOabPYWPDuV","title":"Animal Embryos Can Sense Predators and Food While Still Inside the Egg","slug":"animal-embryos-can-sense-predators-and-food-while-still-inside-the-egg"},{"image":{"description":"(Credit: Serenity Images23/Shutterstock). ","id":"4gNbwFtd2VgJklQOKBFiFv","title":"wild rabbit outside burrow","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/4gNbwFtd2VgJklQOKBFiFv/c195b329f995a6adbc5ac9e36145bd19/wild-rabbit-outside-burrow.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"Planet Earth","id":"1vyzIfctc2Eu4Q25qEDaUb","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"planet-earth"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"animal behavior","id":"5X9d6nNjvEkrLgup8Nddut","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animal-behavior"},{"image":{},"name":"animals","id":"2jUyt0vvmkhhfrmFsQzT2q","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"animals"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-10-24T15:00-05:00"},"subtitle":"From evading predators to withstanding natural disasters, animals have been using burrows for over 500 million years. ","id":"44P8PLAlMX6Innm4HOfQW7","title":"Besides a Cozy Home, Burrowing May Have Given Animals an Evolutionary Advantage","slug":"besides-a-cozy-home-burrowing-may-have-given-animals-an-evolutionary"},{"image":{"description":"The study of life (paleontology and biology) and the study of artificial life (bioinspired robotics and paleo-inspired robotics) provide complementary knowledge about animal evolution. (Credit: University of Cambridge)","id":"5rFdsGPpGQCU6MT7FnUwD8","title":"Life Studies","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/5rFdsGPpGQCU6MT7FnUwD8/7dbb422a909b1efb8f6ddbc7b58312db/Life-Studies.jpg"},"refs":{"category":{"image":{},"sortOrder":1,"name":"The Sciences","id":"7xmGyuRnFlpRZP0YkTb4Xy","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"the-sciences"},"tags":[{"image":{},"name":"paleontology","id":"2gjZ0Iodxqbj3abTIS8v5V","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"paleontology"},{"image":{},"name":"robotics","id":"6qOGSPpmsHj3jntBOBmZ3K","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"robotics"},{"image":{},"name":"evolution","id":"7DaFLPF4RUsY4ryiB61Eqh","hideRightRail":false,"slug":"evolution"}]},"meta":{"template":"Standard","publicationDate":"2024-10-23T16:00-05:00"},"subtitle":"Combining paleontology, biology, and robotics can help scientists model animals from the past, present, and feature.","id":"6w5RijSDlNQsVKlRUsXasK","title":"Robots That Mimic Ancient Creatures Could Recreate Key Moments in Evolution","slug":"robots-that-mimic-ancient-creatures-could-recreate-key-moments-in-evolution"}],"products":[{"id":"4XJH8DuetDVvwNielffDcF","name":"Periodic Mug","targetUrl":"https://myscienceshop.com/product/gift/82404","image":{"id":"1vKxEHsuFiRApZArXMSiKE","title":"Periodic Mug","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/1vKxEHsuFiRApZArXMSiKE/1aad4b21254375cbcb09021be286440d/82404a.jpg"},"sortOrder":1},{"id":"WXEls87yltppCxevkwgPD","name":"Foucault's Pendulum","targetUrl":"https://myscienceshop.com/product/stem-toy/82402","image":{"id":"2tiN4OwifJHq9jdvqS3udB","title":"Foucault's Pendulum","description":"","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/2tiN4OwifJHq9jdvqS3udB/a2d786f4f74ed6a5a62f2ec2e24e8b13/82402.jpg"},"sortOrder":4},{"id":"5e9hmYLIEFDcRCphXRBKuk","name":"Discover STEM Kits","targetUrl":"https://myscienceshop.com/catalog/stem-toys?filters=d45e08f03e9445408452b70ccbacfd9d","image":{"id":"1LJQgCEQ07e7YwLXnEJv4Q","title":"Discover STEM Kits","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/1LJQgCEQ07e7YwLXnEJv4Q/9960323864cfa47e536ec19baf958824/82308.jpg"},"sortOrder":3},{"id":"4UZTdwy9zUaYQ63ybzseBX","name":"Elements Flashcards","targetUrl":"https://myscienceshop.com/search?q=Elements+Flashcards","image":{"id":"1VgN2t8uhhk2laXnkfWcVp","title":"Elements Flashcards image","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/cnu0m8re1exe/1VgN2t8uhhk2laXnkfWcVp/bc3523f797e745e300c97ef4f7b18ea2/66412_elements_bundle.JPG"},"sortOrder":2}]}},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/the-sciences/[[...slug]]","query":{"slug":["tail-clubs-werent-just-for-ankylosaurs-some-sauropods-had-them-too"]},"buildId":"my-build-id","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>