Why Did Animals Lose their Tail Weapons

[Troodon]

Tail weaponry is nearly absent in living animals.  Article and paper explores this subject

 

 

Article

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/science/tails-weapons-dinosaurs.html?smid=tw-nytimesscience&smtyp=cur

 

 

Paper

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1871/20172299

 

 

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Interesting. 

I know they're invertebrates and not amniotes, but scorpions get on pretty well with a tail weapon. 

Although this is offensive as much as defensive, it is still true that the body armour evolved first. 

But size isn't a factor here, though sea scorpions got to fairly big sizes for invertebrates and the body is rather stiff. 

Just a thought. 

[Miocene_Mason]

Thresher sharks use their long tails to stun fish (okay not amniotes either). 

[Troodon]

Good input like the scorpion & shark idea but I think their focus was more 

@Tidgy's Dad @WhodamanHD

[Kane]

And, komodo dragons as well use their tails as effective weapons... Perhaps channeling their inner ancestral ankylosaur cousins!  

[ashcraft]

Tail weaponry is no different then head weaponry.  It evolved from what was available for the purpose of breeding dominance.  The fact that it also MAY have aided in defense is secondary.

 

Look at deer.  If antlers evolved for defense, why would they lose them yearly?

 

Brent Ashcraft

[GordonC]

Yes, Thresher Shark comes to mind. gordon

[Echinoid]

Crocodilians?

I wouldn't want to be hit by a croc tail!