Re: Podokesauridae, Problems of Nomenclature Returned

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/19/02 6:08:08 PM EST, qilongia@yahoo.com writes:

<< Podokesauridae was coined before Coelophysidae. Even though
 *Podokesaurus* is considered a junior synonym of *Coelophysis*, and *P.
 holyokensis* of *C. bauri*, the ICZN states that the first family to
 include the paradigm of the earliest eponym must be the "proper" family to
 which any senior synonym of the included paradigm belongs. >>

I wouldn't be so sure that Podokesaurus is a synonym of Coelophysis. Look at 
the differences that purportedly separate Coelophysis from Eucoelophysis. 
They're at least as great as the differences that separate Podokesaurus from 
Coelophysis. Also Podokesaurus is considered Early Jurassic, somewhat later 
than Coelophysis and Eucoelophysis (still Late Triassic). The type specimen 
of Podokesaurus holyokensis was lost in a fire, but casts do survive. It's 
supposed to be a juvenile.

On the other hand, maybe it's time to implode some of the podokesaurids: 
e.g., synonymize Eucoelophysis, Syntarsus, and Podokesaurus as distinct 
species of the genus Coelophysis... (Subjective: they're distinct genera only 
when you can tell them apart without having to get down on your hands and 
knees and measure things.)