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Re: Typical and less typical types

Jaime A. Headden wrote:

  In continuing with the thread from before, the holotype of *Coelophsyis*
-- if at any point someone would determine [and demonstrate] this to be
diagnostic and distinct from other, say, Ghost Ranch, material -- would be
retained as the indicative type (holotype) for *Coelophysis,* in spite of
the designation of a neotype. Essentially, the neotype is rendered
unneccesary, and the descision is "reversed" by demonstration of
diagnostic qualities. I have yet to see a determinate argument for why the
lectotype sacrum is NOT diagnostic for *Coelophysis* bauri.


Even if the lectotype sacrum is demonstrated to be diagnostic, I don't believe that the ICZN decision would be reversed. In other words, the Ghost Ranch specimens will always be called _Coelophysis bauri_ (assuming they are conspecific), and the name _Rioarribasaurus colberti_ is gone forever.

The neotype for _C. bauri_ is a Ghost Ranch specimen (AMNH 7224), as designated by Opinion 1842, and I think there would be resistance from many paleontologists to the idea of the Ghost Ranch specimens being called anything other than _Coelophysis bauri_.

If the original _C. bauri_ material does prove to be diagnostic, then its most likely fate is that it will be referred to _Eucoelophysis baldwini_. Sullivan and Lucas (1999) named their genus "Eucoelophysis" because they believed it probably represents the same species as the original ("true") _Coelophysis_ material. The original type material for _Coelophysis_ was sorted by Cope into three different species, described under the name of _Coelurus bauri_, _C. longicollis_, and _C. willistoni_. These probably represent one species, and _C. bauri_ was arbitrarily chosen as the type species for the genus _Coelophysis_. If this material is demonstrated to be diagnostic, and conspecific with _E. baldwini_, then the name _Eucoelophysis_ would be sunk in favor of _Longosaurus_ Welles, 1984, which has _C. longicollis_ as its type species.



Tim

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