Re: The pterosaur in the egg: a new report

[Mike Hanson <mhanson54@comcast.net>]

From a discussion with Dave Peters:
"formal description? no. more of a refutation of the embryo business."

Here we are again. Dave Peters did not intend the article to be a formal 
description, yet as Jaime points out, he seems to have fulfilled the 
ICZN requirements, so... nomen nudum or nomen validum? That is the question.

Christopher Taylor wrote:

> This name has so much wrong with it, it makes one cringe. The
> impropriety of naming a specimen not seen, and probably being studied by
> others as we speak; the inappropriateness of the publication forum; even the
> coining of the name is hidden in a figure caption rather than being clearly
> separated in the text. But I'm afraid that all these factors, while they may
> violate a number of the recommendations of the ICZN, and certainly its
> intention, probably *don't* violate any actual rules. So welcome, Avgodectes
> pseudembryon Peters 2004, welcome to the fold. Please just sit yourself down
> in the corner, and we'd appreciate if you didn't cause any trouble.

Hehe, I like that last sentence. Well, I think that time will be the 
ultimate judge in Peters's theories. Fifteen years from now we'll see 
where we are. Dave Peters's 2004 publications will probably be 
forgotten, the name /Avgodectes preudembryon/ (I agree with you, that 
name is so inaccurate, it makes me cringe also) will probably be only an 
oddity of zoological nomenclature associated with the very first egg of 
a pterosaur to be found. An egg of a pterosaur close to Haopterus 
perhaps with a well preserved embryo. The embryo of an excellent, 
warm-blooded flier, a creature covered in a dense coat of hair, with a 
short, unvaned tail and without a dorsal frill. That is my prediction of 
the future.
-------------------------------------
Mike Hanson
Email: mhanson54@comcast.net
Website: http://www.archosauria.org
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