Re: Labrosaurus (was RE: birds and dinosaurs)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote:

> A paratype has to be part of the type series, reported in the same
> publication as the holotype.  Being discovered in 1884, it is impossible 
> for
> USNM 4734 to be paratype of Allosaurus fragilis, which was named in 1877.
> Chure (2000) does designate it as the topotype, however.

Yes, you're right.  In this case, the topotype and neotype are not yet 
official, since both must await formal publication.

> Pickering seems to have no qualms about discussing A. "whitei" publically,

Au contraire.  ;-)

I was afraid that "A. whitei" may be mistaken for a formally published name 
(as the author of this name believes it to be).  That is the biggest danger 
with _nomina nuda_ - through continued usage, they tend to become mistaken 
for valid species, and can cause immense taxonomic confusion.

> "Madsenius" is from a children's book published over a decade ago.

I believe this was the _Dinosaur Data Book_ (Lambert, 1990).



Tim

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