RE: New name for Nemegtia barsboldi

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Jaime Headden wrote:

>   Lü J.-c., Tomida Y., Azuma Y., Dong Z.-g. & Lee, Y.-N. 2005. 
> *Nemegtomaia*
> gen. nov., a replacement name for the oviraptorosaurian dinosaur *Nemegtia* 
> Lü et
>    al., 2004, a preoccupied name. _Bulletin of the National Science 
> Museum,
> Tokyo, Series C_ 31:51.

My guess is that the "maia" portion of the name _Nemegtomaia_ has the same 
derivation as the "maia" in _Maiasaura_, meaning "good mother" or "nurse" in 
ancient Greek.  In that sense, it probably alludes to the evidence for 
brooding and parental care in oviraptorosaurs.  Again, just a guess.  (Can 
anyone confirm?)

Incidentally, the senior homonym that necessitated the name-change is 
_Nemegtia_ Szczechura 1978 (a prehistoric ostracod, as mentioned by Jaime).

Cheers

Tim