Re: Protoavis

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.NCR.COM>]

>From: Joe Average <71573.2027@compuserve.com>
 > >  Do the rules for naming genera and species allow Protoavis to be renamed 
 > > ...
 > 
 > There were many responses giving examples of names that did not reflect what
 > is now known about the species named.  I wonder why no one pointed to the
 > recent finding about oviraptor?  Is there still some doubt about its presence
 > near the eggs?

Nope.  Oviraptor is indeed another good example of how a name must
be retained even when it turns out not to be truly descriptive.
[I cannot use the word "valid" here, as it has a technical meaning
in taxonomy, and Oviraptor *is* valid in that sense].

Thus, it turns out that O. was given a "bum rap" - it wasn't stealing
the eggs it was found with, it was probably incubating them.  However,
it is stuck with the name anyhow, since thems the rules.

swf@elsegundoca.ncr.com         sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.