popular names

[John Schneiderman <dino@revelation.unomaha.edu>]

> If they were the same (and we seem to be agreeing that they're not) then
> Hylaeosaurus would have priority as it was named by Mantell in 1833. 
> Polacanthus was named by Huxley in 1867. Probable synonyms of Polacanthus are
> Polacanthoides (Nopsca 1928) and Vectensia (Delair 1982). Hylosaurus 
> (Fitzinger
> 1843) is a synonym of Hylaeosaurus. EVEN IF H. and P. are congeneric, I think 
> that Polacanthidae would have family name priority as it was originally 
> proposed, regardless of generic priority within the family. On an interesting
> diversion, the family Tyrannosauridae should really be called Deinodontidae 
> for
> the same reason, and likewise Dinosauria should be called Pachypoda. But 
> there's
> some rule stating that when a name becomes so forgotten and superseded by a 
> more
> popular term, it can be forgotten. Who knows what the rule is?
> 
In that case lets bring back Brontosaurus...Apatosaurus just doesn't do 
it for me.  Besides, wasn't it only in the sixties or seventies that the 
push for Apatosaurus be used instead of Brontosaurus because of priority?
Thoughts anyone?

--John Schneiderman (dino@revelation.unomaha.edu)