Re: Biggest Bloopers in Vert Paleo?

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>I do not know about the biggest bloopers, but I do know of one
>or two errors that *sound* silly, even if they are not really
>that bad.
>
>For instance, a fossil pig's tooth was once misidentified as
>a fossil hominid.  But this is not as bad as it sounds: pigs
>and humans have very similar diets, and thus have convergently
>similar teeth.  Thus the error is very understandable.

If I remember correctly, "Hesperopithecus" is a peccary, and not a pig
(although I imagine that most creationists are not too familiar with
'non-biblical' creatures like the peccary, so they pick the next best
thing).

And, of course, there was Eoanthropus dawsoni (Piltdown Man), which was a hoax.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.