Re: Official State Dinosaurs

[Gertrude Smith <gsraptor@arkansas.net>]

Tompaleo@aol.com wrote:
> 
> << Texas is about to name an official state dinosaur (Pleurocoelus, an
>  unremarkable small brachiosaurid).

>   >>
> 
> Maryland has a 'semi'-official state dinosaur. Astrodon (cf. Pleurocoelus)
> johnstoni. 
> Funny though, if Astrodon turns out to have priority over Pleurocoelus, then
> Texans will be left with an invalid taxon!
And what happens to our trackways in Arkansas? Will they "disappear"? ;)
> 
> Along those lines, Maryland does have a state fossil. A lowly Miocene
> gastropod now called Ecphora gardinere . When originally selected to be the
> state fossil, it was called E. quadricostata. The exact details escape me but
> I am reasonably sure the latter turned out to be a junior synonym and was
> only caught after the selection and announcement much to the chagrin of our
> bureacrats!
> 
> Regards,
> Thomas R. Lipka
> Paleontological/Geological Studies

> Long live Astrodon!

Goes to show, bureaucrats and fossils don't mix.
Pleurocoelus forever!

Gertrude Smith
gsraptor@arkansas.net