Re: Re-use a name?

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

> Everybody knows that "Brontosaurus" is currently considered an invalid
> taxon, a junior synonym of _Apatosaurus_ because OC Marsh thought he had
> two critters when he had two specimens of the same critter.
> 
> I recall reading somewhere recently of a name given a dinosaur (might
> have been _Centrosaurus_) that was questioned, branded invalid because
> it had been used before, then resurrected on the grounds that the older
> use turned out to be a junior synonym of another genus name.  
> 
> Thus, a question: Could some enterprising soul apply the name
> "Brontosaurus" to a new, hitherto undescribed species of sauropod, and
> thus give us back that wonderfully accurate and evocative dinosaur name?

Unfortunately, Brontosaurus was applied to diagnostic material which was
later determined to be the same as Apatosaurus...so Brontosaurus became a
junior synonym....so it can't be used again for another critter.
However, if you sit on the fence of those who believe that the type
material of Apatosaurus is not the same as Brontosaurus, the synonym could
be discarded and Brontosaurus brought back to its former glory.

Brontosaurus forever....

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