Destroyed Fossils (was: Re: JP3 Trailer)

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Sat, 5 May 2001 13:55:38   
 KiernanCR wrote:
>Ideally, a *neotype* should be designated for _Spinosaurus_, if such material 
>exists and the type description is adequate to show that the neotype is in 
>fact congeneric (and conspecific). So, _Spinosaurus_ wasn't automatically 
>invalidated by the destruction of its type specimen. We have the same problem 
>with at least three mosasaur taxa, _Tylosaurus proriger_ (lost), _Clidastes 
>liodontus_ (apparently destroyed during WWII), and _Halisaurus onchognathus_ 
>(apparently destroyed during WWII). 

I also think that the type specimen of Poekilopleuron was destroyed during the 
Allied bombing and invasion of Normandy.  Actually, I think that a lot of 
fossils (including a few types) were destroyed during WWII.  Just curious, 
where were these fossils being housed at when they were destroyed??  

Steve

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