Re: Albisaurus

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/22/02 12:04:31 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu writes:

<< As I understand it, _Albisaurus scutifer_ is a junior objective synonym of
 _Iguanodon albinus_ >>

I said they were >almost< synonyms; I should rather have said "almost 
objective synonyms." Fritsch added an osteoderm to the type partial limb bone 
of Iguanodon albinus to create a type series for the species he named 
Albisaurus scutifer. To be a junior objective synonym, a species must have 
exactly the same type specimen as its senior synonym, so Iguanodon albinus 
and Albisaurus scutifer are not objective synonyms. In this case, however, 
they may become objective synonyms if the limb bone is declared the lectotype 
of Albisaurus scutifer, something I'm not inclined to do because the name 
"scutifer" clearly refers to the osteoderm rather than the limb bone.