Re: Apatosaurus vs. Brontosaurus

["Wilson, Yvonne" <WilsonY@CarnegieMNH.Org>]

Jaime A. Headden wrote:

"  *Apatosaurus* was named a year prior to *Brontosaurus,* and was given
it's name because of the shape of it's chevrons looked like
*Camarasaurus,* but was closer to *Diplodocus* instead, hence it's tail
was "deceptive." A few years after *Brontosaurus* was named, they were
synonymized because one was essentially a juvenile of the other, as more
material has supported over the last century. This was WELL prior to the
recovery of the partial skull for *Apatosaurus.*"

The CM Apatosaurus skull that resides with the type of A. louisae was found
during the original Carnegie Museum work at Dino Nat'l Monument between 1909
and 1923.  Holland and Douglass originally had it right and thought the
proper skull went on Apatosaurus.  They however, did not want to oppose
Marsh (not sure who made that decision) and left the mounted skeleton
headless for about 20 years until Holland was no longer director of the
museum.  Then on went the Camarasaurus skull in deference to noise-making
paleontologists. Around 1979 or so Dave Berman and Jack McIntosh pulled the
proper skull off the shelf and gave Louisa her appropriate noggin.  It had
been found prior to 1923, however.