Re: [dinosaur] Fwd: A quick question

Ben Creisler

Some cases of later using names that were originally invalidly published in obscure ways...

The generic name Centrosaurus was cited as an apparent unpublished manuscript name in Fitzinger's classification of reptiles as a junior synonym of Phrynosoma (pg. 78), and Centrosaurus horridus as a junnior synonym of Phrynosoma coronatum on page 79.Â

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3692168#page/86/mode/1up

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3692168#page/87/mode/1up

There is no record anywhere of a publication before or after that made the name Centrosaurus valid Âbefore the name Centrosaurus was used again for dinosaur by Lawrence Lambe in 1904 (to refer to the hooked processes on its frill). Lambe was presumably unaware of the obscure Âpublication of the name as an invalid junior synonym.Â

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30105617#page/91/mode/1up

The authors of ÂA Bibliography of Âthe Dinosauria in 1989 proposed the replacement name Eucentrosaurus Chure and McIntosh, 1989 based on the assumption that Centrosaurus was preoccupied. However, this was unnecessary and Centrosaurus Lambe, 1904 is a valid name.

Something similar happened with the name Ceratops, which was published by Rafinesque in 1815 in a list of names without descriptions (thus a nomen nudum).Â Marsh used the name Ceratops for a dinosaur 1888, likely unaware of Rafinesque (which would not have prevented it in any case).

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40148819#page/545/mode/1up

Nevertheless, Lull proposed the replacement name Proceratops for Marsh's dinosaur in 1906. However, this was not needed.

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40225851#page/164/mode/1up

Ceratops Marsh is currently considered a nomen dubium based on material that it is not diagnostic to the genus and species level.Â

On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 4:20 PM Thomas Richard Holtz <tholtz@umd.edu> wrote:

YouÂcould technically use them. But please, for the love of all that is decent, do NOT use them without getting the original author (if still alive) involved!! Anything is what is known in taxonomic literature as a "dick move".

On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 6:18 PM Ethan Schoales <ethan.schoales@gmail.com> wrote:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ethan Schoales <ethan.schoales@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: [dinosaur] A quick question
To: Bill Parker <saurian55@gmail.com>

Is it possible to use it, or is it out of the running due to its, ahem, nudity?Â

On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 5:53 PM Bill Parker <saurian55@gmail.com> wrote:
You donât have to use the old name because it is not presently available.

On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 1:50 PM Ethan Schoales <ethan.schoales@gmail.com> wrote:
If someone is properly describing an organism that already has a nomen nudum/informal scientific name, can they use that name or do they have to come up with a new one?Â

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Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
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