Could the name "brontosaurus" get reassigned?

Since specimens that were previously called brontosaurus were identified as apatosaurus, could the name brontosaurus be used for a newly discovered sauropod, or is its (mis)application permanent?

Two different names for one creature is bad; one name for two different creatures is not likely to be an improvement.

The story of brontosaurus vs apatasaurus is part of paleontology’s history. I’d favor leaving it “in situ”, as it were.

Ditto. Even if someone tried it, no one would follow that lead.

I’m sure there are products on the market, whose name is the same as other products. But generally, this happens because the original product failed and never became popular, making the name available for reuse. It’s going to be a very long time before people forget the word “brontosaurus”.

I myself, upon reading the title for this thread, said to myself, “Oh yeah, they call the brontosaurus something else nowadays. What’s the new name?” and I had to read the thread to be reminded.

No. Brontosaurus is a “junior subjective synonym” of Apatosaurus, so it is not available for a new Genus. It is possible for A. excelsus (the specimen originally named Brontosaurus excelsus) to be reassigned back to Brontosaurus, if, after a subsequent examination of the material, it is determined that the fossils are sufficiently different from Apatosaurus ajax to warrant the original different genus assignments. After B was synonomized with A back in 1903, no one has gone back and challenged the reassignment. So it could happen, but isn’t likely to. Until then, Brontosaurus remains off limits for any further specimens.

I have a theory about brontosauruses.

Or they could just admit that they were wrong and that Brontosaurus is a cooler name. But no.

Could you tell us who it belongs to?

Bakker uses the term brontosaurus.

My theory, which belongs to me, is mine.

All brontosauruses are thin at one end, much, much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. That is the theory that I have, and which is mine, and what it is too.

Thank you
Miss Anne Elk

Your theory, should you share it with the SDMB, could well become canon.

So did Gould.

I thought suspension bridge-type dinosaurs were generically called diplodocene?

Brontosaurus is a common name for the category of creatures with the scientific designation Apatosaurus. If one objects to this state of affairs, one might as well object to calling a Felis a “cat”.

(incidentally, Firefox’s spellchecker bizarrely flags “Apatosaurus” as wrong, and suggests “Brontosaurus” as a correction)

If anything, they would be diplodocoid.

What’s the diff? :slight_smile:

Bully for Brontosaurus. He liked the name.

A hundred and ten years ago???!!! I had no idea it was that far back. I hereby retract my previous post, in which I wrote:

Faggetaboutit. I ain’t gonna happen. Ever.