Noun dubium

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A noun dubium ( Latin for: "dubious name", plural: nomina dubia ) denotes a scientific name in zoological nomenclature that can not be reliably assigned to any taxon . The cause can be lost original material ( type material ) or the material used for the first scientific description lacks identifying features in order to clearly differentiate it from similar types.

In the 19th century, for example, some dinosaurs were described based on insufficient evidence . Thus Trachodon mirabilis long time as Hadrosauridae considered, but are his scientific description teeth without species-specific characteristics based. The description of Aachenosaurus is based on fossil wood , which has been mistaken for bones.

Unlike a noun nudum , a noun dubium is a valid (valid) name that can also be used as a synonym for another taxon, as it meets the formal requirements of an initial scientific description. In older literature , the noun dubium antrodemus was an older synonym and therefore a valid name for the predatory dinosaur Allosaurus . Merely because of the fact that Antrodemus is associated with only an unspecific tail bones, not in conjunction with Allosaurus can be accommodated, is Allosaurus the valid name of this taxon.

literature

  • Ulrich Lehmann: Paleontological Dictionary . 4th, revised and expanded edition. Enke Verlag, Stuttgart 1996. ISBN 3-432-83574-4 . P. 155

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