Prehistoric animals that need a scientific name

[Sim]

One of the things I like most in palaeontology is when well-represented species that have been known for a while get a scientific name.  That's why I've been very happy to see Daspletosaurus horneri, Hesperornithoides miessleri and Allosaurus jimmadseni get named.  I thought it could be interesting to create a list of animals like this that still need a scientific name.  Once something in this list gets the scientific name it needs it will be removed from the list.  If you know about an animal that should be in this list but isn't, please post about it in this thread and I'll add it to the list.   This is just for specimens known from good remains, I'm not going to list something known from fragments.  Discussion of the specimens in the list is welcome.

Intermediate "Bagaceratops"
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bagaceratops_specimen_MPC-D_100_551B_(cropped).png
Comments: A specimen intermediate between Protoceratops andrewsi and Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi.  The most likely explanation given for it is that it represents anagenetic evolution from the former to the latter.  It is from the Djadochta Formation.

"Callawayia" wolonggangensis
Images can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283840343_Phylogeny_of_the_Ichthyopterygia_incorporating_recent_discoveries_from_South_China
Comments: An ichthyosaur with upwards-curving jaws!  It's not closely related to Callawayia neoscapularis and needs to be placed in a different genus.

Caudipteryx sp.
Image can be seen here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caudipteryx.gif
Comments: A possible new species of Caudipteryx.

Species that have been classified as Cephalaspis
Image of "C." aarhusi: https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/cephalaspis-aarhusi-and-tremataspis-schmidti-head-shields.368915/
Image of "C." spinifer can be seen here: http://www.thegcr.org.uk/ImageBank.cfm?v=16&Style=Chapter&Chapter=05
Comments: It was found that only C. lyelli can be reliably placed within Cephalaspis.  Other species need reexamination and may need to be placed in other genera.

Dinosaur Park Formation "Daspletosaurus"
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FMNH_Daspletosaurus.jpg
Comments: A possible fourth species of Daspletosaurus, after D. torosus, D. horneri and D. wilsoni.  This appears to be the species represented by the CollectA Daspletosaurus.

"Gallimimus mongoliensis"
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gallimimus_in_Ulaanbaatar.jpg
Comments: This differs from Gallimimus bullatus in some details including a smaller skull and may belong to a different genus.

Unnamed guitarfish from the Cretaceous
Images can be seen here: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0bb7/b992ea4deecdea8ea835ec7d95cebbf28d96.pdf?_ga=2.242420609.2043346873.1601244951-140719764.1601244951
Comments: Three unnamed species of guitarfish that according to the authors of the above paper only need two new genera to accommodate them.

Guizhouichthyosaurus sp.
Images can be seen here: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(20)30534-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004220305344%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
Comments: In the supplemental information of the paper linked to above it mentions this could be a new species of Guizhouichthyosaurus:

It most likely represents a new species of Guizhouichthyosaurus, but its description is beyond the scope of this study. We instead refer to it by the genus name only.

Polydactylous hupehsuchian
Image can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8976669_Palaeontology_A_polydactylous_amniote_from_the_Triassic_period
Comments: A hupehsuchian notable for having more than 5 digits, 7 on the forelimbs and 6 on the hindlimbs.

Transitional microraptorian
Images can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309409158_A_new_microraptorine_specimen_Theropoda_Dromaeosauridae_with_a_brief_comment_on_the_evolution_of_compound_bones_in_theropods
Comments: This beautiful and fascinating specimen has features that are transitional between Sinornithosaurus/Graciliraptor/Tianyuraptor and Microraptor.  It has been described but tragically it didn't receive a scientific name even though it deserves it.  Instead it gets forgotten or ignored because it doesn't have a name.  The explanation for this is as follows, and I hope it gets a scientific name sometime soon!:

These differences from  previously  described  taxa  suggest  that V 13476 might  represent
a new microraptorine species. However, there is a wide spectrum of morphological variation
in Liaoning  dromaeosaurids,  some  of  which  may reflect  ontogeny, sexual  dimorphism or
individual variation. In  the  absence of extensive data that  would  make it possible to properly
evaluate these variations, we refrain from naming a new taxon based on this specimen.

Species that fall outside the genus Nothosaurus
Image of Paranothosaurus giganteus: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paranothosaurus_amsleri_7878.jpg
Another image of Paranothosaurus giganteus can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257909763_The_Middle_Triassic_marine_reptile_biodiversity_in_the_Germanic_Basin_in_the_centre_of_the_Pangaean_world
Images of "N." haasi can be seen here: https://www.academia.edu/12970604/Speciation_along_rifting_continental_margins_a_new_Nothosaur_from_the_Negev_Isra%C3%ABl_
Image of "N. marchicus": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skeleton_Nothosauria_naturkundemuseum_Berlin.jpg
Another image of "N. marchicus": https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nothosaurus_marchicus_skull_PLoS_ONE_13(1)_e0188509_fig_1.tif
Images of "N." yangjuanensis  can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260273314_Nothosaurus_yangjuanensis_nsp_Reptilia_Sauropterygia_Nothosauridae_from_the_middle_Anisian_Middle_Triassic_of_Guizhou_southwestern_China
Comments: Analysis has shown that some species classified in the genus Nothosaurus actually fall outside the genus.  A couple of these have different genus names, they just aren't being used.  This applies to "N. marchicus" which from what I remember has had its senior synonym "Conchiosaurus clavatus" suppressed, and perhaps "N." yangjuanensis could be classified as a species of Conchiosaurus along with marchicus/clavatus.  marchicus and yangjuanensis are both short-snouted when compared to true Nothosaurus species (e.g. mirabilis, jagisteus, cristatus, tchernovi).  Having an existing genus name also applies to the species giganteus, for which "Paranothosaurus" exists and really should be used for this species as Cajus Diedrich says:

However, rather than
following the suggestion by Rieppel and Wild [60] to use
the genus name "Nothosaurus", the Paranothosaurus [102]
genus name is preferred because of the very strong cra-
nial and postcranial anatomic differences between those
two, as again demonstrated herein for all body parts, re-
vealing very different bone and skeleton anatomies (Figs.
8-10).

(Quote from the second link for a Paranothosaurus image.)

"Nurosaurus qaganensis"
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuoerosaurus_chaganensis.JPG
Another image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuoerosaurus_chaganensis_head.JPG
Comments: A 25 metre long Chinese sauropod that may be closely related to Camarasaurus.  It is from the Cretaceous, and has not yet been properly named.

French ornithomimosaur/elaphrosaur
Images can be seen here: https://petitcarnetpaleo.blogspot.com/2017/08/un-squelette-complet-de-mimo.html
Comments: From what I remember reading, I think this species is in the process of being described.

Long-snouted ornithomimosaur(?) next to Deinocheirus
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deinocheirus_Skull.JPG
Comments: I didn't know how better to describe this one.  I think I read somewhere it's an ornithomimosaur but I can't find where that was now.  If anyone has more information on this please let me know!

100/42 oviraptorid
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Citpatibcn1.JPG
Comments: This is the specimen many restorations of Oviraptor are based on.  From the head shape it appears that the Schleich Oviraptor, Kaiyodo Oviraptor, Colorata Oviraptor, and all three versions of the Nakasato Citipati, all represent this specimen which currently doesn't have a scientific name.

"Plesiosaurus" macrocephalus
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macrocephalus.jpg
Comments: This is actually a pliosauroid that needs a different genus name.

Polacanthine new species B
Image can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10160438416293370&set=p.10160438416293370&locale=en_GB
Comments: A new species of nodosaurid.

Richmond polycotylid
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australian_plesiosaur.jpg
Another image: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Dinosaurs+and+Ancient+Life+of+Queensland/Dinosaurs/Giant+marine+reptiles/Richmond+Pliosaur#.XmKcTEqnyUk
Comments: Also known as the "Richmond pliosaur", but it is actually a polycotylid.  Scientists are studying its skeleton and it currently doesn't have a scientific name.

Species that have been classified in Prognathodon
Images of "P." kianda can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228489425_A_new_species_of_Prognathodon_Squamata_Mosasauridae_from_the_Maastrichtian_of_Angola_and_the_affinities_of_the_mosasaur_genus_Liodon
Image of "P." overtoni: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tyrrell_mosasaur.jpg
Comments: A number of species that have been classified in Prognathodon have been found to fall outside this genus and may need to be placed in a different genus.

New protoceratopsid
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ukhaa_Tolgod_protoceratopsid_skull.png
Comments: A new protoceratopsid genus from the Djadochta Formation.

Psittacosaurus with integument preserved
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Psittacosaurus_SMF_R_4970.jpg
Comments: It's not known which Jehol Psittacosaurus this specimen belongs to due to how the skull is preserved.  However, it's known to not be P. mongoliensis due to hip features.  As far as I'm aware that leaves P. lujiatunensis and P. meileyingensis as species the colour specimen could represent.  The colour specimen is most likely from the Yixian Formation, and the only Psittacosaurus species from there is P. lujiatunensis.

Painten pro-pterodactyloid
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_pterosaur_45.jpg
Comments: A pterosaur that is transitional between non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs and pterodactyloids.  It remains nameless due to being privately owned.

"Ronaldoraptor"
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Childrens_Museum_of_Indianapolis_-_Cast_of_Oviraptor_skull.jpg
Comments: A tall-crested oviraptorid from Mongolia that was called "Ronaldoraptor" by Luis Rey in a book.

Giant "Sinosauropteryx"
Image: https://www.facebook.com/TheropodaBlog/posts/4338924759530648
Comments: A specimen that has been considered to be a Sinosauropteryx although it is much larger and has different proportions to traditional Sinosauropteryx specimens.  Andrea Cau has suggested it represents a growth stage between traditional Sinosauropteryx and maybe a large tyrannosauroid genus.

Not Sinosauropteryx
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sinosauropteryx_GMV_2124.jpg
Comments: This has been considered a specimen of Sinosauropteryx in the past, but more recent work suggests it's a new genus with different proportions to Sinosauropteryx.

Horseshoe Canyon Formation "Struthiomimus"
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Struthiomimus_skull_reconstruction.png
Another image: https://www.skeletaldrawing.com/theropods/struthiomimus
Comments: A possible new species of Struthiomimus.

"Syntarsus" kayentakatae
Image of skull: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syntarsus_kayentakatae.png
Other images can be seen here: http://www.paleofile.com/Dinosaurs/Theropods/CoelophysisnovaRowe.asp
Comments: This is the species that Megapnosaurus reconstructions tend to represent.  However, Megapnosaurus is actually anchored on the species rhodesiensis which is nearly identical to Coelophysis bauri.  This species, kayentakatae, is sometimes referred to as a species of Megapnosaurus or Coelophysis, but it is quite different to rhodesiensis and bauri, and needs a different genus name.  "Syntarsus" has already been used for a beetle.  According to The Theropod Database, Ezcurra (2012) found kayentakatae to be closely related to Kayentavenator and suggested synonymy based on an unpublished analysis.

El Nerets titanosaur
Image of skull can be seen here: https://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=10571.msg355047#msg355047
Comments: An unnamed titanosaur.  The Haolonggood Ampelosaurus appears to represent it.

Triceratops sp.
Image of skull can be seen here: https://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/blog/_archives/2020/10/27/eofauna-announce-a-triceratops-species.html
Comments: A species of Triceratops that is intermediate between T. horridus and T. prorsus.  The Eofauna Triceratops represents this species.

Velociraptor sp.
Image of it can be seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Velociraptor_specimen_IGM.jpg
Comments: A new species of Velociraptor that differs from Velociraptor mongoliensis in having a shallower and longer snout.

[Mononykus]

Quetzalcoatlus sp.

Quite a bit smaller than Q. northropi, but since there are multiple specimens providing most of the skeleton, all Quetzalcoatlus reconstructions are based on this species scaled up. May or may not be the same genus, since Q. northropi is based on limited and perhaps non-diagnostic remains (part of wing). Serious descriptions of these guys are long overdue!

[austrosaurus]

This thread already exists:
http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=7915.0

[Sim]

I forgot to say, discussion of the specimens in the list is welcome.

@Mononykus, that's a good one, I've added it to the list.

A @austrosaurus, no, this thread is different from the one you linked to.  The thread you linked to is for undescribed specimens and other findings.  The thread I've started is for good specimens that need a scientific name, this incudes ones that have been described such as the transitional microraptorian and "Syntarsus" kayentakatae.

[Sim]

I've now added to the list the French ornithomimosaur/elaphrosaur and "Ronaldoraptor".

[Dinoguy2]

100/42 oviraptorid
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Citpatibcn1.JPG
Comments: This is the specimen many restorations of Oviraptor are based on.  From the head shape it appears that the Schleich Oviraptor, CollectA Oviraptor, Kaiyodo Oviraptor, Colorata Oviraptor, Safari Dino Discoveries Oviraptor, both versions of the Carnegie Collection Oviraptor, and all three versions of the Nakasato Citipati, all represent this specimen which currently doesn't have a scientific name.

I'm not sure about that. I think the two Carnegie Oviraptors might actually be based on Oviraptor (which is how I currently have them classified on my site). The crest doesn't really match the Zamyn Khondt oviraptorid (100/42), which has a crest that is higher and more squared at the top, as well as a much smaller head. It also doesn't match Citipati, which has a short and pointy/triangular crest. Rather, it's crest is long, low, and rounded, like some reconstructions I've seen of the (badly reserved) Oviraptor holotype. The head is proportionately larger compared to the neck and body, more like O. philoceratops.

The Dino Discoveries model on nest is probably Citipati osmolskae, since it was based directly on one of Luis Ray's paintings of the "Big Mamma" specimen. This is confusing though because Ray used the same pose and color scheme in multiple paintings. Some clearly have a squared crest based on 100/42, while some have a short pointy crest like Citipati. Either way, the crest on the Safari one looks much more like Citipati than like 100/42.

The Schleich "oviraptor" though is definitely based on 100/42. The CollectA one... I don't know what the heck that thing is supposed to be. The extremely short neck is inaccurate no matter what, but the weird head shape makes me think they were also trying to interpret O. philoceratops.

[Sim]

Thanks for your post D @Dinoguy2.  I've removed mention of the three Safari Oviraptor and the CollectA Oviraptor.  Something that makes me think the original Carnegie Oviraptor isn't based on the 100/42 oviraptorid is its long tail.

I've also added "Gallimimus mongoliensis" to the list.

[Dinoguy2]

Would Struthiomimus/Ornithomimus sedens from the Hell Creek Formation be another one? I'm not sure if this is just a controversy about which genus it belongs to or if it might fall outside either genus. Either way, it seems likely it will eventually get a new genus name.

[Sim]

D @Dinoguy2, I've added sedens to the list.  I noticed on Wikipedia it's not listed in the information box for either Struthiomimus or Ornithomimus.  It seems like perhaps it should be in one at least, as a possible species.

[GojiraGuy1954]

Orcomimus

[Sim]

Thanks for the suggestion, but Orcomimus is too incompletely known to be added.  I've added something else to the list though, it's the first ornithischian, "Avaceratops" new species!

[Dinoguy2]

Here's a pretty major one: the Yixian Psittacosaurus sp.

You know, just the one with preserved skin, color, and quills, still doesn't have a name. no big deal... 

[stargatedalek]

Every Cephalaspis species besides the type species has been effectively removed from the genus without giving them new ones. So, kind of cheating, but I think I just doubled the list

[Sim]

I've added the Psittacosaurus with integument preserved, as well as species that have been classified as Cephalaspis.  @stargatedalek if you know of images of the species that had been classified as Cephalaspis which are known from good remains, let me know so I can add them.

[Sim]

I've added to the list species that have been classified as being in Prognathodon.

[austrosaurus]

Every Cephalaspis species besides the type species has been effectively removed from the genus without giving them new ones. So, kind of cheating, but I think I just doubled the list

Nothosaurus probably falls under this too.

[Libraraptor]

So dear moderators,  can't this thread be united with the one about the topic that already exists?

[Sim]

@Libraraptor, as I said earlier in this thread, there isn't another thread for this topic.

A @austrosaurus, I thought of including Nothosaurus for that reason, but from what I remember unfortunately  the species that fall outside Nothosaurus have been kept in the genus they don't belong in, and alternative genus names for them actually exist but are generally unused.  I think I will add them to the list though.

[austrosaurus]

A @austrosaurus, I thought of including Nothosaurus for that reason, but from what I remember unfortunately  the species that fall outside Nothosaurus have been kept in the genus they don't belong in, and alternative genus names for them actually exist but are generally unused.  I think I will add them to the list though.

Interesting, a quick glance at Wikipedia shows that most of the "Nothosaurus" species do in fact have alternate genus names which could and probably should be used. Don't know if that falls under the scope of this list in that case, but it's up to you.

[Sim]

I've added to the list species that fall outside the genus Nothosaurus.  I'll see if I can get some images for the "Cephalaspis" and "Prognathodon" species.