A nomenclatural note on Mosasaurus hoffmanni (Squamata, Mosasauroidea)
Keywords:
Mosasaurus;, hoffmanni, hoffmannii, Maastrichtian
Abstract
The historically important mosasaur fossil (known as ‘le grand animal fossile des carrières de Maestricht’) has been known as Mosasaurus hoffmanni for almost two centuries now. Recently, it has been proposed to amend the spelling of the species name, by adding a second ‘i’ to the species epithet. We present historical evidence to the contrary, and recommend, following article 33.2.3.1 of the ICZN, to retain the specific epithet hoffmanni.
References
Bardet, N. & Jagt, J.W.M., 1996. Mosasaurus hoffmanni, le “Grand Animal fossile des Carrières de Maestricht”: deux siècles d’histoire. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (4) 18(C4): 569–593.
Bell, G.L. Jr., 1997. A phylogenetic revision of North American and Adriatic Mosasauroidea. In: Callaway, J.M. & Nicholls, E.L. (eds): Ancient marine reptiles. Academic Press (San Diego): 293–332.
Camp, C.L., 1942. California mosasaurs. Memoirs of the University of California 13: vi+68 pp.
Conybeare, W.D., 1822. Mosasaurus.—The saurus of the Meuse, the Maestricht animal of Cuvier. In: Parkinson, J. (ed): Outlines of oryctology. An introduction to the study of fossil organic remains; especially of those found in the British strata: intended to aid the student in his enquiries respecting the nature of fossils, and their connection with the formation of the earth. Printed for the Author (London): 298–300.
Cuvier, G., 1808. Sur le Grand Animal fossile des carrières de Maestricht. Annales du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle Paris 12: 145–176, 2 pls.
Cuvier, G., 1812. Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles, où l’on rétablit les caractères de plusieurs animaux dont les révolutions du globe ont détruit les espèces. Déterville (Paris): 2260 pp. Première édition (4 volumes).
Dumont, A.H., 1849. Rapport sur la carte géologique du Royaume. Bulletin de l’Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique 16: 351–373.
Gervais, P., 1848–1852. Zoologie et Paléontologie Françaises (Animaux Vertébrés), ou Nouvelles Recherches sur les Animaux Vivants et Fossiles de la France. Librairie Arthus Bertrand (Paris): 271 pp.
Hovens, F., 2020. Mosasaurus-mirabilia van kanunnik Joannes Theodorus Godding (1721–1797). De Maasgouw 139: 88–97.
Jagt, J.W.M., Claessens, L.P.A.M., Fraaije, R.H.B., Jagt-Yazykova, E.A., Mulder, E.W.A., Schulp, A.S. & Wallaard, J.J.W., 2024. The Maastrichtian type area (Netherlands-Belgium): a synthesis of 250+ years of collecting and ongoing progress in Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy and palaeontology. In: Clary, R.M., Pyle, E.J. & Andrews, W.M. (eds): Geology’s significant sites and their contributions to geoheritage. Special Publications, 543. Geological Society (London): 14 pp.
Konishi, T., Newbrey, M.G. & Caldwell, M.W., 2014. A small, exquisitely preserved specimen of Mosasaurus missouriensis (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the upper Campanian of the Bearpaw Formation, western Canada, and the first stomach contents for the genus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34: 802–819.
Lever, A.J., 1995. Johann Leonhard Hoffmann (1710–1782). De man achter de beroemde Mosasaurus-schedel. Natuurhistorisch Maandblad 84: 36–46.
Mantell, G.A., 1829. A tabular arrangement of the organic remains of the county of Sussex. Transactions of the Geological Society of London 3(2): 201–216.
Mantell, G.A., 1851. Petrifications and their teachings; or, a hand-book to the gallery of organic remains of the British Museum. H.G. Bohn (London): 496 pp.
Mulder, E.W.A., 2004. Maastricht Cretaceous finds and Dutch pioneers in vertebrate palaeontology. In: Touret, J.L.R. & Visser, R.P.W. (eds): Dutch pioneers of the earth sciences. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (Amsterdam): 165–176.
Nicolson, D.H., 1974. Orthography of names and epithets: Latinisation of personal names. Taxon 23(4): 549–561.
Pieters, F.F.J.M., Rompen, P.G.W., Jagt, J.W.M. & Bardet, N., 2012. A new look at Faujas de Saint-Fond’s fantastic story on the provenance and acquisition of the type specimen of Mosasaurus hoffmanni Mantell, 1829. Bulletin de la Société géologique de France 183: 55–65.
Rompen, P., 1995. Mosasaurus hoffmanni: de lotgevallen van een type-exemplaar. MSc thesis, University of Maastricht.
Russell, D.A., 1967. Systematics and morphology of American mosasaurs (Reptilia, Sauria). Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University Bulletin 23: 1–240, pls 1, 2.
Schulp, A.S., Polcyn, M.J., Mateus, O. & Jacobs, L.L., 2013. Two rare mosasaurs from the Maastrichtian of Angola and the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 92(1): 3–10.
Van Regteren Altena, C.O., 1956. Achttiende-eeuwse verzamelaars van fossielen te Maastricht en het lot hunner collecties. Publicaties van het Natuurhistorisch Genootschap in Limburg 9: 83–112.
Bell, G.L. Jr., 1997. A phylogenetic revision of North American and Adriatic Mosasauroidea. In: Callaway, J.M. & Nicholls, E.L. (eds): Ancient marine reptiles. Academic Press (San Diego): 293–332.
Camp, C.L., 1942. California mosasaurs. Memoirs of the University of California 13: vi+68 pp.
Conybeare, W.D., 1822. Mosasaurus.—The saurus of the Meuse, the Maestricht animal of Cuvier. In: Parkinson, J. (ed): Outlines of oryctology. An introduction to the study of fossil organic remains; especially of those found in the British strata: intended to aid the student in his enquiries respecting the nature of fossils, and their connection with the formation of the earth. Printed for the Author (London): 298–300.
Cuvier, G., 1808. Sur le Grand Animal fossile des carrières de Maestricht. Annales du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle Paris 12: 145–176, 2 pls.
Cuvier, G., 1812. Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles, où l’on rétablit les caractères de plusieurs animaux dont les révolutions du globe ont détruit les espèces. Déterville (Paris): 2260 pp. Première édition (4 volumes).
Dumont, A.H., 1849. Rapport sur la carte géologique du Royaume. Bulletin de l’Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique 16: 351–373.
Gervais, P., 1848–1852. Zoologie et Paléontologie Françaises (Animaux Vertébrés), ou Nouvelles Recherches sur les Animaux Vivants et Fossiles de la France. Librairie Arthus Bertrand (Paris): 271 pp.
Hovens, F., 2020. Mosasaurus-mirabilia van kanunnik Joannes Theodorus Godding (1721–1797). De Maasgouw 139: 88–97.
Jagt, J.W.M., Claessens, L.P.A.M., Fraaije, R.H.B., Jagt-Yazykova, E.A., Mulder, E.W.A., Schulp, A.S. & Wallaard, J.J.W., 2024. The Maastrichtian type area (Netherlands-Belgium): a synthesis of 250+ years of collecting and ongoing progress in Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy and palaeontology. In: Clary, R.M., Pyle, E.J. & Andrews, W.M. (eds): Geology’s significant sites and their contributions to geoheritage. Special Publications, 543. Geological Society (London): 14 pp.
Konishi, T., Newbrey, M.G. & Caldwell, M.W., 2014. A small, exquisitely preserved specimen of Mosasaurus missouriensis (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the upper Campanian of the Bearpaw Formation, western Canada, and the first stomach contents for the genus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34: 802–819.
Lever, A.J., 1995. Johann Leonhard Hoffmann (1710–1782). De man achter de beroemde Mosasaurus-schedel. Natuurhistorisch Maandblad 84: 36–46.
Mantell, G.A., 1829. A tabular arrangement of the organic remains of the county of Sussex. Transactions of the Geological Society of London 3(2): 201–216.
Mantell, G.A., 1851. Petrifications and their teachings; or, a hand-book to the gallery of organic remains of the British Museum. H.G. Bohn (London): 496 pp.
Mulder, E.W.A., 2004. Maastricht Cretaceous finds and Dutch pioneers in vertebrate palaeontology. In: Touret, J.L.R. & Visser, R.P.W. (eds): Dutch pioneers of the earth sciences. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (Amsterdam): 165–176.
Nicolson, D.H., 1974. Orthography of names and epithets: Latinisation of personal names. Taxon 23(4): 549–561.
Pieters, F.F.J.M., Rompen, P.G.W., Jagt, J.W.M. & Bardet, N., 2012. A new look at Faujas de Saint-Fond’s fantastic story on the provenance and acquisition of the type specimen of Mosasaurus hoffmanni Mantell, 1829. Bulletin de la Société géologique de France 183: 55–65.
Rompen, P., 1995. Mosasaurus hoffmanni: de lotgevallen van een type-exemplaar. MSc thesis, University of Maastricht.
Russell, D.A., 1967. Systematics and morphology of American mosasaurs (Reptilia, Sauria). Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University Bulletin 23: 1–240, pls 1, 2.
Schulp, A.S., Polcyn, M.J., Mateus, O. & Jacobs, L.L., 2013. Two rare mosasaurs from the Maastrichtian of Angola and the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 92(1): 3–10.
Van Regteren Altena, C.O., 1956. Achttiende-eeuwse verzamelaars van fossielen te Maastricht en het lot hunner collecties. Publicaties van het Natuurhistorisch Genootschap in Limburg 9: 83–112.
Published
2024-01-30
How to Cite
Schulp , A. S., Slootjes , D., Jagt , J. W., Mulder , E. W., & Bardet , N. (2024). A nomenclatural note on Mosasaurus hoffmanni (Squamata, Mosasauroidea). Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 103. https://doi.org/10.1017/njg.2023.13
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Regular paper
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