[Taxacom] Names for fossils

[Geoff Read]

It was from private land.  Some more quotes from the press.

"Every aspect of the origin of the specimen is legally authenticated and
has all the supporting documents, its exact location of extraction with
GPS point, the title of the owner of the land, the landowner's rights of
ownership in the fossil remains, the excavation license, customs
formalities and shipping."

"Eric Mickeler is employed all over the world as a consultant for the
valuation of fossils. Fifteen years ago, he revolutionised the auction
market for natural history and cabinets of curiosities, bringing major
fossils to auction at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Aguttes, and he is also an
enthusiastic populariser of palaeontology among the general public.

“The discovery of this specimen probably represents the high point of my
career, so significant are its scientific implications,” says Eric
Mickeler."

Yes, if recent examples I've seen are any guide, there are paleontologist
authors who think adding 'us' makes an appropriate species name, and
commit other egregious offenses due to lack of research, & lack of
knowledge of code requirements.

Geoff

On Sat, May 12, 2018 1:09 pm, Kenneth Kinman wrote:
> Hi George,
>
>       Selling dinosaur specimens of already named dinosaurs has become
> increasingly common.  And selling of just the naming rights of a new
> species of dinosaur has also been used to raise money.  However, in
> this case, they seem to be selling an actual holotype of a new
> species (both the naming rights and the specimen as well).  I'm not
> sure if that has been done before.
>
>       I am also not sure how these British paleontologists came to be the
> owners of this specimen from the United States.  Was it found on
> private land and bought from the owners of that land.  Or was it on
> public land?
>
>             ----------------Ken
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Taxacom <taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu> on behalf of George
> Shepherd <gjshepherd02 at terra.com.br>
> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2018 7:36 PM
> To: taxacom
> Subject: [Taxacom] Names for fossils
>
> Do palaeontologists *really* name fossils this way ??
>
> "Anyone with a spare million euros or two will have the opportunity to
> not only own a unique species of dinosaur skeleton next month, but to
> name it."
>
> [Prof Eric Mickeler said].. “The rule for all scientific discoveries
> that are confirmed to be new, the person who owns it can give it its
> scientific name. It can be the name of a company or a person. Then they
> just add an ‘-us’ on the end.”
>
>  From a "Guardian" report on the sale of a nearly complete fossil
> skeleton of a previously undescribed dinosaur species :
> https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/11/dinosaur-skeleton-therapod-auction-paris
> Rare dinosaur skeleton for sale – along with the right to name
> species<https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/11/dinosaur-skeleton-therapod-auction-paris>
> www.theguardian.com
> Skeleton of unknown therapod is 70% complete and expected to fetch more
> than €1.2m in Paris sale