Holotype Flashcards
Q: What is necessary to name a new species?
A: You need to describe the organism, list unique features differentiating it from closely related species, and designate a holotype.
Q: What is a holotype?
A: The holotype is a single specimen that defines the species and should be accessible for other scientists to study.
Q: Why is it important to have a holotype?
A: The holotype allows paleontologists to determine if a newly found specimen is a new species or an example of an already described species.
Q: How many non-avian dinosaur species have been named so far?
A: Approximately 1,000 species of non-avian dinosaurs have been named.
Q: What is the significance of Hesperonychus?
A: Hesperonychus is a small carnivorous dinosaur named at the University of Alberta, with its holotype stored for scientific study.
Q: What does the name Hesperonychus mean?
A: Hesperonychus means “western claw,” as it has a large claw and is the first of its group found in the western hemisphere.
Q: Who was honored in the name Hesperonychus elizabethae?
A: The epithet elizabethae honors Dr. Betsy Nicholls, who discovered the fossil.
Q: What is the most reliable characteristic to separate species?
A: The number of fingers on the hand is the most reliable feature for separating species, as it is overwhelmingly constant within a species.
