In Depth
There is a lot of confusion about the pliosaur genus Sinopliosaurus, all stemming from a misidentification of some spinosaurid dinosaur teeth as those belonging to a marine reptile. The first species of Sinopliosaurus, S. weiyuanensis was established by C. C. Young, and was established as a pliosaur. Then in 1975 a second species was added to the Sinopliosaurus genus as S. fusuiensis, but only based upon the description of teeth. Then in 2008 these teeth were identified as actually belonging to a spinosaurid dinosaur, and not a pliosaur.
The problem with the teeth of ‘S’. fusuiensisis is that by themselves they are not distinct enough to name a new genus. In addition the teeth can no longer be named Sinopliosaurus, as this name is already occupied by the original fossil material of S. weiyuanensis, the pliosaur, and under international rules governing the naming of animals, no two animals may share the same name, even if they are different types of animal. ‘Sinopliosaurus’ fusuiensisis only exists with quotations and without italics to mark them out in a way to avoid further confusion. Despite this many writers have still credited Sinopliosaurus fusuiensis as a distinct genus of spinosaurid dinosaur, when it simply isn’t. For the record, the teeth credited as ‘Sinopliosaurus’ fusuiensisis are similar to those of another dubious genus of spinosaurid from Thailand, Siamosaurus.
Further Reading
- On the reptilian remains from Weiyuan, Szechuan, China. - Bulletin of the Geological Society of China 24(3–4):187-205 - C. C. Young - 1944. - Fossil reptiles from Fusui, Kwangshi. - Vertebrata PalAsiatica 13(1):24-33 - L.-H. Hou, H.-K. Yeh & X.-J. Zhao - 1975. - An Early Cretaceous spinosaur theropod from southern China. - Geological Magazine 145 (5): 745–748. - E. Buffetaut, V. Suteethorn, H. Tong & R. Amiot - 2008.
