Can someone explain to me the differences in Morrocon Mosasaur naming?

[sharpteeth]

Hi everyone!

 

Can someone help me with the naming of Moroccon Mosasaurs? I recently aquired a Mosasaur tooth (with root). And the person who dug it up said it belonged to a Prognathodon L. anceps Owen.

 

I did some reading and I found there has been alot of discussion about the name and it has changed over the years. I am confused now.

 

So what I understand is that due to lack of scientific observation of the fossils in Morocco, the P. anceps is not officially assigned to a specific family of mosasaurs. Correct me if I am wrong? 

 

But what is the most up to date name for the P. anceps?

 

Is it:

- Prognathodon anceps

- Prognathodon anceps L. Owen

- Prognathodon Liodon

- Prognathodon Leiodon

- Prognathodon.sp

- Prognathodon sp. (What does 'sp' stand for?)

 

I am making a display stand for my tooth and I want to put a nameplate on it with the correct name.

 

Thanks alot in advance!

 

P.S. See pictures below for the tooth in question.

 

 

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

The species was first described by Richard Owen in 1841 as Leiodon anceps, but this name was invalid as the genus Leiodon had already been assigned to a pufferfish by Swainson in 1839 so the name was changed to Liodon anceps. The name will sometimes be listed as Liodon Owen 1842 as this was the original author and the year he renamed it. 

Some authors placed the species in the genus Prognathodon or made Liodon a subgenu, but, as you say, the classification is a mess and both names may be nomen dubium. 

Prognathodon sp. means the specimen is in the genus Prognathodon, but the species (sp.) is unknown or not described. 

Edited October 26, 2021 by Tidgy's Dad

[sharpteeth]

2 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

The species was first described by Richard Owen in 1841 as Leiodon anceps, but this name was invalid as the genus Leiodon had already been assigned to a pufferfish by Swainson in 1839 so the name was changed to Liodon anceps. The name will sometimes be listed as Liodon Owen 1842 as this was the original author and the year he renamed it. 

Some authors placed the species in the genus Prognathodon or made Liodon a subspecies, but, as you say, the classification is a mess and both names may be nomen dubium. 

Prognathodon sp. means the specimen is in the genus Prognathodon, but the species (sp.) is unknown or not described. 

Thank you for your reply. Very helpfull! What do you think would be the most fitting name to put on my display?

[Tidgy's Dad]

I think it's still currently Liodon anceps Owen 1842, though apparently, it was actually Agassiz who renamed the genus in 1846. 

[Abstraktum]

@jnoun11to the rescue

 

You might also want to check his topic

 

But @Tidgy's Dadalready put it very good together I think

[sharpteeth]

Thank you all for helping!