What did Richard Lydekker initially suggest the bone specimen belonged to in 1893?
Answer
*Cetiosaurus* or *Pelorosaurus*
When the dorsal vertebra was first briefly described by Richard Lydekker in 1893, over a century before its true significance was understood, he could not accurately classify it based on the limited comparative data of the time. He tentatively suggested that the bone might belong to one of two existing sauropod genera known from England at that time: *Cetiosaurus* or *Pelorosaurus*. This initial assignment underscores the scientific difficulty in correctly identifying highly anomalous fossils without the context provided by subsequent fossil discoveries and modern phylogenetic analysis techniques.
Related Questions
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