"Oviraptor" - A misnomer.

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Considering the name of the dinosaur Oviraptor means "egg thief" even though the eggs discovered with the first Oviraptor fossil were since proven to be it's own which it was brooding, not stolen from a Protoceratops, I think it should rightfully have it's name changed. I know it won't happen in reality but I came up with my answer to this hypothetical name change for a bit of fun.

I would propose to call it Rostromovilophus - simply meaning "beak, egg, crest" (rostrom - beak, ovi / ovum - egg, lophus - crest) as I consider these three features to be it's most prominent.

I understand that Oviraptor (Rostromovilophus) was omnivorous and this diet almost certainly did include the eggs of other animals, but why should the name of the genus revolve solely around this? Humans are also omnivorous and eat the eggs of other animals, yet we are not seen as simply egg thieves. The beak of Oviraptor (Rostromovilophus) was also well adapted to breaking open the shells of invertebrate sea creatures and chopping through tough vegetation, as well as a useful digging tool which it may have needed to make it's nests. I think it sounds quite disrespectful to call this caring dinosaur "egg thief", especially as the first one discovered died trying to save it's unborn offspring.

Does anyone else here like the name Rostromovilophus as a substitute for Oviraptor?



Rostromovilophus (Oviraptor) brooding



Another picture of it's caring nature







Showing the prominent crest and beak that make this dinosaur so distinct, hence the proposed new name.

What a strange creature it is.
And many dinosaurs seem to have silly name translations, such as diplodocus: "double beam". It makes me think of 2 blueish white laser beams.


(You have taught me much oh wise one.)

i liked hearing this story of how the dinosaur was framed for a crime he didn't commit. therefore i think the name should stay so other people can hear this story too
and your name looks hard to say for the verbally challenged like me

Dear Rabbitears, I had no idea of the beautiful colors...how big were they? I like your idea of a new name, how about 'Mama Dinosaur Wants Her Eggs Left ALONE' ?

Sylkat

i meant to vote the last one but voted the first. can someone vote the last one for me

That instance of miscarriage of justice is very old. It does not matter. It is only a name and everybody got used to it.

Dinosaurs used to be my special interest back when I was 10-12 years old. Nowadays, I still love them, but I have lost that old obsession. I really miss it.

This should give you a good idea.


Kinda like a big turkey really.

Unfortunately the colours cannot be determined yet for this dinosaur, but it seems likely they would have had them for display purposes.

A reasonably similar dinosaur, Sinosauropteryx, was found to have been black with ginger plumage after scientists looked at the shape of preserved pigments under a microscope, and as each colour pigment has it's own specific shape, they could determine the colours of various parts of it's downy feathered body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinosauropteryx

As for "Mama dinosaur", evidence suggests that Oviraptor males looked after the nest. All the oviraptorosaur fossils so far discovered lack a bone tissue called medullary tissue, which is used to produce eggshell.

By the way, there is a species of Oviraptor called Oviraptor Philoceratops which translates to "Egg thief with a taste for ceratopsian egg".

Poor thing.