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Georges Cuvier named the Pterodactylus in 1809. He originally called it Petro-Dactyle, but this was a typographical error, and he changed it to Ptero-Dactyle. Then Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring named it Ornithocephalus antiquus in 1812. In 1815, Constantine Samuel Rafinesque changed Ptero-Dactyle to Pterodactylus to Latinize it, as hyphens aren't allowed in scientific names. According to the rules, Cuvier's name came first, so it takes precedence over von Sömmerring's Ornithocephalus, but von Sömmerring's species name is used. Thus, the complete Latin name for this creature is Pterodactylus antiquus thanks to three different people.

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12y ago

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