SAN ANTONIO – While the Brontosaurus, which translates to "thunder lizard," seemed to always have a place in popular culture, it had long been determined in the science world that the dinosaur did not exist. In 1903, after scientists discovered the bones thought to be that of a brontosaurus were actually those of the previously discovered Apatosaurus.
"Because Apatosaurus was named first, it took precedent over Brontosaurus, so Brontosaurus went away," said Dr. Thomas Adams, the curator of paleontology and geology at the Witte Museum.
Now, however, a new study has flipped that theory on its head. The study, released on Tuesday, contained close to 300 pages; compiled over a five year period. The authors, Emanuel Tschopp, Octavio Mateus, and Roger B.J. Benson, appear to have proved that scientists in 1903 were wrong.
"We now know that Brontosaurus is very different from Apatosaurus," said Adams, after reading the report.
Adams praised the study, which painstakingly compared the two Sauropods, part by part.
"They took about 477 different anatomical features and compared them across 81 different animals," said Adams.
The study is likely to face some scrutiny from peers, but for the moment, it has sent shockwaves through the paleontology world.
"This is a really good lesson for us to go back and not just take everything as word and go back and do our own analysis," said Adams.
Meanwhile, a whole new generation will now get to rediscover the giant that once walked the Earth over 150 million years ago.