A review of ornithischian nomenclature

PUBLICATION — Reid, I.J., Fonseca, A.O. & D. Madzia. 2026. The evolution of ornithischian nomenclature. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 207: zlag111. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag111

Figure: The phylogeny of ornithischian dinosaurs.

Ornithischians were a major dinosaur lineage that existed from the Triassic–Jurassic boundary interval to the end of the Cretaceous. Since Ornithischia was recognized as a natural group, more than 300 taxon names have been proposed to describe their evolutionary relationships, but many have been inconsistently applied or have fallen into disuse. This study reviews the historical use of these names and provides recommendations to ensure the consistency and stability of ornithischian nomenclature.