New Green Dinosaur at the Natural History Museum to Be Named by Public Poll
Online votes will be cast June 13-20, with the winner immortalized in NHM Commons this fall
The green dinosaur fossil that will serve as a focal point of NHM Commons, the museum’s new wing opening this fall, needs a new permanent name, and the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County are asking the public for help.
Affectionately known as “Gnatalie” –for the gnats that pestered the scientists and volunteers while excavating it – the long-necked dinosaur’s unusual bone coloring is due to infilling by the green mineral celadonite during the fossilization process. Now known as simply the Green Dinosaur, the fossil will be renamed via an online public poll, asking users to select from five great names that were selected by NHMLAC staff.
After being excavated from what was a riverbed 150 million years ago during the late Jurassic period, the green bones were recently packed in multiple crates and trucked to Ontario, Canada, for armature and “mount” fabrication. When NHM Commons opens this fall, the colossal skeleton (which is technically a composite of several specimens belonging to a new Diplodocus-like species that will be scientifically named in the future) will be the first green dinosaur skeleton to ever be mounted for public display.
This renaming poll is an inclusive, public endeavor, and NHMLAC appreciates the support of any and all organizations, publications, individuals, and others who can share the link below to inform as many people as possible.
The five names to vote on are:
Gnatalie: A nod to the quarry where the bones of the dinosaur were found and the pesky gnats that were present and nipped at our scientists, students, and community members who participated in the excavation
Sage: It’s green and an iconic L.A. native plant that is also grown in NHM’s Nature Gardens
Verdi: A derivative of the Latin word for green with many variations that represent multiple languages and cultures
Esme: Short for Esmerelda, which is Spanish for Emerald and means esteemed and loved in French and Persian cultures
Olive: Olives are green, and the olive tree symbolizes peace, joy, and strength in many cultures
WHEN: June 13-20, 2024
