The Brontosaurus became exceedingly popular , and the name `` Brontosaurus '' is often applied to the Apatosaurus . Despite the much-publicized debut of the mounted skeleton , which cemented the name Brontosaurus in the public consciousness , Elmer Riggs had published a paper in the 1903 edition of Geological Series of the Field Columbian Museum which argued that Brontosaurus was not different enough from Apatosaurus to warrant its own genus , and created the combination Apatosaurus excelsus : `` In view of these facts the two genera may be regarded as synonymous . As the term ` Apatosaurus ' has priority , ` Brontosaurus ' will be regarded as a synonym . ''