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1861 in paleontology

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List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
+...

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.[1] This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1861.

Arthropods

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Crustaceans

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Etallonia[2]

Gen. et. comb. nov.

Valid

Oppel

Jurassic

Solnhofen Limestone

 Germany

An axiid, type species is E. longimana, initially described as Magila longimana in 1839.

Pseudastacus[2]

Gen. et. comb. nov.

Valid

Oppel

Jurassic

Solnhofen Limestone

 Germany

A stenochirid, type species is P. pustulosus, initially described as Bolina pustulosa in 1839.

Pseudastacus pustulosus

Dinosaurs

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Archaeopteryx[3] Gen. et sp. nov. Valid Hermann von Meyer Kimmeridgian Solnhofen Limestone  Germany Early bird, only known from a single flight feather.[3]
Echinodon[4] Gen. et sp. nov. Valid Sir Richard Owen[4] Berriasian Purbeck Beds  UK Known from multiple jaw and tooth fossils, originally interpreted as a lacertilian.[4][5]
Teratosaurus Gen. nov Valid Hermann von Meyer  Germany Misidentified teratosaurid archosaur.

Pterosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Location Notes Images

Scaphognathus

Valid

Wagner

An Corvid-like Pterosaur.
Scaphognathus.

References

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  1. ^ Gini-Newman, Garfield; Graham, Elizabeth (2001). Echoes from the past: world history to the 16th century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. ISBN 9780070887398. OCLC 46769716.
  2. ^ a b A, Oppel (1861). "Die Arten der Gattungen Eryma, Pseudastacus, Magila und Etallonia" (PDF). Jahreshefte des Vereins fur Vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wurttemberg (in German). 17: 355–364.
  3. ^ a b Meyer, H. (1861-09-20). "Archaeopterix lithographica (Vogel-Feder) und Pterydactylus von Solenhofen". Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geognosie, Geologie und Petrefaktenkunde: 678–679.
  4. ^ a b c Owen, R. (1861). Monograph on the Fossil Reptilia of the Wealden and Purbeck Formations. Part V. Order Lacertilia. Palaeontographical Society. pp. 31–39.
  5. ^ Falconer, H. (1861). "Note on the synonymy of the fossil genus Echinodon of Professor Owen". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 8 (46): 341. doi:10.1080/00222936108697425.