1851 in paleontology

Summary

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 1851.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
+...

Arthropods edit

Insects edit

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Toxorhina brevipalpa[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

  Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia brevipalpa

 
Elephantomyia brevipalpa

Toxorhina longirostris[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

  Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia longirostris

 
Elephantomyia longirostris

Toxorhina pulchella[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

  Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia pulchella

 
Elephantomyia pulchella

Archosauromorphs edit

Newly named phytosaurs edit

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Clepsysaurus[3]

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium

Lea

Late Triassic (Norian)

Passaic Formation

  United States

Dubious genus phytosaur.

Plesiosaurs edit

Newly named plesiosaurs edit

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes

Cimoliasaurus

Valid

Leidy

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Navesink Formation

  United States

An elasmosaurid.

Discosaurus

Valid

Leidy

Late Cretaceous

  United States

A dubious elasmosaurid.

References edit

  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 c Kania, I (2015). "Subfamily Limoniinae Speiser, 1909 (Diptera, Limoniidae) from Baltic Amber (Eocene): The Genus Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860". PLOS ONE. 10 (2): 1–25. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1017434K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117434. PMC 4338262. PMID 25706127.
  3. ^ Lea, I. 1851. Remarks on the bones of a fossil reptilian quadruped. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 5: pp. 171-172.