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 1976.
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Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
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Gen et Sp nov |
valid |
Barthel |
An eostangerioid zamiaceous cycad. |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen. et. sp. nov. |
Valid |
Chong & Förster |
A stenochirid, type species is C. atacamensis |
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[4]
Name | Status | Author | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alioramus[5] | Valid taxon | Sergei Kurzanov | Maastrichtian | Nemegt Formation | Mongolia | A Tyrannosaur with five knobs on the snout. | |
Itemirus[6] | Valid taxon | Sergei Kurzanov | Turonian | Bissekty Formation | Uzbekistan | A close relative of Velociraptor. | |
Marshosaurus | Valid taxon | J. H. Madsen | Kimmeridgian | Morrison Formation | USA ( Colorado and Utah) | A North American Megalosaur Close Relative of the Piatnitzkysaurus. | |
Ouranosaurus[7] | Valid taxon | Philippe Taquet | Aptian-Albian | Elrhaz Formation Koum Formation | Niger Cameroon | A sail-backed Iguanodont | |
Zigongosaurus[8] | Disputed. | Hou, Zhao, & Chao | Middle to Late Jurassic | Shaximiao Formation | China | Possible junior synonym of Mamenchisaurus. |
Name | Novelty | Status | Author | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aegialornis broweri [9] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Charles T. Collins |
MP 16-28; |
An Apodiformes, Aegialornithidae Lydekker, 1891, transferred to the new genus Mesogiornis Mlíkovský, 2002. by Mlíkovský, 2002.[10] |
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Aegialornis wetmorei [9] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Charles T. Collins |
MP 16-28 |
An Apodiformes, Aegialornithidae Lydekker, 1891, transferred to the new genus Mesogiornis Mlíkovský, 2002. by Mlíkovský, 2002.,[10] it is the type species of the new genus. |
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Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Alexornithiformes Brodkorb, 1976, Alexornithidae Brodkorb, 1976. |
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Anas soporata [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Chirgiz-Nur Formation |
An Anatidae, transferred to the genus Dendrocygna by Jíří Mlíkovský & Petr Švec, 1986.[13] |
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Anser liskunae [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Zavhan |
An Anatidae. |
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Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
25,000 Ybp |
A Threskiornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Aythya spatiosa [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Hyargas Nuur Formation |
An Anatidae. |
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Apus wetmorei [15] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Peter Ballmann |
MN 14-15 |
An Apodidae. |
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Butorides validipes [16] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr. |
Late Blancan |
An Ardeidae. |
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Columba omnisanctorum [15] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Peter Ballmann |
ppMN 14-15 |
A Columbidae. |
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Eobucco brodkorbi [17] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Larry D. Martin |
Described as a Piciformes, Primobucconidae Feduccia et Martin, 1976, now placed in the Coliiformes, Sandcileidae Houde et Olson, 1992, it is the type species of the new genus. |
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Gigantibis incognita [18] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
Described as a Threskiornithidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Olson, 1981,[19] this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Heterochen vicinus [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Hyargas Nuur Formation |
An Anatidae, transferred to the genus Anser by Jíří Mlíkovský & Petr Švec, 1986,[13] and made the type species of his new genus Heteroanser by Nikita V. Zelenkov, 2012.[20] |
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Howardia eous [18] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
An Anatidae, this is the type species of this new genus but it is preoccupied by Howardia Berlese et Leonardi, 1896. (Insecta: Hemiptera)so transferred to and becoming the type species of the new genus Palaeopapia Harrison et Walker, 1979 by Colin J. O. Harrison & Cyril A. Walker in 1979.[21] |
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Jacana farrandi [22] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Alachua Formatie, Early Hemphillian |
A Jacanidae. |
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Gen. nov et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
MP 8-9 |
A Pelagornithidae Fürbringer, 1888, this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Milvago alexandri [24] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Cave deposits |
A Falconidae. |
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Nyctanassa kobdoena [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
An Ardeidae. |
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Ogygoptynx wetmorei [25] |
Gen. nov et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Patricia Vickers Rich David J. Bohaska |
A Strigiformes, Ogygoptyngidae Rich et Bohaska, 1981.,[26] this is the type species and type genus of the new genus and the new family. |
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Oreopholus orcesi [27] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr. |
A Charadriidae. |
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Palaeotodus emryi [28] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
A Todidae, this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Pandion homalopteron [29] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Stuart L. Warter |
|
A Pandionidae. |
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Pelecanus aethiopicus [30] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
Early Middle Pleistocene |
Olduvai Series |
A Pelecanidae. |
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Petropluvialis simplex [18] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
Described in the Burhinidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský 2002,[10] according to Mayr et Smith, 2001 [31] closely related to Palaeopapia eous (Harrison et Walker, 1976) and possibly synonymous with this species so they place it in the Anseriformes, this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Phalacrocorax reliquus [12] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
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Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Collin J. O. Harrison |
A Phoenicopteridae, transferred to the genus Leakeyornis Vickers-Rich & Walker, 1983 by Patricia Vickers Rich & Cyril A. Walker,[33] it is the type species of the new genus. |
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Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
Described in the Phalacrocoracidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský 2002,[10] this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Sp. nov. |
Valid |
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Praemancalla wetmorei [35] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Monterey Formatie |
|
An Alcidae, transferred to the genus Miomancalla N. A. Smith, 2011 by N. Adam Smith, 2011.[36] |
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Primobucco olsoni [17] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Larry D. Martin |
Described as a Piciformes, Primobucconidae Feduccia et Martin, 1976, made the type species of the new genus Cyrilavis Martin, 2010 [37] and placed in the stem Psittaciformes, Halcyornithidae Harrison et Walker, 1972. |
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Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
MP 8-9 |
A Pelagornithidae Fürbringer, 1888. |
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Strix? perpasta [15] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Peter Ballmann |
MN 14-15 |
A Strigidae, transferred to the genus Bubo by Mlíkovský 1998.[38] |
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Tenuicrus magnum [18] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
A Phoenicopteriformes, Juncitarcidae, this is the type of this new genus but it is preoccupied by Tenuicrus Womersley, 1940. (Arachnida: Acarina)so transferred to and becoming the type species of the new genus Kashinia Harrison et Walker, 1979 by Colin J. O. Harrison & Cyril A. Walker in 1979.[21] |
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Tetrao macropus [39] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Dénes Jánossy |
A Phasianidae. |
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Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
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Uintornis marionae [40] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Larry D. Martin |
Described in the Piciformes, Primobucconidae Feduccia & Martin, 1976, transferred to the Coliiformes, Sandcoleidae Houde et Olson, 1992 by Peter W. Houde & Storrs L. Olson, 1992.[41] |
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Villetus grandis [18] |
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
MP 14-16 |
Described in the Scolopacidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský 2002,[10] this is the type species of the new genus. |
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Villetus waltoni [18] |
Sp. nov. |
Valid |
Colin J. O. Harrison |
MP 14-16 |
Described in the Scolopacidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský 2002.[10] |
Name | Status | Authors | Age | Location | Notes |
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Georgia[42] | Valid | Otschev | Late Cretaveous | Russia | preoccupied by a genus of mollusk, renamed to Georgiasaurus in 1977 |
Name | Status | Author | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Image |
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species moved to Dickinsonia by Ivantsov in 2007 [44] | Keller | Ediacaran | Russia |