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 1988.
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Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymy | Notes | Images |
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Hemiptelea mikii[2] |
sp nov |
Minaki, Noshiro, & Suzuki |
An ulmaceous species |
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Keratosperma[3] |
Gen et sp nov |
valid |
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey |
A lasioid arum family seed genus. |
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Pistillipollianthus[4] |
Gen et sp nov |
valid |
Stockey & Manchester |
Okanagan Highlands |
A flower of uncertain affinities |
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Salmonensea[5] |
Gen et Comb nov |
Valid |
Salmon Flora |
A rosaceous genus |
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Sorbaria wahrhaftigii[5] |
Sp nov |
Valid |
Rex Creek Flora |
A rosaceous species |
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Stockeya[5] |
Gen, sp et Comb nov |
Valid |
Chamaebatiaria creedensis (1937) |
A rosaceous genus |
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Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
A rosaceous genus |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sp nov |
jr synonym |
Moved to the genus Tealliocaris in 2013.[7] Though initially reported to be from the Pocono Formation, the deposits it was found in are now considered part of the Huntley Mountain Formation.[8] |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymy | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Sakhalin amber |
An aneuretine ant |
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Gen et sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Sakhalin amber |
A ponerine ant |
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Gen et 2 sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Middle Eocene |
Sakhalin amber |
A dolichoderine ant |
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[11]
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymy | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
An ornithomimid theropod |
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Brachylophosaurus goodwini[13] | Sp nov | Junior synonym | Horner | Campanian | McClellend Ferry Member, Judith River Formation | USA Montana | A saurolophine hadrosaurid. Junior synonym of Brachylophosaurus canadensis or an indeterminate brachylophosaurin.[14] | ||
Gen et sp nov |
valid |
A camarasauromorph sauropod The type species is C. lewisi |
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Subgen Nov |
Jr synonym of Edmontonia |
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Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Bakker |
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Gen et comb nov |
Valid |
Tendaguru formation |
A sauropod The type species is G. brancai |
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Gen nov |
Hisa |
Late Cretaceous |
A possible hadrosaurid, undescribed |
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Gen nov |
Hisa |
Early Cretaceous |
A possible dromeosaurid, undescribed |
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Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Yadagiri |
A basal sauropod |
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Gen et comb nov |
Valid? |
Bakker, Williams, & Currie |
Possible junior synonym of Tyrannosaurus. |
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Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
An ornithopod The type species is O. makelai |
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"Protognathus"[21] |
Gen et sp nov |
Zhang |
|
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Gen et sp nov |
Giffin, Gabriel, & Johnson |
Late Cretaceous |
Name | Status | Novelty | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymy | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ciconia kahli [23] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Haarhoff |
Varswater Formation |
A Ciconiidae. |
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Diomedea rumana [24] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Grigorescu & Kessler |
A Diomedeidae. |
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Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Emslie |
A Cathartidae. |
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Hadrogyps [26] |
Valid |
Gen. et sp. nov. |
Emslie |
A cathartid |
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Jungornis [27] |
Valid |
Fam, gen et sp nov. |
Karkhu |
Maykop Formation |
A Jungornithidae Apodiformes |
||||
Valid |
Subord, Fam, Gen et sp. nov. |
Houde |
Late Paleocene |
A lithornithid palaeognathaen |
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Valid |
Fam, gen et sp nov. |
Hesse |
A Messelornithidae Ralliformes |
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Morus olsoni [24] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Grigorescu & Kessler |
A Sulidae. |
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Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
Millener |
Late Quaternary |
An Acanthisittidae |
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Phocavis maritimus [31] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Goedert |
A Plotopteridae Pelecaniformes |
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Valid |
Sp. nov. |
A Rallidae. |
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Primocolius [33] |
Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
A Coliidae. |
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Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
Houde |
A Lithornithidae Palaeognathae. |
||||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Tonni & Tambussi |
Arroyo Chasicó Formation |
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Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Tets, Meredith, Fullagar, & Davidson |
A Sulidae, |
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Sylphornis [33] |
Valid |
Fam, gen et sp. nov. |
A Sylphornithidae basal Piciformes |
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Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
Alvarenga |
Tremembé Formation |
A Quercymegapodiidae[37] |
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Tshulia [38] |
Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
Nessov |
A possibe Rallidae |
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Ventivorus [33] |
Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
A Caprimulgidae |
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Zheroia [38] |
Valid |
Gen et sp. nov. |
Nessov |
A Graculavidae genus |
|||||
Valid |
Gen et sp nov. |
Nessov |
A Prophaethontidae Pelecaniformes |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymy | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Kellner & Campos |
A Thalassodromidae pterosaur |