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 1871.
Fish
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gen et Sp et comb nov |
valid |
A percopsid fish. |
 |
Archosauromorphs
New taxa
| Taxon | Novelty | Status | Author(s) | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crocodilus carcharidens[3] | Sp. nov. | Valid | Bunzel | Campanian | Grünbach Formation |  Austria
|
Later given the genus name Doratodon | |
| Zatomus | Nomen dubium | Cope | Dubious genus of non-dinosaurian archosaur |
Dinosaurs
| Taxon | Novelty | Status | Author(s) | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danubiosaurus anceps[3] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Nomen dubium | Bunzel | Campanian | Grünbach Formation | Austria
|
Believed to be a lacertilian, a possible synonym of Struthiosaurus | |
| Hadrosaurus cavatus[4] | Sp. nov. | Nomen dubium | Cope | Maastrichtian | Navesink Formation? |  New Jersey
|
A species of Hadrosaurus | |
| Iguanodon suessii[3] | Sp. nov. | Valid | Bunzel | Campanian | Grünbach Formation | Austria
|
Later given the genus name Mochlodon | |
| "Megalosaurus schnaitheimii"[3] | Nomen nudum | Bunzel | Late Jurassic | Schnaitheim |  Germany
|
An invalid species of Megalosaurus mentioned in passing | ||
| Struthiosaurus austriacus[3] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Bunzel | Campanian | Grünbach Formation | Austria
|
A nodosaurid |
Pterosaurs
| Name | Status | Authors | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jr. synonym. |
Seeley |
Jr. synonym of Pterodactylus. | ||
|
Valid |
Seeley |
|||
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Grande, L. (1984). "Paleontology of the Green River Formation, with a review of the fish fauna". Bulletin of the Wyoming State Geological Survey. 63 2nd ed. Laramie, Wyoming.
- ^ a b c d e Bunzel, E. (1871). "Die Reptilfauna der Gosauformation in der Neuen Welt bei Weiner-Neustadt". Abhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt. 5: 1–18.
- ^ Cope, E.D. (1871). "Supplement to the "Synopsis of the Extinct Batrachia and Reptilia of North America"". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 12: 41–52.