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 1855.
Pterosaurs
New taxa
| Taxon | Novelty | Status | Author(s) | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pterodactylus suevicus[2] | Sp. nov. | Valid | Quenstedt | Kimmeridgian | Nusplinger Schist |  Germany
|
Later named Cycnorhamphus suevicus | 
|
Plesiosaurs
New taxa
| Taxon | Novelty | Status | Author(s) | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptychodon | Gen. nov. | Valid | Reuss | Turonian | Jizeru Formation |  Czech Republic
|
A pliosauroid. | |
| Brimosaurus | Gen. nov. | Valid | Leidy | Late Cretaceous | Unknown |  US
|
A dubious plesiosauroid. |
Museums
- The Albany Museum of Grahamstown, South Africa is established.[3]
See also
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.
- ^ Quenstedt, F.A. (1855). Uber Pterodactylus suevicus im lithographischen Schiefer Württembergs. Heinrig Laupp. pp. 1–52.
- ^ Chinsamy, Anusuya. (1997). "Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa." Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs. Edited by Phillip J. Currie and Kevin Padian. Academic Press. p. 6.
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