1940 in paleontology

List of years in paleontology (table)
… 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 …
In science 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Philosophy Science +...

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. 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 1940.

Plants

Angiosperms

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Eucommia eocenica	Species	valid	(Berry) Brown	Middle Eocene	Claiborne Formation	USA	new generic placement of Simaroubites eocenica
Eucommia montana	Species	valid	Brown	Middle Eocene	Renova Formation	USA	Eucommia species, found across Western North America	Eucommia montana

Dinosaurs

Newly named dinosaurs

Data from George Olshevky's dinosaur genera list.

Name	Status	Authors		Notes	Images
"Caenagnathus"	Valid taxon	C. M. Sternberg			"Caenagnathus"

Plesiosaurs

New taxa

Name Status Authors Notes Seeleyosaurus Valid White "Tremamesacleis" Valid White

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name	Status	Authors	Discovery year	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Aelurosauroides	Valid
Aelurosauropsis	Valid
Bienotherium	Valid
Dicynodontoides	Valid
Leontocephalus	Valid
Nanictocephalus	Valid
Prorubidgea	Valid