2018 in paleontology

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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 2018.

Plants

Main article: 2018 in paleobotany

Cnidarians

Research

• A study on the morphology of the conulariid species Carinachites spinatus based on a new specimen collected from the lower Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation (China) is published by Han et al. (2018).
• Revision of stony corals from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) Oehrli Formation (Austria and Switzerland) is published by Baron-Szabo (2018), who compares this fauna with five additional Berriasian coral faunas.

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Xystriphylloides distinctus	Sp. nov	In press	Yu	Early Devonian		China	A rugose coral.

Arthropods

Main article: 2018 in arthropod paleontology

Molluscs

Main article: 2018 in paleomalacology

Echinoderms

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Antiquaster apertisulcus	Sp. nov	Valid	Gladwell	Silurian (Ludlow)	Leintwardine Beds	United Kingdom	A stenurid brittle star.
Archaeocrinus maraensis	Sp. nov	In press	Cole et al.	Ordovician (Katian)		Canada (Ontario)	A camerate crinoid.
Archaeocrinus sundayae	Sp. nov	In press	Cole et al.	Ordovician (Katian)		Canada (Ontario)	A camerate crinoid.
Assericrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Gale	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)		United Kingdom	A crinoid. The type species is A. portusadernensis.
Bdellacoma fortispina	Sp. nov	Valid	Gladwell	Silurian (Ludlow)	Leintwardine Beds	United Kingdom	A stenurid brittle star.
Betelgeusia brezinai	Sp. nov	In press	Blake, Halligan & Larson	Late Cretaceous		United States (South Dakota)
Birgenelocrinus jagti	Sp. nov	Valid	Gale in Gale, Sadorf & Jagt	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Peedee Formation	United States (North Carolina)	A crinoid belonging to the group Roveacrinida.
Camachoaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mooi et al.	Early Miocene	Chenque Formation	Argentina	A sand dollar belonging to the group Scutelliformes. The type species is C. maquedensis
Cleiocrinus lepidotus	Sp. nov	In press	Cole et al.	Ordovician (Katian)		Canada (Ontario)	A camerate crinoid.
Elgaecrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Rozhnov	Devonian (Lochkovian)	Katnikov Beds	Russia (Sverdlovsk Oblast)	A cladid crinoid related to Crotalocrinites. The type species is E. uralicus
Hessicrinus apertus	Sp. nov	In press	Gale	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)		United Kingdom	A crinoid.
Hessicrinus cooperi	Sp. nov	In press	Gale	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)		United Kingdom	A crinoid.
Lazarechinus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Hagdorn	Middle Triassic (late Anisian)	Calcaire à entroques	France	A stem-sea urchin belonging to the family Proterocidaridae. Genus includes new species L. mirabeti.
Loriolaster fragilicalceus	Sp. nov	Valid	Gladwell	Silurian (Ludlow)	Leintwardine Beds	United Kingdom	An oegophiurid brittle star.
Lucernacrinus multispinosus	Sp. nov	Valid	Gale in Gale, Sadorf & Jagt	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Peedee Formation	United States (North Carolina)	A crinoid belonging to the group Roveacrinida.
Micraster woodi	Sp. nov	In press	Schlüter & Wiese	Late Cretaceous (Turonian)		Germany	A sea urchin.
Muicrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Lin et al.	Ordovician (latest Floian-earliest Dapingian)	Dawan Formation	China	A crinoid related to Iocrinus. The type species is M. dawanensis.
Pahvanticystis	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Lefebvre & Lerosey-Aubril	Cambrian (Guzhangian)	Weeks Formation	United States (Utah)	A solutan echinoderm. Genus includes new species P. utahensis.
Peedeecrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Gale in Gale, Sadorf & Jagt	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Peedee Formation	United States (North Carolina)	A crinoid belonging to the group Roveacrinida. Genus includes new species P. sadorfi.
Placatenella	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Mooi et al.	Early Miocene	Pirabas Formation	Brazil	A sand dollar belonging to the group Scutelliformes. The type species is "Abertella" complanata Brito (1981).
Priscillacrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Cole et al.	Ordovician (Katian)		Canada (Ontario)	A camerate crinoid. Genus includes new species P. elegans.
Sagittacrinus alifer	Sp. nov	In press	Gale	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)		United Kingdom	A crinoid.
Sagittacrinus longirostris	Sp. nov	In press	Gale	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)		United Kingdom	A crinoid.
Yunnanechinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Thompson et al.	Middle Triassic (Anisian)	Guanling Formation	China	A stem-sea urchin. The type species is Y. luopingensis.

Conodonts

Research

• A study on fossils of members of the genus Alternognathus from the Upper Devonian of the Kowala quarry (central Poland), attempting to calibrate the course of their ontogeny in days and documenting cyclic mortality events, is published by Świś (2018).
• Reconstruction of the multi-element apparatus of the Middle Triassic conodont from British Columbia (Canada) belonging to the Neogondolella regalis group within the genus Neogondolella is presented by Golding (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Baltoniodus cooperi	Sp. nov	Valid	Carlorosi, Sarmiento & Heredia	Ordovician (Dapingian)	Santa Gertrudis Formation	Argentina
Gedikella	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Kılıç, Plasencia & Önder	Middle Triassic (Anisian)		Turkey	A member of the family Gondolellidae. The type species is G. quadrata.
Kamuellerella rectangularis	Sp. nov	In press	Kılıç, Plasencia & Önder	Middle Triassic (Anisian)		Turkey	A member of the family Gondolellidae.
Ketinella goermueshi	Sp. nov	In press	Kılıç, Plasencia & Önder	Middle Triassic (Anisian)		Turkey	A member of the family Gondolellidae.
Magnigondolella	Gen. et 5 sp. et comb. nov	In press	Golding & Orchard	Middle Triassic (Anisian)	Favret Formation Toad Formation	Canada (British Columbia) China United States (Nevada)	A member of Ozarkodinida belonging to the family Gondolellidae. The type species is M. salomae; genus also includes new species M. alexanderi, M. cyri, M. julii and M. nebuchadnezzari, as well as "Neogondolella" regale Mosher (1970) and "Neogondolella" dilacerata Golding & Orchard (2016).
Mesogondolella hendersoni	Sp. nov	Valid	Yuan, Zhang & Shen	Permian (Changhsingian)	Selong Group	China
Neopolygnathus fibula	Sp. nov	Valid	Hartenfels & Becker	Devonian (Famennian)		Morocco
Pseudopolygnathus primus tafilensis	Subsp. nov	Valid	Hartenfels & Becker	Devonian (Famennian)		Morocco

Fish

Main article: 2018 in paleoichthyology

Amphibians

Research

• A study on the evolution of forelimb musculature from the lobe-finned fish to early tetrapods will be published by Molnar et al. (2018).
• A study on the structure of stapes of Edops craigi is published by Schoch (2018).
• A study on the morphology and phylogenetic relationships of Neldasaurus is published by Schoch (2018).
• A study on the morphological changes in the skull that have been considered related to size reduction in dissorophoids, evaluating whether these changes are consistent with the consequences of miniaturization according to the studies in extant miniature amphibians, is published by Pérez-Ben, Schoch & Báez (2018).
• Partial mandible of a large-bodied metoposaurid is described from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation exposures at Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, United States) by Gee & Parker (2018).
• A study on the histology of the humeri of members of the species Metoposaurus krasiejowensis, revealing the occurrence of two different growth patterns (histotypes), is published by Teschner, Sander & Konietzko-Meier (2018).
• A study on the feeding mode of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis as indicated by bone microstructure and computational biomechanics is published by Konietzko-Meier et al. (2018).
• Redescription of Regalerpeton weichangensis based on eight new specimens and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species will be published by Rong (2018).
• An incomplete vertebra of a member of Caudata is described from the Algerian part of the Cretaceous Kem Kem Beds by Alloul et al. (2018).
• Cretaceous frog tracks are described from the Saok Island (South Korea) by Park et al. (2018), who name a new ichnotaxon Ranipes saokensis.
• Fossils of the painted frog Latonia gigantea will be described from the Miocene of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Spain) by Villa et al. (2018), representing the first known record of the species from the Iberian Peninsula.
• Fossils of Latonia cf. gigantea will be described from the early Miocene of Greece (representing the first record of the species from that country) by Georgalis et al. (2018), along with other amphibian and reptile fossils.
• A redescription of Pelobates praefuscus from the Pliocene of Moldova will be published by Syromyatnikova (2018), who considers this taxon to be a species distinct from Pelobates fuscus.
• A redescription and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of Baurubatrachus pricei is published by Báez & Gómez (2018).
• Frog fossils, including the first known fossils of shovelnose frogs, will be described from the early Pliocene of Kanapoi (Kenya) by Delfino (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of regenerating tails in two specimens of the Carboniferous lepospondyl Microbrachis pelikani, comparing tail regeneration in this taxon and in extant seal salamander and Ocoee salamander, is published by van der Vos, Witzmann & Fröbisch (2018).
• Description of the anatomy of the skeleton of the chroniosuchian species Bystrowiella schumanni and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of chroniosuchians will be published by Witzmann & Schoch (2018).
• A study on the variation of digit proportions and trackway parameters in diadectomorph tracks with a relatively short pedal digit V, representing ichnogenus Ichniotherium, is published by Buchwitz & Voight (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Shirerpeton	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Matsumoto & Evans	Early Cretaceous (Barremian)	Kuwajima Formation	Japan	A member of the family Albanerpetontidae. The type species is S. isajii.

Lizards and snakes

Research

• Fossil trackways probably made by lizards running bipedally are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-early Albian) Hasandong Formation (South Korea) by Lee et al. (2018), who name a new ichnotaxon Sauripes hadongensis.
• A study on the manus of a putative stem-gekkotan from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar is published by Fontanarrosa, Daza & Abdala (2018), who report the presence of adaptations to climbing, including adhesive structures.
• A revision of the lizard fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia and China which were originally assigned to the genus Bainguis is published by Dong et al. (2018), who transfer some of this fossil material to the stem-scincoid genus Parmeosaurus.
• Fossil anguine material is described from the lower Miocene locality Ulm – Westtangente (Germany) for the first time by Klembara, Hain & Čerňanský (2018).
• A study on the evolution of the skull shape in snakes and on its implications for inferring the ancestral ecology of snakes is published by Da Silva et al. (2018).
• A natural cast of the posterior brain, skull vessels and nerves, and the inner ear of Dinilysia patagonica is described by Triviño et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Anguis rarus	Sp. nov	Valid	Klembara & Rummel	Early Miocene		Germany	A slow worm.
Euleptes klembarai	Sp. nov	In press	Čerňanský, Daza & Bauer	Miocene (Astaracian)		Slovakia	A relative of the European leaf-toed gecko.

Ichthyosauromorphs

• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of ichthyosaurs will be published by Moon (2018).
• A survey of the form and distribution of pathological structures in the skeletons of ichthyosaurs is published by Pardo-Pérez et al. (2018).
• Second specimen of Wahlisaurus massarae is reported from a quarry in Somerset (United Kingdom), from the base of the Blue Lias Formation (Triassic–Jurassic boundary) by Lomax, Evans & Carpenter (2018), extending known geographic and stratigraphic range of the species.
• A reassessment of Ichthyosaurus communis and I. intermedius is published by Massare & Lomax (2018), who consider the latter species to be a junior synonym of the former.
• A neonate specimen of Ichthyosaurus communis will be described by Lomax et al. (2018).

Sauropterygians

Research

• A study on the internal anatomy of the skull of Nothosaurus marchicus is published by Voeten et al. (2018).
• An incomplete mandible of a large-bodied predatory plesiosaur will be described from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Deister Formation (Germany) by Sachs et al. (2018).
• The first Jurassic plesiosaur from Antarctica is described from the Upper Jurassic Ameghino (= Nordensköld) Formation (Antarctic Peninsula) by O’Gorman et al. (2018).
• Two new plesiosaur specimens, including a specimen of the species Libonectes morgani (otherwise known from North American fossils), are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) deposits of Goulmima (Morocco) by Allemand et al. (2018).
• Description of a skull and partial postcranial skeleton of a juvenile elasmosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous Tahora Formation (New Zealand), referred to the species Tuarangisaurus keyesi, is published by Otero et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Arminisaurus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Sachs & Kear	Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian)	Amaltheenton Formation	Germany	An early relative of pliosaurids. The type species is A. schuberti.
Microcleidus melusinae	Sp. nov	In press	Vincent et al.	Early Jurassic (Toarcian)		Luxembourg	A microcleidid plesiosaur.
Pliosaurus almanzaensis	Sp. nov	In press	O’Gorman, Gasparini & Spalletti	Late Jurassic (Jurassic)	Vaca Muerta Formation	Argentina

Turtles

Research

• A study on the Early and Middle Triassic turtle tracks and their implications for the origin of turtles will be published by Lichtig et al. (2018).
• Fossil turtle footprints will be described from the Triassic (Carnian) localities in eastern Spain by Reolid et al. (2018), who interpret the findings as indicating a freshwater semi-aquatic habit for some early turtles during the early Late Triassic.
• A study on the anatomy of the brain, inner ear, nasal cavity and skull nerves of Proganochelys quenstedti, and on its implications for inferring the sensory capabilities and ecology of the species and for the evolution of turtle brains is published by Lautenschlager, Ferreira & Werneburg (2018).
• A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Kallokibotion bajazidi based on well-preserved new fossil material is published by Pérez-García & Codrea (2018).
• A restudy of the type material of the Late Cretaceous pan-chelid Linderochelys rinconensis and a description of new fossils of the species is published by Jannello et al. (2018).
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships and body size evolution of extant and extinct tortoises will be published by Vlachos & Rabi (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Owadowia	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Szczygielski, Tyborowski & Błażejowski	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Kcynia Formation	Poland	A member of Pancryptodira. The type species is O. borsukbialynickae.
Trachemys haugrudi	Sp. nov	Valid	Jasinski	Late Hemphillian	Gray Fossil Site	United States (Tennessee)	A species of Trachemys.
Wutuchelys	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Tong et al.	Early Eocene	Wutu Formation	China	A stem-testudinoid. Genus includes new species W. eocenica.
Yuraramirim	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Ferreira et al.	Late Cretaceous	Adamantina Formation	Brazil	A member of Pleurodira related to Peiropemys. Genus includes new species Y. montealtensis.

Archosauriformes

Pseudosuchians

Research

• Redescription of the aetosaur species Calyptosuchus wellesi is published by Parker (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the skeleton of Coahomasuchus chathamensis and on the phylogenetic relationships of aetosaurs is published by Hoffman, Heckert & Zanno (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the backbone of Poposaurus langstoni is published by Stefanic & Nesbitt (2018).
• New fossil material (an isolated left dentary) of Orthosuchus stormbergi will be described from the Upper Elliot Formation (South Africa) by Dollman, Viglietti & Choiniere (2018), who also examine the stratigraphic positions of all valid crocodylomorph specimens from the main Karoo Basin.
• Teleosaurid and metriorhynchid teeth will be described from, respectively, the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian) and Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of Slovakia by Čerňanský et al. (2018), representing the first record of members of both families from the country.
• A skull of a member of the genus Tyrannoneustes is described from the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of Germany by Waskow, Grzegorczyk & Sander (2018).
• New specimen of Neuquensuchus universitas, providing new information on the skeletal anatomy of members of the species, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Argentina) by Lio et al. (2018).
• A redescription of the anatomy of the skull of Notosuchus terrestris is published by Barrios et al. (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of Morrinhosuchus luziae is published by Iori et al. (2018).
• A study on the anatomic structures and tooth wear related to mastication in Caipirasuchus is published by Iori & Carvalho (2018).
• A study on the taphonomy of the baurusuchid specimens (as well as non-avian theropods and titanosaur sauropod dinosaurs) from the Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group (Brazil) will be published by Bandeira et al. (2018), who argue that low diversity of known theropods in the Bauru Group might be caused by preservational biases, and does not conclusively indicate that baurusuchids outcompeted theropods as top predators in this area.
• A revision of Trematochampsa taqueti and all fossil material assigned to the species will be published by Meunier & Larsson (2018).
• Description of pelvic and femoral remains of allodaposuchids from the Upper Cretaceous of the Lo Hueco fossil site (Spain) is published by de Celis, Narváez & Ortega (2018).
• Fossils of an eusuchian crocodyliform are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Khok Kruat Formation (Thailand) by Kubo et al. (2018), representing the oldest record of Asian eusuchians reported so far.
• A reassessment of the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Asiatosuchus nanlingensis and Eoalligator chunyii will be published by Wu, Li & Wang (2018), who reinstate the latter taxon as a species distinct from the former one.
• A study on the ontogenetic changes of the skull shape in extant caimans and its implications for the validity of the Miocene species Melanosuchus fisheri will be published by Foth et al. (2018).
• A fragment of a mandible of a member of the genus Gryposuchus is described from the Miocene (~18 Ma) Castillo Formation (Venezuela) by Solórzano, Núñez-Flores & Rincón (2018), representing the earliest record of the genus in South America reported so far.
• Fossils of a specimen of Asiatosuchus depressifrons from the late Paleocene of Mont de Berru (France), representing the oldest European crocodyloid remains reported so far, will be described by Delfino et al. (2018).
• A review of the taxonomic diversity of the crocodiles from the early Pliocene of Kanapoi (Kenya) will be published by Brochu (2018).
• Fossils of large crocodylians, as well as tortoise fossils with feeding traces on them, are described from the Pleistocene of Aldabra (Seychelles) by Scheyer et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating the occurrence of a predator–prey interaction between crocodylians and giant tortoises on Aldabra during the Late Pleistocene.

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Anteophthalmosuchus epikrator	Sp. nov	Valid	Ristevski et al.	Early Cretaceous	Wessex Formation	United Kingdom	A goniopholidid.
Kinesuchus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Filippi, Barrios & Garrido	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)	Bajo de la Carpa Formation	Argentina	A peirosaurid crocodyliform. The type species is K. overoi.

Non-avian dinosaurs

Research

• A study intending to identify the evolutionary processes that drove the diversification of dinosaur body mass is published by Benson et al. (2018).
• A study on the impact of geography on the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs is published by O’Donovan, Meade & Venditti (2018), who note increasing amounts of sympatric speciation as terrestrial space became a limiting factor.
• A study on the impact of publication history on the estimates of dinosaur diversity patterns through time is published by Tennant, Chiarenza & Baron (2018).
• A study comparing non-avian dinosaur faunas of Appalachia and Laramidia from the Aptian to Maastrichtian stages of the Cretaceous period is published by Brownstein (2018), who also evaluates dinosaur provincialism and ecology on Appalachia.
• A study on the bone histology of sauropod dinosaurs and birds, looking for histological correlates indicative of the presence of bird-like air sacs, is published by Lambertz, Bertozzo & Sander (2018).
• A study on the Middle Jurassic flora from Yorkshire (United Kingdom) as indicated by pollen and spores, and on the possible dinosaur-plant interactions in the area is published by Slater et al. (2018).
• A study on the phylogenetic placement of Chilesaurus diegosuarezi and its implications for the phylogenetic relationships of major dinosaur groups will be published by Müller & Dias-da-Silva (2018).
• Theropod tracks (probably produced by Acrocanthosaurus) are described from the Cretaceous (Albian) De Queen Formation (Arkansas, United States) by Platt et al. (2018).
• New data on feather anatomy in theropod dinosaurs Sinosauropteryx, Caudipteryx and Anchiornis is presented by Saitta, Gelernter & Vinther (2018).
• Theropod tracksite discovered in the Maastrichtian Nemegt Formation (Mongolia), preserving tracks of least four different trackmakers, and associated with a distorted foot skeleton of Gallimimus, is described by Lee et al. (2018).
• Didactyl theropod tracks with similarities to footprints attributed to small deinonychosaurian theropods will be described from the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian-Bajocian) Dansirit Formation (Iran) by Xing, Abbassi & Lockley (2018).
• Bishop et al. (2018) present predictive equations that may be used to model non-avian theropod locomotion, developed on the basis of a study of extant ground-running birds.
• A study on the early evolution of the theropod hands and wrists, especially on the transition from five- to four-fingered hands, as indicated by the anatomy of the hands of Coelophysis bauri and Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis is published by Barta, Nesbitt & Norell (2018).
• A study on the morphological changes that occurred during ontogeny in the postcranial skeleton of Coelophysis bauri and Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis is published by Griffin (2018).
• A study on the pneumatization of a noasaurid vertebra recovered from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) is published by Brum et al. (2018).
• Paulina-Carabajal & Filippi (2018) reconstruct the endocranial cavity enclosing the brain, cranial nerves, blood vessels and the labyrinth of the inner ear of the holotype specimen of Viavenator exxoni.
• Description of the osteology of Viavenator exxoni is published by Filippi et al. (2018).
• Fragmented theropod maxilla from the Upper Cretaceous Presidente Prudente Formation (Brazil), initially thought to be a carcharodontosaurid fossil, is interpreted as more likely to be an abelisaurid fossil by Delcourt & Grillo (2018).
• Partial tibia of a tyrannosauroid theropod, possibly a relative of Bistahieversor sealeyi, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Navesink Formation (New Jersey, United States) by Brownstein (2018).
• Theropod fossils from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Santana Formation (Brazil), initially thought to be oviraptorosaur fossils, are reinterpreted as fossils of a member of Megaraptora by Aranciaga Rolando et al. (2018).
• A study on the diversity of ornithomimosaur dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) as indicated by the morphology of their manus bones is published by Chinzorig et al. (2018).
• A study on the morphology of the dentary of a member of the genus Caenagnathasia from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Bissekty Formation (Uzbekistan) is published by Wang, Zhang & Yang (2018).
• Description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of a newly discovered specimen of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum is published by Novas et al. (2018).
• A study on the tail anatomy of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum is published by Motta, Brissón Egli & Novas (2018).
• Histological analysis of the forelimb bones of Daliansaurus liaoningensis will be presented by Shen et al. (2018).
• A study on the histology of limb bones of Anchiornis, Aurornis, Eosinopteryx, Serikornis and Jeholornis, and on the dynamics of skeletal growth in these taxa, is published by Prondvai et al. (2018).
• Description of two new specimens of Anchiornis huxleyi and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Guo, Xu & Jia (2018).
• A study on the evolution of the anatomy of the braincase of sauropodomorph dinosaurs is published by Bronzati, Benson & Rauhut (2018).
• A dinosauriform femur, possibly of a juvenile specimen of the species Pampadromaeus barberenai, will be described from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil by Müller et al. (2018).
• Redescription of the anatomy of the braincase of Efraasia minor is published by Bronzati & Rauhut (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of Massospondylus carinatus is published by Chapelle & Choiniere (2018).
• A study on the osteology of the sauropodomorph Pulanesaura eocollum will be published by Mcphee & Choiniere (2018).
• A study on the geological age of the type locality of Vulcanodon karibaensis is published by Viglietti et al. (2018), who interpret Vulcanodon as likely to be Sinemurian–Pliensbachian in age, and potentially ∼10–15 million years older than previously thought. This makes it the oldest known sauropod.
• Two neck vertebrae of an eusauropod sauropod dinosaur are described from a new Early Jurassic locality in the Haute Moulouya Basin (Morocco) by Nicholl, Mannion & Barrett (2018), representing some of the earliest eusauropod fossils reported so far.
• A natural skull endocast of a sauropod dinosaur, likely a dicraeosaurid, is described from the Lower Cretaceous Mulichinco Formation (Argentina) by Paulina Carabajal et al. (2018).
• A sauropod footprint assigned to the ichnogenus Brontopodus, produced by a trackmaker of the size exceeding that of any Mongolian dinosaur reported so far from skeletal material, is described from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) by Stettner, Persons & Currie (2018).
• New titanosaur fossil material is described from the Upper Cretaceous Río Huaco Formation and Los Llanos Formation (La Rioja Province, Argentina) by Hechenleitner et al. (2018).
• A redescription of Mendozasaurus neguyelap based on previously undocumented remains and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Gonzàlez Riga et al. (2018).
• Postcranial remains attributable to the holotype specimen of Nemegtosaurus mongoliensis is described from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) by Currie et al. (2018), who consider Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii to be a probable junior synonym of N. mongoliensis.
• A study on the morphological diversity of stegosaurs through the evolutionary history of the group will be published by Romano (2018).
• Probable ankylosaurian footprints will be described from the Upper Jurassic Guará Formation (Brazil) by Francischini et al. (2018).
• A study on the neuroanatomy of ankylosaurid dinosaurs based on skull endocasts of Talarurus plicatospineus and Tarchia teresae is published by Paulina-Carabajal et al. (2018).
• A survey of ankylosaur occurrences in the Cretaceous deposits of Alberta (Canada) and a study looking for explanation of numerous instances of ankylosaur specimens preserved overturned is published by Mallon et al. (2018).
• A study on the bone microstructure and ontogeny of basal ornithopod specimens from the Early Cretaceous of Australia is published by Woodward, Rich & Vickers-Rich (2018), who reinterpret the tracks as produced in non-marine environment.
• A redescription of Iguanodon galvensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species will be published by Verdú et al. (2018).
• Microfossil remains of Early Cretaceous grasses extracted from a specimen of Equijubus normani will be described by Wu, You & Li (2018).
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Nipponosaurus sachalinensis will be published by Takasaki et al. (2018).
• A hadrosaurid nestling belonging to the genus Edmontosaurus is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation (Montana), United States) by Wosik, Goodwin & Evans (2018), who interpret its anatomy as indicating that it was capable of fully quadrupedal locomotion.
• A study on the differences in shape and structural performance of the lower jaws of ceratopsians is published by Maiorino et al. (2018).
• A description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Yinlong downsi and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of basal ornithischians will be published by Han et al. (2018).
• Two isolated ceratopsid horncores are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian, ∼78.5 million years ago) Foremost Formation (Alberta, Canada) by Brown (2018), representing some of the earliest ceratopsid fossils reported so far.
• Description of new fossil material of Medusaceratops lokii from the Upper Cretaceous Campanian (Judith River Formation (Montana, United States) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species will be published by Chiba et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Avimimus nemegtensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Funston et al.	Late Cretaceous	Nemegt Formation	Mongolia	An oviraptorosaurian.
Caihong	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Hu et al.	Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)	Tiaojishan Formation	China	A paravian theropod. The type species is C. juji.
Choconsaurus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Simón, Salgado & Calvo	Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)	Huincul Formation	Argentina	A titanosaur sauropod. The type species is C. baileywillisi.
Diluvicursor	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Herne et al.	Early Cretaceous (Albian)	Eumeralla Formation	Australia	A small-bodied ornithopod. The type species is D. pickeringi.
Jinyunpelta	Gen. et sp. nov		Zheng et al.	Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)	Liangtoutang Formation	China	A member of the family Ankylosauridae belonging to the subfamily Ankylosaurinae. The type species is J. sinensis.
Laiyangosaurus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Zhang et al.	Late Cretaceous	Jingangkou Formation	China	A hadrosaurid ornithopod belonging to the subfamily Saurolophinae and the tribe Edmontosaurini. The type species is L. youngi.
Mansourasaurus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Sallam et al.	Late Cretaceous (Campanian)	Quseir Formation	Egypt	A titanosaur sauropod. The type species is M. shahinae.
Sibirotitan	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Averianov et al.	Early Cretaceous (probably Barremian)	Ilek Formation	Russia	A non-titanosaurian somphospondyl sauropod. Genus includes new species S. astrosacralis.

Birds

Research

• A study evaluating whether eggs of early birds from the Mesozoic could have borne the weight of incubating adults is published by Deeming & Mayr (2018).
• A study on Praeornis sharovi from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan will be published by Agnolin, Rozadilla & Carvalho (2018), who interpret the fossil as a tail feather of a basal bird.
• A redescription of the bird trackway originally labeled Aquatilavipes anhuiensis from the Lower Cretaceous Qiuzhuang Formation (Anhui, China) is published by Xing et al. (2018), who transfer this ichnospecies to the ichnogenus Koreanaornis.
• New avian ichnospecies Ignotornis canadensis is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Gates Formation (Canada) by Buckley, McCrea & Xing (2018).
• Ignotornid tracks are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Jiangsu (China) by Xing et al. (2018), representing the first known record of the ichnogenus Goseongornipes from China.
• The twelfth specimen of Archaeopteryx, the oldest reported so far, is described by Rauhut, Foth & Tischlinger (2018).
• Gastrolith masses preserved in five specimens of Jeholornis will be described by O'Connor et al. (2018).
• A new confuciusornithid specimen, most similar to Eoconfuciusornis zhengi but also sharing traits with Confuciusornis, will be described from the Upper Cretaceous Huajiying Formation (China) by Navalón et al. (2018).
• An articulated skeleton of an enantiornithine bird preserved in the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar is described by Xing et al. (2018).
• A study evaluating the capacity of the enantiornithines Concornis lacustris and Eoalulavis hoyasi to use intermittent flight (alternating flapping and gliding phases) is published by Serrano et al. (2018).
• A study comparing the hindlimb morphology of hesperornithiforms and modern foot-propelled diving birds is published by Bell, Wu & Chiappe (2018).
• A study on the evolution of the anatomy of the crown-bird skull is published by Felice & Goswami (2018), who also present a hypothetical reconstruction of the ancestral crown-bird skull.
• A study on the dietary behavior of four species of the moa and their interactions with parasites based on data from their coprolites is published by Boast et al. (2018).
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa assigned to the family Vegaviidae by Agnolín et al. (2017) is published by Mayr et al. (2018).
• A study on the microstructure of the bones of Vegavis iaai will be published by Garcia Marsà, Agnolín & Novas (2018).
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species Chendytes lawi and the Labrador duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius) is published by Buckner et al. (2018).
• A nearly complete tarsometatarsus of the least seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) will be described from the Ensenadan of Argentina by Picasso, De Mendoza & Gelfo (2018).
• Petralca austriaca, originally thought to be an auk, is reinterpreted as a member of Gaviiformes by Göhlich & Mayr (2018).
• Pedal phalanx of a penguin affected by osteomyelitis will be described from the Eocene of West Antarctica by Jadwiszczak & Rothschild (2018).
• Fossil material attributed to the extinct Hunter Island penguin (Tasidyptes hunteri) is reinterpreted as assemblage of remains from three extant penguin species by Cole et al. (2018).
• A study on the history of penguin colonization of the Vestfold Hills (Antarctica), indicating that penguins started colonizing the northern Vestfold Hills around 14.6 thousand years before present, will be published by Gao et al. (2018).
• New bird fossils, including the first reported tarsometatarsus of the plotopterid Tonsala hildegardae will be described from the late Eocene/early Oligocene Makah Formation and the Oligocene Pysht Formation (Washington State, United States) by Mayr & Goedert (2018), who name a new plotopterid subfamily Tonsalinae.
• Extinct lowland kagu (Rhynochetos orarius) is reinterpreted as synonymous with extant kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) by Theuerkauf & Gula (2018).
• New phorusrhacid fossils are described from the Pleistocene of Uruguay by Jones et al. (2018), providing evidence of survival of phorusrhacids until the end of the Pleistocene.
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the extinct Cuban macaw (Ara tricolor) is published by Johansson et al. (2018).
• A review of the bird fossil assemblage from the Paleocene locality of Menat (Puy-de-Dôme, France), including a new fossil specimen with exceptional soft tissue preservation, is published by Mayr, Hervet & Buffetaut (2018).
• A study on the fossil bird remains from the Pliocene locality of Kanapoi (Kenya), indicating presence of many aquatic birds, will be published by Field (2018).
• A study on the bird fossils from the Olduvai Gorge site (Tanzania) and their implications for inferring the environmental context of the site during the Oldowan-Acheulean transitional period is published by Prassack et al. (2018).
• A study on the bird fossil assemblage from the Pleistocene of the Rio Secco Cave (north-eastern Italy) and its implications for the palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the site is published by Carrera et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Chenoanas asiatica	Sp. nov	Valid	Zelenkov et al.	Middle Miocene		China Mongolia	A duck.
Eogranivora	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Zheng et al.	Early Cretaceous	Yixian Formation	China	An early member of Ornithuromorpha. Genus includes new species E. edentulata.
Kischinskinia	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Volkova & Zelenkov	Early Miocene		Russia	A passerine belonging to the group Certhioidea. Genus includes new species K. scandens.
Litorallus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mather et al.	Early Miocene (Altonian)	Bannockburn Formation	New Zealand	A rail. The type species is L. livezeyi.
Muriwaimanu	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Mayr et al.	Late Paleocene	Waipara Greensand	New Zealand	An early penguin; a new genus for "Waimanu" tuatahi Ando, Jones & Fordyce in Slack et al. (2006).
Priscaweka	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mather et al.	Early Miocene (Altonian)	Bannockburn Formation	New Zealand	A rail. The type species is P. parvales.
Sequiwaimanu	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mayr et al.	Middle Paleocene	Waipara Greensand	New Zealand	An early penguin. Genus includes new species S. rosieae.

Pterosaurs

Research

• A pterosaur humerus from the Late Jurassic of Thailand, originally assigned to the group Azhdarchoidea, is reassigned to the family Rhamphorhynchidae by Unwin & Martill (2018).
• A new juvenile specimen of Pteranodon (the smallest reported so far) will be described from the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation (Kansas, United States) by Bennett (2018).
• A giant humerus of a tapejaroid pterosaur is described from the Upper Cretaceous Plottier Formation (Argentina) by Ortiz David, González Riga & Kellner (2018).
• A revision of the taxonomy of Noripterus and other Asian members of the family Dsungaripteridae is published by Hone, Jiang & Xu (2018).
• A new thalassodromine specimen will be described from the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (Brazil) by Buchmann et al. (2018), providing new information on the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of members of the group.
• Purported pterosaur pelvis from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada) described by Funston, Martin-Silverstone & Currie (2017) is reinterpreted as a broken tyrannosaurid squamosal by Funston, Martin-Silverstone & Currie (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Serradraco	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Rigal, Martill & Sweetman	Early Cretaceous (late Valanginian or early Hauterivian)	Upper Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation	United Kingdom	A pterodactyloid pterosaur; a new genus for "Pterodactylus" sagittirostris Owen (1874).
Vesperopterylus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Lü et al.	Early Cretaceous	Jiufotang Formation	China	A member of the family Anurognathidae. Genus includes new species V. lamadongensis.
Xericeps	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Martill et al.	Cretaceous (Albian or early Cenomanian)	Kem Kem Beds	Morocco	A member of Azhdarchoidea. The type species is X. curvirostris.

Other archosauriforms

• A study on the microstructure of the long bones (femur and tibiae) of Lewisuchus admixtus will be published by Garcia Marsà, Agnolín & Novas (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the braincase of Silesaurus opolensis will be published by Piechowski, Niedźwiedzki & Tałanda (2018).
• Studies on the phylogenetic relationships of Pisanosaurus mertii will be published by Agnolín & Rozadilla (2018) and Baron (2018), who interpret the taxon as a likely silesaurid.
• Reevaluation of Caseosaurus crosbyensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Baron & Williams (2018).

Other reptiles

Research

• Description of the anatomy of the lower jaw of Delorhynchus will be published by Haridy, Macdougall & Reisz (2018).
• Pathological sacral vertebrae of a pareiasaur belonging to the clade Velosauria are described from the Permian (Wuchiapingian) upper member of the Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Luangwa Basin, Zambia) by Turner & Sidor (2018).
• A study on the teeth of Opisthodontosaurus carrolli is published by Haridy, LeBlanc & Reisz (2018), who present evidence of regular tooth replacement events in the lower jaw of O. carrolli.
• Jaw elements of members of an otherwise Gondwanan diapsid genus Palacrodon are described from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation (Arizona, United States) by Kligman, Marsh & Parker (2018).
• Description of two specimens of the rhynchocephalian species Clevosaurus hudsoni from the Upper Triassic of the Cromhall Quarry (United Kingdom), providing new information on the anatomy of the species, will be published by O’Brien, Whiteside & Marshall (2018).
• A study on the anatomy of the skeleton of Pappochelys rosinae will be published by Schoch & Sues (2018).
• A study on the taphonomy of the skeletons of Tanystropheus longobardicus from the Middle Triassic Besano Formation (Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland) and its implications for inferring whether Tanystropheus was terrestrial or aquatic will be published by Beardmore & Furrer (2018).
• A re-analysis of the osteology of Tanystropheus, a reconstruction of the musculature of the tail, pelvic girdle and hindlimbs of the taxon and a study on the locomotion and lifestyle of the taxon is published by Renesto & Saller (2018).
• Description of the maxillary tooth plate and dentary teeth of the rhynchosaur species Hyperodapedon sanjuanensis will be published by Gentil & Ezcurra (2018).
• Partial maxilla of a hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur, possessing a morphology that differs from those of other South American rhynchosaur species, will be described from the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation (Argentina) by Gentil & Ezcurra (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Clevosaurus cambrica	Sp. nov	In press	Keeble, Whiteside & Benton	Late Triassic		United Kingdom
Elginia wuyongae	Sp. nov	Valid	Liu & Bever	Late Permian	Naobaogou Formation	China	A pareiasaurid parareptile
Labidosauriscus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Modesto, Scott & Reisz	Early Permian	Richards Spur locality	United States (Oklahoma)	A member of the family Captorhinidae. Genus includes new species L. richardi.

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids

• A description of the postcranial material referable to the caseid species Ennatosaurus tecton will be published by Romano, Brocklehurst & Fröbisch (2018).
• A skull of a juvenile specimen of Anteosaurus magnificus is described from the Permian Abrahamskraal Formation (South Africa) by Kruger, Rubidge & Abdala (2018).
• Femur of a specimen of the titanosuchid species Jonkeria parva affected by osteomyelitis will be described from the Permian of Karoo Basin (South Africa) by Shelton, Chinsamy & Rothschild (2018).
• A study on the evolution of the trigeminal nerve innervation in anomodonts is published by Benoit et al. (2018).
• Description of the anatomy of six new skulls of the dicynodont Abajudon kaayai from the Permian (Guadalupian) lower Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Zambia) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Olroyd, Sidor & Angielczyk (2018).
• A study on the musculature, posture and range of motion of the forelimb of Massetognathus pascuali is published by Lai, Biewener & Pierce (2018).
• A study on the bone histology of the traversodontid cynodonts Protuberum cabralense and Exaeretodon riograndesis will be published by Veiga, Botha-Brink & Soares (2018).
• Right dentary with teeth of Prozostrodon brasiliensis will be described from the Late Triassic of Brazil by Pacheco et al. (2018), representing the second known specimen of this species.
• A study on the origin and relationships of ictidosaurian cynodonts, i.e. tritheledontids and therioherpetids, is published by Bonaparte & Crompton (2018).
• Digital skull endocast of a specimen of Riograndia guaibensis is reconstructed by Rodrigues et al. (2018).
• Tetrapod burrows, likely produced by small eucynodonts, are described from the Triassic Chañares Formation (Argentina) by Fiorelli et al. (2018).

Mammals

Main article: 2018 in mammal paleontology

Other animals

Research

• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the rangeomorphs, dickinsoniomorphs and erniettomorphs as indicated by what is known of the ontogeny of the rangeomorph Charnia masoni, dickinsoniomorph Dickinsonia costata and erniettomorph Pteridinium simplex will be published by Dunn, Liu & Donoghue (2018), who consider at least the rangeomorphs and dickinsoniomorphs to be metazoans.
• The first reliable occurrence of abundant penetrative trace fossils, providing trace fossil evidence for Precambrian bilaterians with complex behavioural patterns, is reported from the latest Ediacaran of western Mongolia by Oji et al. (2018).
• An aggregation of members of the genus Parvancorina, providing evidence of two size-clusters and bimodal orientation in this taxon, is described from the Ediacara Conservation Park (Australia) by Coutts et al. (2018).
• 3D reconstructions of Cloudina aggregates are presented by Mehra & Maloof (2018).
• A study on the substrate growth dynamics, mode of biomineralization and possible affinities of Namapoikia rietoogensis is published by Wood & Penny (2018).
• A study on the nature and biological affinity of the Cambrian taxon Archaeooides is published by Yin et al. (2018), who interpret the fossils of Archaeooides as embryonic remains of animals.
• An assemblage of animal fossils, including the oldest known pterobranchs, preserved in the form of small carbonaceous fossils is described from the Cambrian Buen Formation (Greenland) by Slater et al. (2018).
• Description of new morphological features of the Cambrian mobergellan Discinella micans is published by Skovsted & Topper (2018).
• A study on the slab with a dense aggregation of members of the species Banffia constricta recovered from the Cambrian Burgess Shale (Canada) and its implications for life habits of the animal will be published by Chambers & Brandt (2018).
• A study on the fossil record of early Paleozoic graptoloids and on the factors influencing rates of diversification within this group is published by Foote et al. (2018).
• A redescription of the species Malongitubus kuangshanensis from the Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte (China) is published by Hu et al. (2018), who interpret this taxon as a pterobranch.
• A study reinterpreting the putative Cambrian lobopodian Mureropodia apae as a partial isolated appendage of a member of the genus Caryosyntrips, published by Pates & Daley (2017) is criticized by Gámez Vintaned & Zhuravlev (2018); Pates, Daley & Ortega-Hernández (2018) defend their original conclusions.
• The presence of metameric midgut diverticulae is reported for the first time in the stem-arthropod Fuxianhuia protensa by Ortega-Hernández et al. (2018), who interpret their finding as indicative of a predatory or scavenging ecology of fuxianhuiids.
• Fossils of spindle- or conotubular-shaped animals of uncertain phylogenetic placement are described from the Ordovician Martinsburg Formation (Pennsylvania, United States) by Meyer et al. (2018).
• Evidence of macrofauna living at depths of up to 8 metres below the seabed is reported from the Permian Fort Brown Formation (Karoo Basin, South Africa) by Cobain et al. (2018).
• A study on the chemical composition, morphology and phylogeny of fossil (Cenozoic, Mesozoic and Paleozoic) annelid tubes and tubes formerly thought to have been made by annelids, recovered from hydrothermal vent and cold seep environments, will be published by Georgieva et al. (2018).
• The oldest stromatoporoid–bryozoan reefs reported so far are described from the middle Ordovician Duwibong Formation (South Korea) by Hong et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Alacaris	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Yang et al.	Cambrian Stage 3	Hongjingshao Formation	China	A stem-arthropod related to Chengjiangocaris. The type species is A. mirabilis.
Arnaopora	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson	Devonian	Moniello Formation	Spain	A bryozoan belonging to the group Fenestrata. Genus includes new species A. sotoi.
Austroscolex sinensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Liu et al.	Cambrian (Paibian)		China	A palaeoscolecid.
Axilosoecia	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	In press	Taylor & Brezina	Paleocene (Danian) to early Miocene	Roca Formation	Argentina New Zealand	A bryozoan belonging to the group Tubuliporina and the family Oncousoeciidae. The type species is A. giselae; genus also includes A. mediorubiensis.
Broggeria omaguaca	Sp. nov	Valid	Benedetto, Lavie & Muñoz	Ordovician (Tremadocian)		Argentina	A brachiopod.
Catenagraptus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	VandenBerg	Ordovician (late Floian)		Australia	A graptolite belonging to the group Sinograptina and the family Sigmagraptidae. The type species is C. communalis.
Codositubulus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Gámez Vintaned et al.	Cambrian		Spain	A tubicolous animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is C. grioensis.
Cornulites gondwanensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Gutiérrez-Marco & Vinn	Ordovician (Hirnantian)		Morocco	A member of Cornulitida.
Cupitheca convexa	Sp. nov	Valid	Sun et al.	Cambrian	Manto Formation	China	A member of Hyolitha.
Cyrtiorina houi	Sp. nov	Valid	Zong & Ma	Devonian (Famennian)	Hongguleleng Formation	China	A brachiopod belonging to the group Spiriferida.
Didymograptellus kremastus	Sp. nov	In press	Vandenberg	Ordovician (Floian)		Australia New Zealand Norway United States	A graptolite belonging to the group Dichograptina and the family Pterograptidae.
Kootenayscolex	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Nanglu & Caron	Cambrian	Burgess Shale	Canada (British Columbia)	A polychaete. Genus includes new species K. barbarensis.
Kukulkanus	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Torres-Martínez, Sour-Tovar & Barragán	Permian (Artinskian–Kungurian)	Paso Hondo Formation	Mexico	A brachiopod belonging to the group Productida and the family Productidae. The type species is K. spinosus.
Micrascidites gothicus	Sp. nov	In press	Sagular, Yümün & Meriç	Quaternary		Turkey	A didemnid ascidian.
Minitaspongia	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Carrera et al.	Carboniferous (Tournaisian)	Agua de Lucho Formation	Argentina	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Dictyospongiidae. The type species is M. parvis.
Misunithyris	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Baeza-Carratalá, Pérez-Valera & Pérez-Valera	Middle Triassic (Ladinian)	Siles Formation	Spain	A brachiopod belonging to the group Terebratellidina and to the superfamily Zeillerioidea. The type species is M. goyi.
Monniotia minutula	Sp. nov	In press	Sagular, Yümün & Meriç	Quaternary		Turkey	A didemnid ascidian.
Nogrobs moroccensis	Sp. nov	In press	Schlögl et al.	Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)		Morocco	A serpulid polychaete.
Protohertzina compressa	Sp. nov	Valid	Slater, Harvey & Butterfield	Cambrian (Terreneuvian)	Lontova Formation Voosi Formation	Estonia	A member of the total group of Chaetognatha.
Shaanxiscolex	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Yang et al.	Cambrian Stage 4		China	A palaeoscolecid. The type species is S. xixiangensis.
Stanleycaris	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Pates, Daley & Ortega-Hernández	Cambrian	Stephen Formation Wheeler Formation	Canada (British Columbia) United States (Utah)	A member of Radiodonta belonging to the group Hurdiidae. The type species is S. hirpex. The original description of the taxon appeared in an online supplement to the article published by Caron et al. (2010), making in invalid until it was validated by Pates, Daley & Ortega-Hernández (2018).

Other organisms

Research

• Carbon isotope analyses of 11 microbial fossils from the ∼3,465-million-year-old Apex chert (Australia) are published by Schopf et al. (2018), who interpret two of the five studied species as primitive photosynthesizers, one as an Archaeal methane producer, and two as methane consumers.
• A study on the chemical, isotopic and molecular structural characteristics of the putative multicellular eukaryote fossils from carbonaceous compressions in the 1.63 billion years old Tuanshanzi Formation (China) is published by Qu et al. (2018).
• Bobrovskiy et al. (2018) report molecular fossils from organically preserved specimens of Beltanelliformis, and interpret the fossils as representing large spherical colonies of cyanobacteria.
• A study on the age of the fossil red alga Bangiomorpha pubescens is published by Gibson et al. (2018).
• A study on the positions of fossil specimens in the assemblages of Ediacaran fossils from Mistaken Point (Canada), as well as on their implications for inferring the interactions and associations between the Ediacaran organisms, is published by Mitchell & Butterfield (2018).
• Enigmatic Devonian taxon Protonympha is interpreted as a possible post-Ediacaran vendobiont by Retallack (2018).
• Taxonomic compilation and partial revision of early Eocene deep-sea benthic Foraminifera is presented by Arreguín-Rodríguez et al. (2018).

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Ammobaculoides dhrumaensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Kaminski, Malik & Setoyama	Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)	Dhruma Formation	Saudi Arabia	A foraminifer belonging to the group Lituolida and the family Spiroplectamminidae.
Anhuithrix	Gen. et comb. nov		Pang et al.	Tonian	Liulaobei Formation	China	A member of Cyanobacteria; a new genus for "Omalophyma" magna Steiner (1994).
Baculiphyca brevistipitata	Sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	A macroalga.
Doushantuophyton? laticladus	Sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	A macroalga.
Enteromorphites magnus	Sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	A macroalga.
Epistacheoides bozorgniai	Sp. nov	In press	Falahatgar, Vachard & Sarfi	Carboniferous (Viséan)		Iran	An alga of uncertain phylogenetic placement.
Hemisphaerammina apta	Sp. nov	Valid	McNeil & Neville	Early Eocene		Beaufort Sea	A foraminifer belonging to the order Astrorhizida and the suborder Hemisphaeramminineae.
Konglingiphyton? laterale	Sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	A macroalga.
Lontohystrichosphaera	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Slater, Harvey & Butterfield	Cambrian (Terreneuvian)	Lontova Formation	Estonia	A large ornamented acritarch of unresolved biological affinity, probably an ontogenetically and metabolically active eukaryotic organism rather than a dormant protistan cyst. Genus includes new species L. grandis.
Maxiphyton	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	A macroalga. Genus includes new species M. stipitatum.
Omphalocyclus macroporus ellipsoides	Subsp. nov	Valid	Al Nuaimy	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Aqra Formation	Iraq	A foraminifer.
Omphalocyclus macroporus maukabensis	Subsp. nov	Valid	Al Nuaimy	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Aqra Formation	Iraq	A foraminifer.
Pakupaku	Gen. et sp. nov	In press	Riedman, Porter & Calver	Tonian	Black River Dolomite	Australia	A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species P. kabin.
Palaeoelphidium	Gen. et comb. nov	In press	Consorti, Schlagintweit & Rashidi	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)		Iran Iraq Qatar	A foraminifer belonging to the family Elphidiellidae; a new genus for "Elphidiella" multiscissurata Smout (1955).
Perexiflasca	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Krings, Harper & Taylor	Devonian (Pragian)	Rhynie chert	United Kingdom	A small, chytrid-like organism. Genus includes new species P. tayloriana.
Phyllopsora magna	Sp. nov	Valid	Kaasalainen, Rikkinen & Schmidt in Kaasalainen et al.	Miocene	Dominican amber	Dominican Republic	A lichenized fungus, a species of Phyllopsora.
Retesporangicus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Strullu-Derrien in Strullu-Derrien et al.	Early Devonian	Rhynie chert	United Kingdom	A fungus belonging to the group Blastocladiomycota, of uncertain phylogenetic placement within the latter group. Genus includes new species R. lyonii.
Retiranus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Slater, Harvey & Butterfield	Cambrian (Terreneuvian)	Lontova Formation Voosi Formation	Estonia Lithuania	A sheet-like or funnel-shaped organism of unresolved biological affinity. Genus includes new species R. balticus.
Sinocylindra linearis	Sp. nov	In press	Ye et al.	Ediacaran		China	An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an alga or an exceptionally large prokaryote.
Synsphaeridium parahioense	Sp. nov	Valid	Yin et al.	Cambrian Series 3		India	An acritarch.

General paleontology

Research related to paleontology that either does not concern any of the groups of the organisms listed above, or concerns multiple groups.

• A study on the effect of different forms of primitive photosynthesis on Earth’s early atmospheric chemistry and climate is published by Ozaki et al. (2018).
• A review of the history of the definition of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, aiming to clarify its concept and duration, is published by Servais & Harper (2018).
• A study comparing the extinction events which occurred at the end of the Ordovician and at the end of the Capitanian (middle Permian) will be published by Isozaki & Servais (2018).
• A study on the Devonian strata in the Zachełmie Quarry (Poland) preserving tracks of early tetrapods is published by Qvarnström et al. (2018), who reinterpret the tracks as produced in non-marine environment.
• A study on the atmospheric oxygen levels through the Phanerozoic, evaluating whether Romer's gap and the concurrent gap in the fossil record of insects were caused by low oxygen levels, is published by Schachat et al. (2018).
• A study on the early tetrapod diversity and biogeography in the Carboniferous and early Permian, evaluating the impact of the Carboniferous rainforest collapse on early tetrapod communities, is published by Dunne et al. (2018).
• A study on the environmental changes and faunal turnover in the Karoo Basin (South Africa) during the late Permian will be published by Viglietti, Smith & Rubidge (2018).
• A study on the changes of distribution of terrestrial tetrapods from the Permian (Guadalupian) to the Middle Triassic and on the impact of Permian–Triassic extinction event on the palaeobiogeography of terrestrial tetrapods is published by Bernardi, Petti & Benton (2018).
• A study on the historical shifts in geographical ranges and climatic niches of terrestrial vertebrates (both endotherms and ectotherms) based on data from extant and fossil vertebrates is published by Rolland et al. (2018).
• A study on the age of the dinosaur-bearing Triassic Santa Maria Formation and Caturrita Formation (Brazil) is published by Langer, Ramezani & Da Rosa (2018).
• A study on the patterns of diversity change and extinction selectivity in marine ecosystems during the Triassic–Jurassic interval, especially in relation to the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event, will be published by Dunhill et al. (2018).
• Evidence of sill intrusions which were likely cause of the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event is reported from the Amazonas and Solimões basins (Brazil) by Heimdal et al. (2018).
• A study on the morphological, ecological and behavioural traits linked to the evolution of tail weaponization in extant and fossil amniotes is published by Arbour & Zanno (2018).
• A diverse footprint assemblage dominated by small mammal tracks is described from the Lower Cretaceous Patuxent Formation (Maryland, United States) by Stanford et al. (2018), who name a new mammal ichnotaxon Sederipes goddardensis.
• A study on the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration levels in the Early Cretaceous based on data from specimens of the fossil conifer species Pseudofrenelopsis papillosa is published by Jing & Bainian (2018).
• Evidence of increased crustal production at mid-ocean ridges at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, indicative of magmatism triggered by Chicxulub impact, is presented by Byrnes & Karlstrom (2018).
• A study on the terrestrial climate in northern China at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, indicating the occurrence of a warming caused by the onset of Deccan Traps volcanism and the occurrence of extinctions prior to the Chicxulub impact, is published by Zhang et al. (2018).
• A study on the tropical sea-surface temperatures in the Eocene is published by Evans et al. (2018).
• Faith (2018) evalutes the aridity index, a widely used technique for reconstructing local paleoclimate and water deficits from oxygen isotope composition of fossil mammal teeth, arguing that in some taxa altered drinking behavior (influencing oxygen isotope composition of teeth) might have been caused by dietary change rather than water deficits.
• An extensive, buried sedimentary body deposited by the passage of a megaflood from the western to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in the Pliocene (Zanclean), at the end of the Messinian salinity crisis, is identified in the western Ionian Basin by Micallef et al. (2018).
• A study on the climatic changes in the Lake Tana area in the last 150,000 years and their implications for early modern human dispersal out of Africa is published by Lamb et al. (2018).
• A study on the effects of the Toba supereruption in East Africa is published by Yost et al. (2018), who find no evidence of the erupton causing a volcanic winter in East Africa or a population bottleneck among African populations of anatomically modern humans.