1851 in paleontology
| List of years in paleontology |
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| (table) |
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 1851.
Arthropods
[edit]Archosauromorphs
[edit]Pterosaurs
[edit]- Two pterosaurs sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins were put on display in England's Crystal Palace. These were the first three-dimensional life-size restorations of pterosaurs.[2]
Other archosauromorphs
[edit]New taxa
[edit]| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gen et sp nov |
Lea |
Late Triassic (Norian) |
Plesiosaurs
[edit]Newly named plesiosaurs
[edit]| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Valid |
Leidy |
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) |
An elasmosaurid. | ||||
|
Valid |
Leidy |
Late Cretaceous |
A dubious elasmosaurid. | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ Wellnhofer, Peter (2008). "A short history of pterosaur research". Zitteliana B. 28: 7–19.
- ^ Lea, I. 1851. Remarks on the bones of a fossil reptilian quadruped. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 5: pp. 171-172.