1841 in paleontology

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
List of years in paleontology
In science
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844

Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") 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 mankind has 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 1841.

Dinosaurs

  • On June 30, Sir Richard Owen presents his findings regarding some enormous bones that the Reverend William Buckland had acquired at an earlier date. He names the new genus to which these bones belong "Cetiosaurus." This event marks the first scientific description of a sauropod.[2]
  • Owen presents his treatise on British fossil reptiles to the British Association in August. This treatise marks the creation of a taxon called "Dinosauria."[2]

Newly named dinosaurs

Name Status Authors Notes

Cardiodon

Nomen dubium

Sir Richard Owen,

Possible subjective synonym of Cetiosaurus

Cetiosaurus

Valid

Sir Richard Owen,

Cladeiodon

Misidentification

Sir Richard Owen,

Dubious non-dinosaurian archosaur.

Rhopalodon

Misidentification

Fischer von Waldheim

Misidentified therapsid.

Suchosaurus

Nomen dubium

Sir Richard Owen

Possible subjective synonym of Baryonyx.

Plesiosaurs

New taxa

Name Status Authors Notes

Pliosaurus

Valid

Owen

Polyptychodon

Valid

Owen

"Thaumatosaurus"

Valid

Meyer

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name Status Authors Discovery year Age Unit Location Notes Images

Rhopalodon

Valid

Fischer

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.