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1961 in paleontology

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List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
+...

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 1961.

Plants

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Angiosperms

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acer beckianum[2]

Sp nov

Valid

Prakash & Barghoorn

Langhian

Ginkgo Petrified Forest

 USA
 Washington

A maple, described from petrified wood

Acer palaeorufinerve[3]

sp nov

Valid

Tanai & Onoe

Miocene - Pliocene

Ningyo-toge Formation

A maple, A member of the Macrantha section.

Davisicarpum[4]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Chandler

Ypresian

London Clay

 UK
 England

A moon seed relative.
Type species D. gibbosum

Archosauromorphs

[edit]

Phytosaurs

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Rileyasuchus[5]

Gen et comb nov

Nomen dubium.

Kuhn

Rhaetian

 UK
 England

A dubious phytosaur, possibly a chimera;
replacement name for Rileya von Huene 1902 (non Ashmead, 1888).

Pseudosuchians

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Avalonianus[5]

Gen et comb nov

Nomen dubium

Kuhn

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

 UK
 England

Dubious non-dinosaurian archosaur;
replacement name for Avalonia Seeley, 1898 (non Walcott, 1889).

Dasygnathoides[5]

Gen et comb nov

Nomen dubium?

Kuhn

Late Triassic (Carnian)

Lossiemouth Sandstone

 UK
 Scotland

A pseudosuchian of uncertain affinity.[6]
Replacement name for Dasygnathus Huxley, 1877 (non MacLeay, 1819).

Dinosaurs

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Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[7]

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Astrodonius[5]

Gen et comb nov

Junior synonym

Kuhn

Early Cretaceous

Arundel Formation

 USA
 Maryland

Junior synonym of Astrodon.

Astrodon johnstoni

Campylodoniscus[5]

Gen et comb nov

Nomen dubium.

Kuhn

Late Cretaceous

Bajo Barreal Formation

 Argentina

A possible titanosaur
Replacement name for "Campylodon" von Huen 1929

Campylodoniscus

Pachysaurops[8]

Gen et sp nov

Junior synonym

von Huene

Late Triassic

 Germany

Junior synonym of Pachysauriscus.

Birds

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anas pullulans[9]

Sp nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae.

Eremochen[9]

Gen et Sp nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae, type species E. russelli.

Fulica infelix[9]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Rallidae.

Ocyplonessa shotwelli[9]

Sp. nov.

jr synonym

Brodkorb

Late Miocene - Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae,
moved to Histrionicuslli shotwelli by Olson & Rasmussen, 2001[10]

Megapaloelodus opsigonus[9]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Palaelodidae.

Neortyx[11]

Gen et Sp. nov.

valid

Holman

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Odontophoridae
Type species N. peninsularis

Phalacrocorax leptopus[9]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Phalacrocoracidae.

Puffinus mitchelli[12]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA
( California)

A Procellariidae.

Puffinus priscus[12]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA
( California)

A Procellariidae.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Prakash, U.; Barghoorn, E. S. (1961). "Miocene fossil woods from the Columbia Basalts of central Washington". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 42 (2): 165–203. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.19013. S2CID 127699009.
  3. ^ Wolfe, J.A.; Tanai, T. (1987). "Systematics, Phylogeny, and Distribution of Acer (maples) in the Cenozoic of Western North America". Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Series 4, Geology and Mineralogy. 22 (1): 1–246.
  4. ^ Manchester, S.R. (1994). "Fruits and Seeds of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds Flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon". Palaeontographica Americana. 58: 30–31.
  5. ^ a b c d e Kuhn, O. 1961. Die Familien der rezenten und fossilen Amphibien und Reptilien. Meisenbach, Bamberg: 79 pages.
  6. ^ von Baczko, M; Ezcurra, Martin (2016-10-17). "Taxonomy of the archosaur Ornithosuchus: reassessing Ornithosuchus woodwardi Newton, 1894 and Dasygnathoides longidens (Huxley 1877)". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 106 (3): 199–205. doi:10.1017/S1755691016000104. hdl:11336/49897. S2CID 88658892.
  7. ^ Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ Huene, F. von. 1961. Palaontologie und Phylogenie der Niederen Tetrapoden. Nachtrage und Erganzungen. Fischer, Jena: 58 pages.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Brodkorb, Pierce (1961). "Birds from the Pliocene of Juntura, Oregon". Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences. 24 (3): 169–184.
  10. ^ Olson, Storrs L.; Rasmussen, Pamela C. (2001). "Miocene and Pliocene Birds from the Lee Creek Mine, North Carolina". Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology. 90: 233–365.
  11. ^ Holman, J. Alan (1961). "Osteology of Living and Fossil New World Quails". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences. 6 (2): 131–233.
  12. ^ a b Miller, Loye Holmes (1961). "Birds from the Miocene of Sharktooth Hill, California". Condor. 63 (5): 399–402. doi:10.2307/1365299. JSTOR 1365299.