1961 in paleontology

List of years in paleontology
In science
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964

Paleontology or palaeontology (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 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

Angiosperms

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acer palaeorufinerve[2]

sp nov

Valid

Tanai & Onoe

Miocene - Pliocene

Ningyo-toge Formation

 Japan

A maple, A member of the Macrantha section.

Archosauromorphs

Newly named phytosaurs

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Rileyasuchus[3]

Nomen dubium.

  • Kuhn

Rhaetian

Magnesian Congolomerate

 England

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

Newly named pseudosuchians

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Avalonianus[3]

Nomen dubium

  • Kuhn

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

Westbury Formation

 England

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

"Dasygnathoides"[3]

Junior synonym

  • Kuhn

Late Triassic (Carnian)

Lossiemouth Sandstone

 Scotland

A junior synonym of Ornithosuchus. Replacement name for Dasygnathus Huxley, 1877 (non MacLeay, 1819).

Newly named dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[4]

Name Status Authors Notes Images
"Astrodonius"[3]

Junior synonym.

  • Kuhn

Junior synonym of Astrodon.

Campylodoniscus[3] Nomen dubium.
  • Kuhn
"Pachysaurops"[5]

Junior synonym

Junior objective synonym of Pachysauriscus.

Newly named birds

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anas pullulans [6]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

An Anatidae.

Eremochen russelli [6]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

An Anatidae, this is the typespecies of the genus.

Fulica infelix [6]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

A Rallidae.

Histrionicus shotwelli [6]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Late Miocene - Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

An Anatidae, originaly described as Ocyplonessa shotwelli Brodkorb, 1961, but placed in Histrionicuslli by Olson & Rasmussen, 2001 [7]

Megapaloelodus opsigonus [6]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

A Phoenicopteriformes, Palaelodidae.

Neortyx peninsularis [8]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

valid

Holman

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

An Odontophoridae.

Phalacrocorax leptopus [6]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formatie

 USA

A Phalacrocoracidae.

Puffinus mitchelli [9]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA

A Procellariidae.

Puffinus priscus [9]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA

A Procellariidae.

References

  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. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuhn, O. 1961. Die Familien der rezenten und fossilen Amphibien und Reptilien. Meisenbach, Bamberg: 79 pages.
  4. Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  5. Huene, F. von. 1961. Palaontologie und Phylogenie der Niederen Tetrapoden. Nachtrage und Erganzungen. Fischer, Jena: 58 pages.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brodkorb, Pierce (1961). "Birds from the Pliocene of Juntura, Oregon". Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences. 24 (3): 169–184.
  7. 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.
  8. Holman, J. Alan (1961). "Osteology of Living and Fossil New World Quails". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Siences. 6 (2): 131–233.
  9. 1 2 Miller, Loye Holmes (1961). "Birds from the Miocene of Sharktooth Hill, California". Condor. 63: 399–402.
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