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1874 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.[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 1874.

Dinosaurs

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New taxa

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Taxon Novelty Status Author(s) Age Unit Location Notes Images
Agathaumas milo[3] Sp. nov. Nomen dubium Cope Maastrichtian Laramie Formation Colorado Described as a synonym of Hadrosaurus occidentalis
Cionodon[4] Gen. et sp. nov. Nomen dubium Cope Maastrichtian Laramie Formation Colorado A hadrosaurid. Misspelled as Cinodon in original publication due to proofreader[3]
Craterosaurus Gen. et sp. nov. Nomen dubium Seeley Aptian Potton Sands England A dubious stegosaur
Hadrosaurus mirabilis[3] Comb. nov. Nomen dubium Cope Campanian Judith River Formation Montana A new combination for Trachodon mirabilis
Hadrosaurus occidentalis[3] Comb. nov. Nomen dubium Cope Maastrichtian Lance Formation Wyoming A new combination for Thespesius occidentalis
Ischyrosaurus manseli Gen. nov. Preoccupied Hulke Kimmeridgian Kimmeridge Clay Formation England Preoccupied by Edward Drinker Cope, 1869. Later named Ornithopsis manseli
Morinosaurus Gen. et sp. nov Nomen dubium Sauvage Kimmeridgian Boulogne-sur-Mer France A dubious sauropod
Polyonax[3] Gen. et sp. nov. Nomen dubium Cope Maastrichtian Laramie Formation Colorado A ceratopsid

Ichthyosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Ophthalmosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

Oxford Clay Formation

UK

An ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur.

Plesiosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Colymbosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Kimmeridge Clay

UK

A cryptoclidid, new genus for "Plesiosaurus" megadeirus Seeley, 1869

Eretmosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Blue Lias

UK

A member of Microcleididae; new genus for "Plesiosaurus" rugosus Owen, 1840.

Mauisaurus

Nomen dubium

Hector

Late Cretaceous (late Campanian-Maastrichtian)

Conway Formation

New Zealand

An elasmosaurid.

Muraenosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

Oxford Clay

UK

A cryptoclidid.

Rhomaleosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Early Jurassic (Toarcian)

Whitby Mudstone Formation

UK

A rhomaleosaurid; new genus for "Plesiosaurus" cramptoni Carte and Bailey, 1863

Pterosaurs

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Newly named pterosaurs

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Coloborhynchus

Valid

Owen

Early Cretaceous (Valanginian)

Wadhurst Clay Formation

UK

A member of Ornithocheiridae.

Criorhynchus

Jr. synonym

Owen

Jr. synonym of Ornithocheirus.

Squamates

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Newly named mosasaurs

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Taniwhasaurus Valid Hector Late Campanian Conway Formation

A tylosaurine mosasaurid.

Taniwhasaurus oweni

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. ^ Owen, R. (1874). Monograph on the Fossil Reptilia of the Wealden and Purbeck Formations. Supplement No. V. Dinosauria (Iguanodon). Palaeontographical Society. pp. 1–18.
  3. ^ a b c d e Cope, E.F. (1874). "Review of the Vertebrata of the Cretaceous Period found west of the Mississippi River". Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories. First Series. 2: 3–48.
  4. ^ Cope, E.F. (1874). "Report on the stratigraphy and Pliocene vertebrate paleontology of northern Colorado". Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories. 1 (1): 9–22.