1961 in paleontology
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.
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Plants
Angiosperms
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
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Sp nov |
Valid |
Prakash & Barghoorn |
Ginkgo Petrified Forest |
A maple, described from petrified wood |
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sp nov |
Valid |
Tanai & Onoe |
Ningyo-toge Formation |
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Archosauromorphs
Newly named phytosaurs
Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images | |
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A dubious phytosaur; replacement name for Rileya von Huene 1902 (non Ashmead, 1888). |
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Newly named pseudosuchians
Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images | |
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Late Triassic (Rhaetian) |
Dubious non-dinosaurian archosaur; replacement name for Avalonia Seeley, 1898 (non Walcott, 1889). |
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"Dasygnathoides"[4] |
Junior synonym |
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Late Triassic (Carnian) |
A junior synonym of Ornithosuchus. Replacement name for Dasygnathus Huxley, 1877 (non MacLeay, 1819). |
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Newly named dinosaurs
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[5]
Name | Status | Authors | Images | Notes | Images | |
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"Astrodonius"[4] |
Junior synonym. |
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Junior synonym of Astrodon. | |||
Campylodoniscus[4] | Nomen dubium. |
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"Pachysaurops"[6] |
Junior synonym |
Junior objective synonym of Pachysauriscus. |
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Newly named birds
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
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Anas pullulans[7] |
Sp nov. |
valid |
Early Pliocene |
An Anatidae. |
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Eremochen[7] |
Gen et Sp nov. |
valid |
Brodkorb |
Early Pliocene |
An Anatidae, type species E. russelli. |
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Fulica infelix[7] |
Sp. nov. |
valid |
Brodkorb |
Early Pliocene |
A Rallidae. |
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Ocyplonessa shotwelli[7] |
Sp. nov. |
jr synonym |
Brodkorb |
Late Miocene - Early Pliocene |
An Anatidae, |
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Megapaloelodus opsigonus[7] |
Sp. nov. |
valid |
Brodkorb |
Early Pliocene |
A Palaelodidae. |
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Neortyx[9] |
Gen et Sp. nov. |
valid |
Early Pliocene |
An Odontophoridae |
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Phalacrocorax leptopus[7] |
Sp. nov. |
valid |
Brodkorb |
Early Pliocene |
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Puffinus mitchelli[10] |
Sp. nov. |
valid |
Miller |
|
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Puffinus priscus[10] |
Sp. nov. |
valid |
Miller |
|
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References
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Kuhn, O. 1961. Die Familien der rezenten und fossilen Amphibien und Reptilien. Meisenbach, Bamberg: 79 pages.
- Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- Huene, F. von. 1961. Palaontologie und Phylogenie der Niederen Tetrapoden. Nachtrage und Erganzungen. Fischer, Jena: 58 pages.
- Brodkorb, Pierce (1961). "Birds from the Pliocene of Juntura, Oregon". Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences. 24 (3): 169–184.
- 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.
- Holman, J. Alan (1961). "Osteology of Living and Fossil New World Quails". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences. 6 (2): 131–233.
- Miller, Loye Holmes (1961). "Birds from the Miocene of Sharktooth Hill, California". Condor. 63: 399–402. doi:10.2307/1365299.