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.

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

Plants

Angiosperms
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.

Archosauromorphs

Newly named phytosaurs
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Rileyasuchus[4]

Nomen dubium.
  • Kuhn

Rhaetian

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[4]

Nomen dubium
  • Kuhn

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

Dubious non-dinosaurian archosaur; replacement name for Avalonia Seeley, 1898 (non Walcott, 1889).
"Dasygnathoides"[4]

Junior synonym
  • Kuhn

Late Triassic (Carnian)

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.[5]

Name Status Authors Images Notes Images
"Astrodonius"[4]

Junior synonym.
  • Kuhn

Junior synonym of Astrodon.

Campylodoniscus[4] Nomen dubium.
  • Kuhn
Campylodoniscus
"Pachysaurops"[6]

Junior synonym

Junior objective synonym of Pachysauriscus.

Newly named birds
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anas pullulans[7]

Sp nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae.

Eremochen[7]

Gen et Sp nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae, type species E. russelli.

Fulica infelix[7]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Rallidae.

Ocyplonessa shotwelli[7]

Sp. nov.

jr synonym

Brodkorb

Late Miocene - Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Anatidae,
moved to Histrionicuslli shotwelli by Olson & Rasmussen, 2001[8]

Megapaloelodus opsigonus[7]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Palaelodidae.

Neortyx[9]

Gen et Sp. nov.

valid

Holman

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

An Odontophoridae
Type species N. peninsularis

Phalacrocorax leptopus[7]

Sp. nov.

valid

Brodkorb

Early Pliocene

Juntura Formation

 USA
( Oregon)

A Phalacrocoracidae.

Puffinus mitchelli[10]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA
( California)

A Procellariidae.

Puffinus priscus[10]

Sp. nov.

valid

Miller

Middle Miocene

Temblor Formation

 USA
( California)

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. 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.
  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. Kuhn, O. 1961. Die Familien der rezenten und fossilen Amphibien und Reptilien. Meisenbach, Bamberg: 79 pages.
  5. Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  6. Huene, F. von. 1961. Palaontologie und Phylogenie der Niederen Tetrapoden. Nachtrage und Erganzungen. Fischer, Jena: 58 pages.
  7. Brodkorb, Pierce (1961). "Birds from the Pliocene of Juntura, Oregon". Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences. 24 (3): 169–184.
  8. 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.
  9. Holman, J. Alan (1961). "Osteology of Living and Fossil New World Quails". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences. 6 (2): 131–233.
  10. Miller, Loye Holmes (1961). "Birds from the Miocene of Sharktooth Hill, California". Condor. 63: 399–402. doi:10.2307/1365299.
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