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 1862.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
+...

Dinosaurs edit

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Dimodosaurus Nomen dubium
  • Pidancet
  • Chopard
Possible subjective synonym of Plateosaurus.
Griphornis Gen. nov. Nomen rejectum Sir Richard Owen vide Woodward Kimmeridgian Solnhofen Limestone   Germany Rejected in favor of Archaeopteryx.
Griphosaurus[2] Gen. nov. Nomen rejectum Andreas Wagner Kimmeridgian Solnhofen Limestone   Germany Named for a skeleton with feathers considered by Wagner to represent a reptile unrelated to the origin of birds, specifically opposing Darwinian evolution and Hermann von Meyer's taxon Archaeopteryx.[2]

Paleontologists edit

References edit

  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. ^ a b Wagner, A. (April 1862). "On a new Fossil Reptile supposed to be furnished with Feathers". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 9 (52): 261–267. doi:10.1080/00222936208681227.
  3. ^ Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.