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 1938.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
+...

Dinosaurs edit

Newly named dinosaurs edit

Synapsids edit

Non-mammalian edit

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type strata Location Notes Images

Dinanomodon[2]

Valid

Broom

  South Africa

 
Dinanomodon

Haughtoniana

Valid

Boonstra

Ictidosuchops

Valid

Broom

  South Africa

Pelanomodon[2]

Valid

Broom

  South Africa

 
Pelanomodon

Rubidgea[3]

Valid

Broom

  South Africa

 
Rubidgea

Titanophoneus

Valid

Efremov

  Russia

 
Titanophoneus

Ulemosaurus

Valid

Riabinin

  Russia

 
Ulemosaurus

Mammals edit

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type Strata Location Notes Images

Cooperia[4]

Gen. et. sp. nov.

Jr Homonym

Wood

Eocene

Irdin Manha Formation

  China

The type species is C. totadentata.
A replacement name Forstercooperia given in 1939.
Genus a jr homonym of the nematode Cooperia Ransom

 
Forstercooperia totadentata

Pachycrocuta[5]

Valid

Kretzoi

 
Pachycrocuta

Panthera gombaszoegensis[5]

Sp nov

Valid

Kretzoi

Pleistocene

  Italy

 
Panthera gombaszoegensis

Sarkastodon[6]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Granger

Eocene

Irdin Manha Formation

  China

The type species is S. mongoliensis

 
Sarkastodon mongoliensis

Xenocyon[5]

Valid

Kretzoi

 
Xenocyon

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 Broom, R. (1938). "On two new anomodont genera" (PDF). Annals of the Transvaal Museum: 247–250.
  3. ^ Broom, R. (October 1938). "20. On a New Family of Carnivorous Therapsids from the Karroo Beds of South Africa". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. B108 (3): 527–533. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1938.tb08528.x. ISSN 0370-2774.
  4. ^ Wood, Horace Elmer (December 30, 1938). "Cooperia totadentata, a remarkable rhinoceros from the Eocene of Mongolia". American Museum Novitates (1012): 1–20. hdl:2246/2209.
  5. ^ a b c Kretzoi, M. (1938). "Die Raubtiere von Gombaszög nebst einer Übersicht der Gesamtfauna (Ein Beitrag zur Stratigraphie des Altquartärs)". Annales Musei Nationalis Hungarici. 31. Budapest: Hungarian Natural History Museum: 88–157.
  6. ^ Granger, Walter (April 21, 1938). "A giant oxyaenid from the Upper Eocene of Mongolia. American Museum novitates ; no. 969". American Museum Novitates (969): 1–5. hdl:2246/2199.