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 1861.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
+...

Arthropods

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Crustaceans

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Etallonia[2]

Gen. et. comb. nov.

Valid

Oppel

Jurassic

Solnhofen Limestone

  Germany

An axiid, type species is E. longimana, initially described as Magila longimana in 1839.

Pseudastacus[2]

Gen. et. comb. nov.

Valid

Oppel

Jurassic

Solnhofen Limestone

  Germany

A stenochirid, type species is P. pustulosus, initially described as Bolina pustulosa in 1839.

 
Pseudastacus pustulosus

Dinosaurs

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Archaeopteryx[3] Gen. et sp. nov. Valid Hermann von Meyer Kimmeridgian Solnhofen Limestone   Germany Early bird, only known from a single flight feather.[3]  
Echinodon[4] Gen. et sp. nov. Valid Sir Richard Owen[4] Berriasian Purbeck Beds   UK Known from multiple jaw and tooth fossils, originally interpreted as a lacertilian.[4][5]
Teratosaurus Gen. nov Valid Hermann von Meyer   Germany Misidentified teratosaurid archosaur.

Pterosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Location Notes Images

Scaphognathus

Valid

Wagner

An Corvid-like Pterosaur.
 
Scaphognathus.

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. ^ a b A, Oppel (1861). "Die Arten der Gattungen Eryma, Pseudastacus, Magila und Etallonia" (PDF). Jahreshefte des Vereins fur Vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wurttemberg (in German). 17: 355–364.
  3. ^ a b Meyer, H. (1861-09-20). "Archaeopterix lithographica (Vogel-Feder) und Pterydactylus von Solenhofen". Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geognosie, Geologie und Petrefaktenkunde: 678–679.
  4. ^ a b c Owen, R. (1861). Monograph on the Fossil Reptilia of the Wealden and Purbeck Formations. Part V. Order Lacertilia. Palaeontographical Society. pp. 31–39.
  5. ^ Falconer, H. (1861). "Note on the synonymy of the fossil genus Echinodon of Professor Owen". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 8 (46): 341. doi:10.1080/00222936108697425.