1846 in paleontology
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Paleontology or palaeontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") 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 1846.
Archosauromorphs
New taxa
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Preoccupied |
Plieninger |
Middle Triassic (Ladinian) |
The name was also preoccupied by the well known species of prehistoric cat. The genus was later renamed Zanclodon. | ||||
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Valid |
Plieninger |
Middle Triassic (Ladinian) |
A non-dinosaurian archosaur; replacement name for Smilodon Plieninger, 1846 (non Lund 1842). | ||||
Pterosaurs
New taxa
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| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Owen |
Middle Cretaceous (Turonian) |
Unnamed unit in Chalk Group |
A dubious pterosaur. | ||||
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Valid |
von Meyer |
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian) |
A rhamphorhynchid pterosaur. | ||||
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Sauropterygians
Newly named plesiosaurs
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Valid |
Stutchbury |
Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian) |
A rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur; type species of Atychodracon Smith, 2015. |
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