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1851 in paleontology

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List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
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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 1851.

Arthropods

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Insects

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Toxorhina brevipalpa[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

 Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia brevipalpa

Elephantomyia brevipalpa

Toxorhina longirostris[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

 Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia longirostris

Elephantomyia longirostris

Toxorhina pulchella[2]

Sp. nov

jr synonym

Loew

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

 Europe

A Limoniid cranefly,
jr syn of Elephantomyia pulchella

Elephantomyia pulchella

Archosauromorphs

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Newly named phytosaurs

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Clepsysaurus[3]

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium

Lea

Late Triassic (Norian)

Passaic Formation

 United States

Dubious genus phytosaur.

Plesiosaurs

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Newly named plesiosaurs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes

Cimoliasaurus

Valid

Leidy

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Navesink Formation

 United States

An elasmosaurid.

Discosaurus

Valid

Leidy

Late Cretaceous

 United States

A dubious elasmosaurid.

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 c Kania, I (2015). "Subfamily Limoniinae Speiser, 1909 (Diptera, Limoniidae) from Baltic Amber (Eocene): The Genus Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860". PLOS ONE. 10 (2): 1–25. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1017434K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117434. PMC 4338262. PMID 25706127.
  3. ^ Lea, I. 1851. Remarks on the bones of a fossil reptilian quadruped. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 5: pp. 171-172.