1846 in paleontology

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 1846.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849

Archosauromorphs

New taxa
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes

Smilodon[2]

Preoccupied

Plieninger

Middle Triassic (Ladinian)

Erfurt Formation

The name was also preoccupied by the well known species of prehistoric cat. The genus was later renamed Zanclodon.

Zanclodon

Valid

Plieninger

Middle Triassic (Ladinian)

Erfurt Formation

A non-dinosaurian archosaur; replacement name for Smilodon Plieninger, 1846 (non Lund 1842).

Pterosaurs

New taxa
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Cimoliornis

Nomen dubium

Owen

Middle Cretaceous (Turonian)

Unnamed unit in Chalk Group

A dubious pterosaur.

Rhamphorhynchus

Valid

von Meyer

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian)

Solnhofen Formation

A rhamphorhynchid pterosaur.
Rhamphorhynchus

Sauropterygians

Newly named plesiosaurs
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Plesiosaurus megacephalus

Valid

Stutchbury

Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Blue Lias

A rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur; type species of Atychodracon Smith, 2015.

References
  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. Plieninger, T. 1846. Ueber ein neues Sauriergenus. Jahreschefte Verein fur Vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wurttemberg 2.
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