1851 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 1851.
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Arthropods
    
    Insects
    
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
 Sp. nov  | 
 jr synonym  | 
 A Limoniid cranefly,  | 
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 Sp. nov  | 
 jr synonym  | 
 A Limoniid cranefly,  | 
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 Sp. nov  | 
 jr synonym  | 
 A Limoniid cranefly,  | 
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Archosauromorphs
    
    Newly named phytosaurs
    
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
 Gen et sp nov  | 
 Lea  | 
 Late Triassic (Norian)  | 
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Plesiosaurs
    
    Newly named plesiosaurs
    
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
 Valid  | 
 Leidy  | 
 Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)  | 
 An elasmosaurid.  | ||||
| 
 Valid  | 
 Leidy  | 
 Late Cretaceous  | 
 A dubious elasmosaurid.  | ||||
References
    
- 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.
 - 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.
 - Lea, I. 1851. Remarks on the bones of a fossil reptilian quadruped. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 5: pp. 171-172.
 

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