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.
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Arthropods
editCrustaceans
edit| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
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Gen. et. comb. nov. |
Valid |
Oppel |
An axiid, type species is E. longimana, initially described as Magila longimana in 1839. |
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Gen. et. comb. nov. |
Valid |
Oppel |
A stenochirid, type species is P. pustulosus, initially described as Bolina pustulosa in 1839. |
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Dinosaurs
edit| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeopteryx[3] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Hermann von Meyer | Kimmeridgian | Solnhofen Limestone |  Germany
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Early bird, only known from a single flight feather.[3] | 
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| Echinodon[4] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Sir Richard Owen[4] | Berriasian | Purbeck Beds |  UK
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Known from multiple jaw and tooth fossils, originally interpreted as a lacertilian.[4][5] | |
| Teratosaurus | Gen. nov | Valid | Hermann von Meyer | Germany
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Misidentified teratosaurid archosaur. |
Pterosaurs
editNew taxa
edit| Name | Status | Authors | Location | Notes | Images | |
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Valid |
Wagner |
An Corvid-like Pterosaur. |  | |||
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.