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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 2002.
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sp nov |
Valid |
Mustoe |
McAbee site, Kamloops Group |
|||||
Sp nov |
Valid |
McKown, Stockey, & Schweger |
Ch'ijee's Bluff, Bluefish Basin |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sp nov |
Valid |
Poinar & Brown |
A species of Hymenaea, producer of Mexican amber |
|||||
Trifurcatua flabellata[5] |
Gen. et sp. nov. |
Valid |
Mohr & Rydin |
putative monocot |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sp nov. |
Jr synonym |
Makarkin, Archibald, Oswald |
A drepanepterygine brown lacewing. |
|||||
Sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A dolichoderine ant. |
|||||
Sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Middle Eocene |
Baltic amber |
A Dolichoderine ant |
|||
Sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Middle Eocene |
Baltic amber |
A Dolichoderine ant |
|||
Eoformica globularis[8] |
Sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A ant of uncertain placement. |
||||
Eoformica magna[8] |
Sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A ant of uncertain placement. |
||||
Fibla (Reisserella) cerdanica[10] |
Comb nov |
Valid |
(Nel) |
Late Miocene |
An inocellid snakefly, |
|||
Formica gustawi[11] |
Sp nov |
valid |
Dlussky |
Middle Eocene |
Baltic amber |
A formicine ant |
||
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
An ant form genus of uncertain placement. |
|||||
Kohlsimyrma[8] |
Gen et 2 sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
An ant form genus of uncertain placement. |
||||
Mianeuretus eocenicus[8] |
Sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
An aneuretine ant |
||||
Myrmecites[8] |
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A myrmicine ant form genus. |
||||
Pachycondyla labandeirai[8] |
Sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A ponerine ant. |
||||
Ponerites[8] |
Gen, 3 sp et 1 comb nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A ponerine ant form genus. |
||||
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Dlusskys & Rasnitsyn |
A dolichoderine ant form genus |
|||||
Solenopsites[8] |
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Dlussky & Rasnitsyn |
A myrmicine ant form genus. |
||||
sp. nov |
valid |
Makarkin, Archibald, Oswald |
first description of fossil Wesmaelius |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et comb nov |
valid |
Bardashev, Weddige, & Ziegler |
An eopolygnathid conodont, |
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[13]
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Fraser, Padian, Walkden, & Davis |
late Triassic |
A possible chimera |
||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Coria & Calvo |
Late Cretaceous |
An Iguanodont |
||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
An Abelisaurid |
||||||
gen nov |
Novacek |
Officially named Byronosaurus |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
An ankylosaurid |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Czerkas, Zhang, Li, & Li |
Jr synonym of Microraptor |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Zhang, Zhou, Xu, & Wang |
jr synonym of Scansoriopteryx |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Xu et al. |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Hutt |
Jr synonym of Eotyrannus |
||||||
Rey |
Officially named Huaxiagnathus in 2004 |
|||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Xu, Wang, & Chang |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
|
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Kellner & Campos |
Bauru-type red conglomerate sandstone |
An Abelisaurid |
||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Czerkas & Yuan |
Possible junior synonym of Epidendrosaurus |
|||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Xu et al. |
||||||
Sphaerotholus[28] | Gen. 2 sp. nov | Valid | Williamson & Carr | Late Cretaceous | Kirtland Formation, Hell Creek Formation | United States
( Montana, New Mexico) |
A pachycephalosaurine; originally described with two species, S. goodwini and S. buchholtzae. |
Name | Status | Novelty | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valid |
Gen. et Sp. nov. |
Mayr & Smith |
Borgloon Formation |
A palaelodid |
||||
Aegialornis germanicus [30] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Mlíkovský |
|||||
Archaeotrogon nocturnus [30] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Mlíkovský |
|||||
Athene trinacriae [31] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Pavia & Mourer-Chauviré |
A strigid owl. |
||||
Belonopterus downsi [32] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Campbell, Jr. |
|||||
Camusia quintanai [33] |
Valid |
Gen. et Sp. nov. |
Seguí |
Vroeg-Midden |
A gruid crane. |
|||
?Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Hou, Zhou, Zhang, & Gu |
||||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Hope |
A cimolopterygid |
|||||
Collocalia manuoi [37] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
An apodid swiftlet. |
|||||
Colymboides belgicus [29] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Mayr & Smith |
Borgloon Formation |
A gaviid. |
|||
Delphinornis arctowskii [38] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Myrcha et al. |
|||||
Delphinornis gracilis [38] |
Valid |
Comb. nov. |
(Wiman) |
A spheniscid penguin |
||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Galton & Martin |
||||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
An enantiornithelian, |
||||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Rinderknecht & Noriega |
An anhingid |
|||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp. nov. |
Cave deposits |
An Accipitridae |
|||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Chiappe, Lamb Jr., & Ericson |
Early-Middle Campanian |
An Euenantiornithalean |
||||
Hesperornis bairdi [44] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Martin & Lim |
|||||
Hesperornis chowi [44] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Martin & Lim |
|||||
Hesperornis macdonaldi [44] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Martin & Lim |
|||||
Hesperornis mengeli [44] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Martin & Lim |
|||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
A cuculid cuckoo |
||||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp. nov. |
Zhou & Zhang |
A jeholornithid |
|||||
Jiliniornis [48] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Hou & Ericson |
A charadriid |
||||
jr synonym |
Gen et 2 Sp. nov. |
Hou, Zhou, Zhang, & Gu |
A confuciusornithid |
|||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Ji et al. |
An avialaen |
|||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Subrecent |
A larid gull. |
|||||
Marambiornis [38] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Myrcha et al. |
A penguin |
||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Early Middle Eocene |
A sulid |
|||||
Mesetaornis [38] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Myrcha et al. |
A penguin. |
||||
Miodytes serbicus [53] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Dimitreijevich, Gál, & Kessler |
Early Miocene |
Valjevo Basin |
|||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Parris & Hope |
Early Danian |
A possible torotigid |
||||
Oligosylphe [29] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Mayr & Smith |
Borgloon Formation |
A sylphornithid |
|||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Jiufutang Formation |
An Omvivoropterygidae |
|||||
Oxyura doksana [30] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Mlíkovský |
Early Miocene |
A possible sea duck. |
|||
Paraortygoides radagasti [56] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Dyke * Gulas |
A gallinuloidid |
||||
Parasarcoramphus [57] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
A cathartid. Type species P. milneedwardsi |
|||||
Plesiocathartes geiselensis [58] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
||||||
Plesiocathartes kelleri[59] |
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
||||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
|||||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Zhou & Zhang |
A omnivoropterygid |
|||||
Septentrogon [63] |
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
Kristoffersen |
A trogonid |
||||
valid |
Gen et sp nov. |
Ji et al. |
An Avialae. Type species S. sinensis |
|||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Stucchi |
||||||
Valid |
Gen et sp nov. |
Tremembé Formation |
A teratorn |
|||||
jr synonym |
Sp. nov. |
Cave deposits |
A teratorn |
|||||
Valid |
Sp. nov. |
Campbell & Stenger |
Late Pleistocene |
A teratorn |
||||
Valid |
Gen et Sp nov. |
A presbyornithid |
||||||
Tyto balearica cyrneichnusae [71] |
Valid |
Subsp. nov. |
Louchart |
Late Pleistocene |
A tytonid owl subspecies. |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Druckenmiller |
A polycotylid |
|||||
Gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Cruickshank & Fordyce |
An aristonectine elasmosaurid |
|||||
Gen et comb nov |
Valid |
Gasparini et al. |
A cryptoclidid |
In October, a partial Mesadacylus wing was discovered in the Kingsview Quarry of Colorado.[72] This find marks the first time that a Morrison pterosaur has been found at more than one site in the formation.[72]
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Dalla Vecchia, Wild, & Reitner |
Seefelder Beds |
|||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Buffetaut, Grigorescu, & Csiki |
possibly a jr synonym of Quetzalcoatlus |
|||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Wang & Zhou |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Varricchio |
At first thought to be a bird, but subsequently reinterpreted as a pterosaur, likely a member of Ornithocheiroidea.[74] |
|||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Czerkas & Ji |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Kellner & Campos |
||||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Czerkas & Mickelson |
Morrison Formation, Utah |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gen et sp nov |
Jr synonym |
Novas et al. |
Genus synonymized with Taniwhasaurus in 2007 |
|||||
Sp nov |
Valid |
Christiansen & Bonde |
A large mosasaur |
Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gen nov |
Valid |
Kammerer & Sidor |
Upper Permian |
A dinocephalian. Replacement name for Criocephalus Broom, 1928, preoccupied by Criocephalus Mulsant 1839. |
||||
Gen nov |
Valid |
Maisch |
A dicynodont. New genus for "Platycyclops" crassus Broom, 1948. |
|||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Maisch |
Beaufort Group |
A dicynodont. The type species is Kwazulusaurus shakai. |
||||
Lanthanocephalus[80] |
gen et sp nov |
Preoccupied |
Modesto, Rubidge, & Welman |
Koonap Formation |
Genus preoccupied by Lanthanocephalus Williams & Starmer, 2000, moved to the replacement Lanthanostegus in 2003 |
|||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Tatarinov |
Middle Triassic |
A cynodont. The type species is Neotrirachodon expectatus. |
||||
gen et sp nov |
Valid |
Maisch |
A gorgonopsian. The type species is Ruhuhucerberus terror. |
|||||
gen nov |
Valid |
Maisch |
A gorgonopsian. New genus for "Gorgonognathus" maximus von Huene, 1950. |