1878 in paleontology

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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 1878.

Contents

Plants

Angiosperms

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationSynonymized taxaNotesImages

Acer aequidentatum [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A maple species.

Acer bolanderi [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A maple species.

Aralia angustiloba [3]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a spikenard species.
Moved to Platanophyllum angustiloba in 1941. [4]
Moved to Macginitiea angustiloba in 1986. [5]

Aralia whitneyi [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a spikenard species.
Moved to Platanophyllum whitneyi in 1941. [4]
Moved to Macginitiea whitneyi in 1986. [5]

Betula aequalis [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a birch relative.
Moved to Acalypha aequalis in 1941. [4]

Castanopsis chrysophylloides [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an chinquapin species.
Moved to Tabernaemontana chrysophylloides in 1941. [4]

Cercocarpus antiquus [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A mountain mahogany species.

Cornus kelloggii [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A dogwood species.

Cornus ovalis [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A dogwood species.

Fagus pseudoferruginea [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A beech tree species.

Ficus microphylla [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A fig species.
A jr homonym of Ficus microphylla Salzm. ex Miq., 1853
Moved to replacement name Ficus mensae in 1910. [6]

Ficus sordida [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a fig species.
Moved to Phytocrene sordida in 1941. [4]

Ilex prunifolia [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A holly species.

Juglans californica [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a walnut species.
A jr homonym of Juglans californica S. Watson, 1875
Moved to Juglans leonis in 1908. [7]
Moved to Canarium leonis in 1952. [8]

Juglans egregia [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a walnut species.
Moved to Carya egregia in 1936. [9] Moved to Gordonia egregia in 1941. [4]

Juglans laurinea [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a walnut species.
Moved to Phyllites laurineus in 1941. [4] Moved to Sageretia laurinea in 1977. [10]

Juglans oregoniana [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene?

Mascall Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon

A walnut species.

Liquidambar californica [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A sweet gum species.

Magnolia californica [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A Magnolia species.

Magnolia lanceolata [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A Magnolia species.
A jr homonym of Magnolia lanceolata Link, 1829
Moved to replacement name Magnolia dayana in 1910. [6]

Persea pseudocarolinensis [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An avacado species.

Platanus appendiculata [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A sycamore species.

Platanus dissecta [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A sycamore species.

Quercus boweniana [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus convexa [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an oak species.
Moved to Castanopsis convexa in 1935. [11] Moved to Chrysolepis convexa in 1985. [12]

Quercus distincta [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus elaenoides [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an oak species.
Moved to Nyssa elaenoides in 1944. [13]

Quercus goeppertii [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an oak species.
A jr homonym of Quercus goeppertii O. Weber, 1852
Moved to replacement name Alnus operia in 1941. [4]

Quercus nevadensis [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus pseudochrysophylla [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus pseudolyrata [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus transgressus [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An oak species.

Quercus voyana [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an oak species.
Moved to Hamamelites voyana in 1941. [4]

Rhus boweniana [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A sumac relative.

Rhus dispersa [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a sumac species.
Moved to Quercus dispersa in 1939. [14]

Rhus metopioides [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A sumac relative.
A jr homonym of Rhus metopioides Turcz., 1858
Moved to replacement name Rhus mensae in 1941. [7]

Rhus mixta [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a sumac species.
Moved to Koelreuteria mixta in 1946. [15]

Rhus myricaefolia [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a sumac species.
Moved to Thouinopsis myricaefolia in 1941. [4]

Rhus typhinoides [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a sumac species.
Moved to Carya typhinoides in 1944. [13]

Sabalites californicus [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A palm relative.

Salix californica [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A willow species.

Salix elliptica [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a willow species.
A jr homonym of Salix elliptica Schleich. ex Ser., 1815
Moved to replacement name Salix merriamii in 1908. [7]

Ulmus affinis [2]

sp nov

jr homonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An elm species.
A jr homonym of Ulmus affinis Massal., 1853

Ulmus californica [2]

sp nov

valid

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

An elm species.

Ulmus pseudofulva [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as an elm species.
Moved to Chaetoptelea pseudofulva in 1941. [4]

Zanthoxylum diversifolium [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a Sichuan pepper species.
Moved to Fagara diversifolia in 1908. [7]

Zizyphus microphyllus [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

A jujube species.
A jr homonym of Zizyphus microphyllus Roxb., 1824
Synonymized into Cercidiphyllum piperoides in 1952. [8]

Ziziphus piperoides [2]

sp nov

jr synonym

Lesquereux

Eocene
Ypresian

Ione Formation

Flag of the United States.svg US
Flag of California.svg California

First described as a jujube species.
Moved to Cercidiphyllum piperoides in 1952. [8]
Moved to Tetracentron piperoides in 1977 [10]

Tetracentron piperoides Tetracentron piperoides Hypotype USNM 43288.png
Tetracentron piperoides

Arthropods

Newly named arachnids

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Aranea columbiae [16]

Sp nov

jr synonym

Scudder

?Ypresian

Quesnel
?Fraser Formation

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia

An orb-web spider egg sack ichnogenus.
moved to Araneaovoius columbiae (2011). [17]

Araneaovoius columbiae
(1890 illustration Araneaovoius columbiae Scudder 1890 pl2 Fig1.png
Araneaovoius columbiae
(1890 illustration

Newly named insects

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Bothromicromus [16]

Gen et Sp nov

valid

Scudder

?Ypresian

Quesnel
?Fraser Formation

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia

A possibly megalomine [18] hemerobiid lacewing.
Type species B. lachlani

Bothromicromus lachlani
(1890 illustration) Bothromicromus lachlani Scudder 1890 pl2 Fig8.png
Bothromicromus lachlani
(1890 illustration)

Euschistus antiquus [16]

Sp nov

jr synonym

Scudder

?Ypresian

Quesnel
?Fraser Formation

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia

A shield bug
moved to Teleoschistus antiquus (1890). [19]

Teleoschistus antiquus
(1890 illustration) Teleoschistus antiquus Scudder 1890 pl2 Fig18.png
Teleoschistus antiquus
(1890 illustration)

Holcorpa [20]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Scudder

Eocene
Priabonian

Florissant Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado

A holcorpid scorpionfly
The type species is H. maculosa.

Holcorpa maculosa Holcorpa maculosa allotype AMNH-FI-18887 NPS img1.jpg
Holcorpa maculosa

Lachnus quesneli [16]

Sp nov

jr synonym

Scudder

?Ypresian

Quesnel
?Fraser Formation

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia

An aphidoid of uncertain placement
Moved to Sbenaphis quesneli (1890). [19]

Sbenaphis quesneli
(1890 illustration) Sbenaphis quesneli Scudder 1890 pl2 Fig4.png
Sbenaphis quesneli
(1890 illustration)

Sciara deperdita [16]

Sp nov

valid

Scudder

?Ypresian

Quesnel
?Fraser Formation

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia

A sciarine dark-winged fungus gnat.

Sciara deperdita
(1890 illustration) Sciara deperdita 1890 pl3 Fig17.png
Sciara deperdita
(1890 illustration)

Archosauromorphs

O. W. Lucas recovers more material which would be referred to Laelaps trihedrodon from Morrison Formation strata near Garden Park, Colorado. [21]

Newly named pseudosuchians

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Symphyrophus

Nomen dubium

Cope

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA

Possible synonym of Amphicotylus . [22]

Newly named dinosaurs

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Amphicoelias fragillimus

Sp nov

Jr. synonym

Marsh

Late Jurassic (Tithonian)

Unknown

Flag of the United States.svg USA

Moved to Maraapunisaurus fragillimus (2018). [23]

Maraapunisaurus fragillimus Maraapunisaurus fragillimus holotype illustration.png
Maraapunisaurus fragillimus

Brachyrophus

Gen nov

jr synonym

Cope

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA

Junior synonym of Camptosaurus .

Camptosaurus dispar Camptosaurus dispar skeleton.jpg
Camptosaurus dispar

Creosaurus

Gen nov

Junior synonym

Marsh

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA

Synonym of Allosaurus fragilis .

Allosaurus fragilis Allosaurus SDNHM.jpg
Allosaurus fragilis

Diplodocus

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Marsh

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA

A diplodocine diplodocid.
Type species D. longus

Diplodocus carnegii CM Diplodocus.jpg
Diplodocus carnegii

Epanterias

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium

Cope

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado

An allosaurid theropod.
Possibly a synonym of Allosaurus .
Type species E. amplexus

Hypsirhophus

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium

Cope

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado

possibly a synonym of Stegosaurus .
Type species H. discurus

Laosaurus

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium

Marsh

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado

A dubious Neornithischian of uncertain placement.

Laosaurus Laosaurus celer pubis.png
Laosaurus

Morosaurus

Gen et sp nov

Jr. synonym

Marsh

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)

Morrison Formation

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado

Junior synonym of Camarasaurus .
Type species M. grandis

Camarasaurus lentus Camarasaurus lentus Carnegie.jpg
Camarasaurus lentus

Plesiosaurs

Newly named plesiosaurs

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Eurysaurus

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Gaudry

Early Jurassic

Unknown

Flag of France.svg France

A possible pliosauroid
Type species E. raincourti

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

NameStatusAuthorsDiscovery yearAgeUnitLocationNotesImages

Dimetrodon

Valid

Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Texas.svg Texas

Dimetrodon incisivum Dimetrodon incisivum 01.jpg
Dimetrodon incisivum

Embolophorus

Valid

Ophiacodon

Valid

Sphenacodon

Valid

Theropleura

Valid

Footnotes

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Lesquereux, L. (1878). "Report on the fossil plants of the auriferous gravel deposits of the Sierra Nevada". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 6 (2): 1-62 pl.1-10. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.15853.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 MacGinitie, H.D. (1941). "A Middle Eocene flora from the central Sierra Nevada". Publications of the Carnegie Institution of Washington (534): 1–178, pl. 1-48.
  4. 1 2 Manchester, S.R. (1986). "Vegetative and reproductive morphology of an extinct plane tree (Platanaceae) from the Eocene of western North America". Botanical Gazette. 147 (2): 200–226. doi:10.1086/337587. S2CID   83715341.
  5. 1 2 Cockerell, T.D.A. (1910). "The Miocene trees of the Rocky Mountains". American Naturalist. 44 (517): 31–47.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Cockerell, T.D.A. (1908). "Descriptions of Tertiary plants II". American Journal of Science. 4. 26 (156): 537–544.
  7. 1 2 3 LaMotte, R.S. (1952). Catalogue of the Cenozoic plants of North America through 1950. Geological Society of America Memoirs. Vol. 51. Geological Society of America. doi:10.1130/MEM51.
  8. LaMotte, R.S. (1936). "The upper Cedarville flora of northwestern Nevada and adjacent California". Publications of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 455: 59–142, pl. 1-14.
  9. 1 2 Wolfe, J.A. (1977). Paleogene floras from the Gulf of Alaska region (Report). Professional Paper. Vol. 997. United States Geological Survey. pp. 1–108. doi: 10.3133/pp997 .
  10. Brooks, B.W. (1935). "Fossil plants from Sucker Creek, Idaho". Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 24: 275–336.
  11. Axelrod, D.I. (1985). "Miocene floras from the Middlegate Basin, West-Central Nevada". University of California Publications in Geological Sciences. 129: 1–280.
  12. 1 2 Condit, C. (1944). "The Table Mountain flora". Publications of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 553: 57–90, pl. 13-21.
  13. Axelrod, D.I. (1939). "A Miocene flora from the western border of the Mohave desert". Publications of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 516: 1–129.
  14. Brown, R.W. (1946). "Alterations in some fossil and living floras". Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 36 (10): 344–355.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Scudder, S. H (1878). "Additions to the Insect-fauna of the Tertiary beds at Quesnel, British Columbia". Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress for. 1876–1877: 457–464.
  16. Dunlop, J.A.; Braddy, S.J. (2011). "Cteniza bavincourti and the nomenclature of arachnid-related trace fossils". The Journal of Arachnology. 39: 250–257.
  17. Makarkin, V.; Wedmann, S.; Weiterschan, T. (2016). "A new genus of Hemerobiidae (Neuroptera) from Baltic amber, with a critical review of the Cenozoic Megalomus-like taxa and remarks on the wing venation variability of the family". Zootaxa. 4179 (3): 345–370. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4179.3.2.
  18. 1 2 Scudder, S. H. (1890). "The Tertiary insects of North America". United States Geological Survey of the Territories, Washington: 615.
  19. Archibald, SB (2010). "Revision of the scorpionfly family Holcorpidae (Mecoptera), with description of a new species from Early Eocene McAbee, British Columbia, Canada" (PDF). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 46 (1–2): 173–182. doi: 10.1080/00379271.2010.10697654 . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  20. "Introduction," Chure (2001) page 11.
  21. Osborn, H.F., and Mook, C. C. (1921). "Camarasaurus, Amphicoelias and other sauropods of Cope." Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History NS, 3(3): 249–387.
  22. Carpenter, K. (2018). "Maraapunisaurus fragillimus, n.g. (formerly Amphicoelias fragillimus), a basal Rebbachisaurid from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Colorado". Geology of the Intermountain West. 5 (9): 227–244. ISSN   2380-7601.

References