1947 in paleontology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 1947.
Mosses
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymized taxa | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palaeohypnum[2] |
Sp nov |
jr synonym |
Steere |
Eocene |
A moss genus. |
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Archosauromorphs
Newly named dinosaurs
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[4]
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amygdalodon[5] | Nomen dubium | Cabrera | Middle Jurassic Toarcian | *  Argentina |
A sauropod known from some vertebrae, ribs, four complete and three partial teeth, and a partial pelvis and shoulder-blade. |  |
Newly named pseudosuchians
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizonasaurus[6] | Valid | Welles | Middle Triassic (Anisian) |  USA ( Arizona and  New Mexico) |
A poposaurid. |  |
Synapsids
Non-mammalian
| Name | Status | Authors | Age | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kunminia | Valid | Young | Sinemurian | *  China |
||
Other animals
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beltanella[7] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Sprigg | Ediacaran |  Australia |
A discoid fossil, originally described as a jellyfish tentatively placed in the class Scyphozoa. The type species is B. gilesi.
Considered a probable junior synonym of Aspidella terranovica by Gehling, Narbonne & Anderson (2000)[8] and Ivantsov & Zakhrevskaya (2025).[9] |
||
| Cyclomedusa[7] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Sprigg | Ediacaran | Australia |
A discoid fossil, originally described as a jellyfish of uncertain affinity (either of the classes Hydrozoa or Scyphozoa). The type species is C. davidii.
Considered a probable junior synonym of Aspidella terranovica by Gehling, Narbonne & Anderson (2000)[8] and Ivantsov & Zakhrevskaya (2025).[9] |
 | |
| Dickinsonia[7] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Sprigg | Ediacaran | Australia  Russia and  Ukraine |
A bilaterally symmetrical and ovoid fossil, originally described as a jellyfish of uncertain affinity (either of the classes Hydrozoa or Scyphozoa). The type species is D. costata. |  |
| Ediacaria[7] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Sprigg | Ediacaran | Australia |
A discoid fossil, originally described as a scyphozoan jellyfish of uncertain affinity (either of the orders Semaeostomeae or Rhizostomeae). The type species is E. flindersi.
Considered a probable junior synonym of Aspidella terranovica by Gehling, Narbonne & Anderson (2000)[8] and Ivantsov & Zakhrevskaya (2025).[9] |
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| Papilionata[7] | Gen. et sp. nov. | Junior synonym | Sprigg | Ediacaran | Australia |
A bilaterally symmetrical fossil, originally described as a jellyfish of uncertain affinity (either of the classes Hydrozoa or Scyphozoa). Synonym of Dickinsonia. The type species is P. eyrei. | |
