1979 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 1979.

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Aulacomnium heterostichoides[2]

Sp nov

Valid

Janssens

Ypresian

Horsefly Shales

Canada
British Columbia

An aulacomniaceous moss.

Fish

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Libotonius pearsoni[3]

Sp nov

Valid

Wilson

Ypresian

Klondike Mountain Formation

USA
Washington

A libotoniid sandroller relative.

Libotonius pearsoni

Archosauromorphs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[4]

Non Avian Dinosaurs

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

"Gadolosaurus"[5]

Nomen nudum.

Saito

Cenomanian

Bayan Shireh Formation

Mongolia

informal name created by phonetic translation of the crylic for hadrosaur ("gadrosavr") into Japanese.
Skeleton considered possibly a juvenile Arstanosaurus.

juvenile ?Arstanosaurus

Gilmoreosaurus[6]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Brett-Surman

Cretaceous
late Campanian - early Maastrichtian

Iren Dabasu Formation

Mongolia

A hadrosauroid.

Gilmareasaurus

Gravitholus[7]

Junior synonym?

Wall & Galton

Judithian

Dinosaur Park Formation

 Canada
( Alberta)

A pachycephalosaur, possible Junior synonym of Stegoceras.

Gravitholus

Maiasaura[8]

Valid

Horner & Makela

Judithian

Upper Two Medicine Formation

United States
( Montana)

Publication of Maiasaura renewed interest in the Two Medicine Formation.[9]

Maiasaura peeblesorum

Majungatholus[10]

Gen et sp nov

Junior synonym

Hans-Dieter Sues & Philippe Taquet

Maastrichtian

Maevarano Formation

Madagascar

Described as a pachycephalosaur, now considered an abelisaurid.
The type species is M. atopus.
Junior synonym of Majungasaurus.

Majungasaurus

Microhadrosaurus[11]

Gen et sp nov

Nomen dubium.

Zhiming

Campanian

Yuanpu Formation

 China

A hadrosaurid.

Mussaurus[12]

Valid

Bonaparte & Vince

Norian

Laguna Colorada Formation

 Argentina

An anchisaurian.

Mussaurus

Nanshiungosaurus[13]

Valid

Zhiming

Campanian

Yuanpu Formation

China

A therizinosaur.

Nanshiungosaurus

Patagosaurus[14]

Valid

Bonaparte

Callovian

Canadon Asfalto Formation

 Argentina

A sauropod.

Patagosaurus

Piatnitzkysaurus[14]

Valid

Bonaparte

Callovian

Canadon Asfalto Formation

Argentina

A piatnitzkysaurid.

Piatnitzkysaurus

Secernosaurus[15]

Valid

Brett-Surma

Cretaceous
late Campanian - early Maastrichtian

Bajo Barreal Formation
Los Alamitos Formation

Argentina

A saurolophine hadrosaurid.

Segnosaurus[16]

Valid

Perle

Cenomanian-Turonian

Bayan Shireh Formation

 Mongolia

A therizinosaur.

Segnosaurus

Torvosaurus[17]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Galton & Jenson

Jurassic
late Kimmeridgian-Tithonian

Morrison Formation

United States
Colorado

A megalosaurid.

Torvosaurus

Unquillosaurus[18]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Powell

Campanian

Los Blanquitos Formation

 Argentina

A possible Carcharodontosaurian.

Volkheimeria[14]

Valid

Jose Bonaparte

Callovian

Canadon Asfalto Formation

Argentina

A sauropod.

Yandusaurus[19]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

He

Oxfordian

Shangshaximiao Formation

China

A basal neornithischian ornithopod.

Birds

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Amplibuteo hibbardi [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

An Accipitridae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Anas albae [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Dénes Jánossy

Late Pliocene

MN 15-16-17

An Anatidae.

Anas amotape [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

An Anatidae.

Anas sanctaehelenae [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Early Pleistocene;

Late Pleistocene

La Carolina

An Anatidae.

Anas talarae [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Early Pleistocene;

Late Pleistocene

Argentina: Centinale del Mar;

Talara Tar Seeps

An Anatidae, transferred to the genus Callonetta Delacour, 1936 by Agnolin, 2006.[22]

Ardea bennuides [23]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Ella Hoch

Subrecent

5000 YBP (Years Before Present)

A giant Ardeidae, not formally described but a photo is published which keeps it from being a Nomen Nudum.

Argillipes magnus [24]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle Oligocene

MP 21-23

Described in the Catharthidae, transferred to Aves Incertae Sedis.

Barawertornis tedfordi [25]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Patricia Vickers-Rich

Late Oligocene/Early Miocene

Carl Creek Limestone

A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Belonopterus edmundi [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Charadriidae.

Bubo longaevus [26]

Sp. nov.

Valid

A. S. Umanskaya

Late Miocene

MN 11-13

A Strigidae, transferred to the genus Asio Brisson, 1760 by Mlíkovský, 1998.[27]

Bullockornis planei [25]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Patricia Vickers-Rich

Middle-Late Miocene

Camfield Beds

A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Caprimulgus piurensis [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Caprimulgidae-nightjar.

Cayaoa bruneti [28]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Eduardo P. Tonni

Late Oligocene-Miocene

An Anatidae.

Corvus simionescui [29]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Jenö Kessler

Early Pliocene

MN 15

A Corvidae, possibly a synonym of Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758.

Cuculus csarnotanus [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Dénes Jánossy

Early Pliocene

MN 15

A Cuculidae.

Dege hendeyi [30]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

George G. Simpson

Late Miocene-Early Pliocene

Varswater Formation

A Spheniscidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Dromornis stirtoni [25]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Patricia Vickers-Rich

Late Miocene-Early Pliocene

Alcoota Homestead

A Dromornithidae.

Eudocimus peruvianus [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Threskiornithidae.

Gallinago veterior [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Dénes Jánossy

Early Pliocene

MN 15

A Scolopacidae.

Geronogyps reliquus [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Cathartidae.

Glareola neogena [31]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Peter Ballmann

Middle Miocene

MN 6

A Glareolidae.

Gymnogyps howardae [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Cathartidae.

Ilbandornis? lawsoni [25]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Patricia Vickers-Rich

Late Miocene-Early Pliocene

Alcoota Homestead

A Dromornithidae, not certainly an Ilbandornis Rich, 1979.

Ilbandornis woodburnei [25]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Patricia Vickers-Rich

Late Miocene-Early Pliocene

Alcoota Homestead

A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Latipons gardneri [32]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

A Rallidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Latipons robinsoni [32]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

A Rallidae.

Litoripes medius [32]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

Described in the Phasianidae, but transferred by Mlíkovský, 2002.[33] to Aves Incertae Sedis, this is the type species of the new genus.

Micropalama chapmani [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Scolopacidae.

Milvago brodkorbi [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Falconidae.

Milvoides kempi [32]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

Described as an Accipitridae, known only from a damaged distal end of a right tarsometatarsus, making it not possible to identify it, better treated as Aves Incertae Sedis, this is the type species of the new genus.

Mioglareola gregaria [31]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Peter Ballmann

Early Miocene Czech Republic;

Middle Miocene Germany

MN 4b;

MN 6

A Glareolidae, it is the type species of the new genus.

Miootis compactus [34]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

A. S. Umanskaya

Late Miocene

MN 13

An Otididae, it is the type species of the new genus.

Miraquila terrestris [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

An Accipitridae, transferred to the genus Buteogallus Lesson, 1830 by Suárez et Olson, 2009,[35] this is the type species of the new genus.

Nannonetta invisitata [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

An Anatidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Nucleornis insolitus [36]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

George G. Simpson

Miocene

Duinefontein

A Spheniscidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Nuntius solitarius [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Scolopacidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Oligocathartes olsoni [24]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle Oligocene

MP 21-23

Described in the Catharthidae, but the holotype is too fragmentary for identification so best treated as Aves Incertae Sedis.

Palaeopapia hamsteadiensis [24]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle Oligocene

MP 21-23

An Anseriformes Incertae Sedis.

Paracathartes howardae [37]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

Greybullian, Middle Wasatchian, Willwood Formation

Described as a Cathartidae, Houde 1988 placed it in the Lithornithiformes, Houde, 1988, Lithornithidae Houde, 1988,[38] it is the type species of the new genus.

Paracygnopterus scotti [24]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle Oligocene

MP 21–23

An Anatidae, it is the type species of the new genus.

Parvirallus gracilis [32]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

A Rallidae.

Percolinus proudlocki [32]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle Eocene

MP 11-13

Described as a Phasianidae, transferred to the genus Talantatos Reichenbach, 1852 and placed in the Cariamidae door Mlíkovský, 2002.[33]

Phalacrocorax tanzaniae [39]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early-Middle Pleistocene

Kamasian

A Phalacrocoracidae.

Porzana estramosi [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Dénes Jánossy

Middle Miocene

MN 6-8

A Rallidae.

Proanser major [34]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

A. S. Umanskaya

Late Miocene

MN 11

An Anatidae, it is the type species of the new genus.

Proardeola walkeri [40]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Miocene

MN 2a

An Ardeidae, it is the type species of the new genus.

Proceriavis martini [24]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle Oligocene

MP 21-23

Described as an Eleutherornithidae, based on a fragment of a cervical vertebra, best treated as Aves Incertae Sedis, it is the type species of the new genus.

Sarcoramphus? fisheri [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Cathartidae, not certain to be a Sarcoramphus Duméril, 1806.

Scolopax baranensis [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Dénes Jánossy

Early Pliocene

MN 15

A Scolopacidae.

Steganopus graui [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Phalaropodidae.

Syrigma sanctimartini [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

An Ardeidae.

Theristicus wetmorei [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Threskiornithidae.

Thinocorus koepckeae [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Thinocoridae.

Tringa ameghini [20]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Scolopacidae.

Turdoides borealis [21]

Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Dénes Jánossy

Early Pliocene

MN 15

The holotype is a heavily eroded proximal part of a left humerus, best placed in Passeriformes Incertae Sedis.

Valenticarbo praetermissus [41]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Colin J. O. Harrison

Late Pliocene

Siwalik complex

A Phalacrocoracidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Viator picis [20]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr.

Late Pleistocene

Talara Tar Seeps

A Charadriidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Plesiosaurs

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Dravidosaurus

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Yadagiri & Ayyasami

Cretaceous
Coniacian

Trichinopoly Group

India

Either a Plesiosaur or Stegosaur

Synapsids

Expeditions, field work, and fossil discoveries

References

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