1992 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 1992.

Cycads

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Eostangeria ruzinciniana[2]

Sp nov

valid

Palamarev, Petkova, & Uzunova

Miocene

Krivodol Formation

Bulgaria

An eostangerioid zamiaceous cycad.

Conifers

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Pseudolarix arnoldii[3]

Sp nov.

jr synonym

Gooch

Ypresian

Allenby Formation

Canada
British Columbia

A golden larch species,
first described as Pseudolarix americana in part,
combined into Pseudolarix amabilis in 1995

Pseudolarix wehrii[3]

Sp nov

valid

Gooch

Eocene

Klondike Mountain Formation

USA
Washington

A golden larch,
first described as Pseudolarix americana in part,
also found as mummified fossils from the Buchanan Lake Formation

Pseudolarix wehrii

Angiosperms

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Ethela[4]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Erwin & Stockey

Eocene
Ypresian

Okanagan Highlands
Princeton Chert

Canada
British Columbia

A cyperaceous or juncaceous poalean monocot
The type species is E. sargentiana

Florissantia ashwillii[5]

Sp nov

valid

Manchester

Middle Eocene

Clarno Formation

United States
Oregon

A mallow relative

Florissantia quilchenensis[5]

comb nov

valid

(Mathewes & Brooke) Manchester

Eocene
Ypresian

Okanagan Highlands
Coldwater Beds

Canada
British Columbia

A mallow relative,
moved from Holmskioldia quilchenensis (1971)

Florissantia sikhote-alinensis[5]

comb nov

valid

(Lesquereux) Manchester

Late Eocene

Florissant Formation

United States
Colorado

A mallow relative,
moved from Holmskioldia speirii (1953)

Palaeocarpinus joffrensis[6]

Sp nov

Valid

Sun & Stockey

Paleocene
Tiffanian

Paskapoo Formation
Lacombe member

Canada
Alberta

A betulaceous fruit

Arthropods

Insects

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anonychomyrma constricta[7]

Comb nov

jr synonym

(Mayr)

Lutetian

Baltic amber

Europe

A Dolichoderin ant,
jr syn of Yantaromyrmex constricta

Yantaromyrmex constricta

Anonychomyrma samlandica[7]

Comb nov

Jr synonym

(Wheeler)

Lutetian

Baltic amber

Europe

A Dolichoderin ant
jr synonym of Yantaromyrmex samlandica

Yantaromyrmex samlandica

Cretomerobius[8]

Gen et sp nov.

valid

Ponomarenko

Aptian

Bon-Tsagan

Mongolia

A hemerobiid lacewing, type species, C. disjunctus

Liometopum goepperti

Comb nov

Jr synonym

(Mayr, 1868)

Middle Eocene

Baltic amber

Europe

Fossil Dolichoderine ant,
moved to Ctenobethylus goepperti in 1997

Ctenobethylus goepperti

Miotingis[9]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Nel

Messinian

Foufouilloux outcrop

France

A lacebug, type species M. cantalensis

Miotingis cantalensis

Neides oligocenicus[10]

Sp nov

Valid

Nel

Chattian

Niveau du gypse d'Aix Formation

France

A thread bug

Neides oligocenicus

Panfilovia adamsi[11]

Sp nov

jr synonym

Martins-Neto

Aptian

Crato Formation

Brazil

A Kalligrammatid lacewing, syn of Makarkinia adamsi

Spatalistiforma[12]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Skalski

Lutetian

Baltic amber

Europe

A moth of uncertain placement.
The type species is S. submerga.

Spatalistiforma submerga

Termitaradus protera[13]

sp. nov

valid

Poinar & Doyen

Late Oligocene - Early Miocene

Mexican amber

Mexico

first fossil species of Termitaradus

Archosauromorphs

Newly named non-avian dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[16]

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Archaeornithoides Valid taxon Elzanowski Peter Wellnhofer Campanian Djadokhta Formation Mongolia
Udanoceratops
"Maleevosaurus"
Chinshakiangosaurus [17] Valid taxon Ye vide Dong Hettangian Fengjiahe Formation China
Dyslocosaurus[18] Valid taxon McIntosh, Coombs & Dale A. Russell Kimmeridgian Morrison Formation USA Wyoming Exact provenance unknown, may actually be from the Lance Formation
Edmarka[19] Synonym of Torvosaurus Robert Bakker, Kralis, Siegwarth and Filla Kimmeridgian Morrison Formation USA Wyoming
Gigantspinosaurus[20] Valid taxon Ouyang Oxfordian Upper Shaximiao Formation China
Kunmingosaurus[17] Nomina nuda Zhao X. (as Chao S.) Hettangian Fengjiahe Formation China
Maleevosaurus[21] Junior synonym of Tarbosaurus Kenneth Carpenter Maastrichtian Nemegt Formation Mongolia
Neuquensaurus[22] Valid taxon Jaime Eduardo Powell Campanian Anacleto Formation Argentina
Udanoceratops[23] Valid taxon Sergei Kurzanov Campanian Djadokhta Formation Mongolia
Wakinosaurus[24] Nomen dubium Okazaki Valanginian-Barremian Sengoku Formation Japan

Newly named birds

Name Status Novelty Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anneavis anneae [25]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Peter W. Houde

Storrs L. Olson

Early Eocene

Late Wasatchian, Green River Formation

USA:

Wyoming

A Coliiformes, Sandcoleidae Houde et Olson, 1992, this is the type species of the new genus.

Archaealectrornis sibleyi [26]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Timothy M. Crowe

Lester L. Short

Middle-Late Oligocene

Brule Formation

USA:

Nebraska

Described in the Gallinuloididae Lucas, 1900, but transferred to the Cracidae.

Archaeoganga pinguis [27]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Eocene or Oligocene

Phosphorites du Quercy,

MP 16 or 28

France

A Pteroclidae.

Balearica exigua [28]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Alan Feduccia

Michael R. Voorhies

Late Miocene

Ash Hollow Formatie

USA:

Nebraska

A Gruidae.

Bucephala cereti [29]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Odile Boeuf

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Late Pliocene

MN 17

France

An Anatidae.

Cathayornis yandica [30]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Zhou Zhonghe

Fan Jin

Jiang Yong Zhang

Early Cretaceous

Valanginian,

Jiufotang Formation

China

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Cathayornithiformes Zhou, Jin et Zhang, 1992, Cathayornithidae Zhou, Jin et Zhang, 1992, this is the type species of the new genus.

Chascacocolius oscitans [25]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Peter W. Houde

Storrs L. Olson

Early Eocene

Early Wasatchian,

Willwood Formation

USA:

Wyoming

A Coliiformes, Chascacocoliidae Zelenkov et Dyke, 2008, this is the type species of the new genus.

Ciconia stehlini [31]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Dénes Jánossy

Late Pleistocene

MN 16

Hungary

A Ciconiidae.

Columbina prattae [32]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Jonathan J. Becker

Pierce Brodkorb

Early Miocene

Fissure fillings in Early Eocene Cristal River Limestone

USA:

Florida

A Columbidae, in 2008 David W. Steadman made it the type species of his new genus Arenicolumbina.[33]

Concornis lacustris [34]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

José L. Sanz

Angela D. Buscalioni

Early Cretaceous

Neocomian

Spain:

Castilla–La Mancha

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Iberomesornithiformes Sanz et J. F. Bonaparte, 1992, Concornithidae Kurochkin, 1996, this is the type species of the new genus.

Foro panarium [35]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Storrs L. Olson

Late Early Eocene

Green River Formation

USA:

Wyoming

An Opisthocomiformes, Foratidae Olson, 1992.

Gallicolumba nui [36]

Valid

Sp. nov.

David W. Steadman

Holocene

Ua Huka

French Polynesia

A Columbidae.

Gastornis russelli [37]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Larry D. Martin

Late Paleocene

MP 6

France

A Gastornithidae Fürbringer, 1888.

Helonetta brodkorbi [38]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Steven D. Emslie

Late Pliocene

Blancan,

Tamiami Formation

USA:

Florida

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

Iberomesornis romerali [39]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

José L. Sanz

José F. Bonaparte

Early Cretaceous

Hauterivian-Early Barremian

Spain:

Castilla–La Mancha

An Enantiornithes, Iberomesornithiformes Sanz et J. F. Bonaparte, 1992, Iberomesornithidae Sanz et J. F. Bonaparte, 1992.

Kuszholia mengi [40]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Lev A. Nessov

Early Cretaceous

Turonian-Coniacian,

Bissekty Formation

Uzbekistan

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, this is the type species of the new genus.

Macranhinga paranensis [41]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Jorge I. Noriega

Late Miocene

Mesopotamiense,

Ituzaingó Formation

Argentina

A big Anhingidae.

Macropygia arevarevauupa [36]

Valid

Sp. nov.

David W. Steadman

Holocene

Huahine,

Society Islands

French Polynesia

A Columbidae.

Macropygia heana [36]

Valid

Sp. nov.

David W. Steadman

Holocene

Ua Huka

French Polynesia

A Columbidae.

Megalodytes morejohni [42]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Hildegarde Howard

Middle Miocene

Sharktooth Hill Bonebed

USA:

California

An Anatidae.

Messelornis nearctica [43]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Angelika Hesse

Early Eocene

Green River Formation

USA:

Wyoming

A Ralliformes, Messelornithidae Hesse, 1988.

Oxyura hulberti [38]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Steven D. Emslie

Late Pliocene

Blancan,

Tamiami Formation

USA:

Florida

An Anatidae.

Palaeoglaux artophoron [44]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Dieter S. Peters

Middle Eocene

MP 11

Germany:

Hessen

A Strigiformes, Palaeoglaucidae Mourer-Chauviré, 1987.

Patagopteryx deferrariisi [45]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Herculano M. F. de Alvarenga

José F. Bonaparte

Late Cretaceous

Coniacian,

Rio Colorado Formation

Argentina

An Ornithuromorphae Chiappe, Ji, Ji et Norell, 1999, Patagopterygiformes Alvarenga et J. F. Bonaparte, 1992, Patagopterygidae Alvarenga et J. F. Bonaparte, 1992, this is the type species of the new genus.

Platanavis nana [40]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Lev A. Nessov

Late Cretaceous

Coniacian

Uzbekistan

An Ornithuromorphae Chiappe, Ji, Ji et Norell, 1999, this is the type species of the new genus.

Quercymegapodius brodkorbi [46]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Late Eocene

Phosphorites du Quercy

France

A Craciformes Sibley, Ahlquist et Monroe, 1988, Quercymegapodiidae Mourer-Chauviré, 1992.

Quercypsitta ivani [47]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Late Eocene

MP 17

France

A Psittaciformes, Quercypsittidae Mourer-Chauviré, 1992.

Quercypsitta sudrei [47]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Late Eocene

MP 17

France

A Psittaciformes, Quercypsittidae Mourer-Chauviré, 1992, this is the type species of the new genus.

Sandcoleus copiosus [25]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Peter W. Houde

Storrs L. Olson

Early Eocene

Middle Clarkforkian,

Willwood Formation

USA:

Wyoming

A Coliiformes, Sandcoleidae Houde et Olson, 1992, this is the type species of the new genus.

Sinornis santensis [48]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Paul C. Sereno

Rao Chenggang

Early Cretaceous

Valanginian

China

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Cathayornithiformes Zhou, Jin et Zhang, 2006, Cathayornithidae Zhou, Jin et Zhang, 2006, this is the type species of the new genus.

Tetrastes dalianensis [49]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Hou Lian-Hai

Late Pliocene

Dalian

China

A Phasianidae, transferred to the genus Bonasa Stephen, 1819.

Zhyraornis logunovi [40]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Lev A. Nessov

Early Cretaceous

Turonian-Coniacian,

Bissekty Formation

Uzbekistan

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981.

Lepidosauromorphs

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Indophis sahnii[50] Valid Rage & Prasad Maastrichtian Intertrappean Beds India A snake

Synapsids

Newly named mammals

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Gobiopithecus[51]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Dashzeveg & Russell

Late Eocene

Ergilin Dzo Formation

A pantolestid, type species is G. khan

Other Animals

Footnotes

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI