1998 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 1998.

Lycophytes

Lycophyte research

Angiosperms

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Palaeocarpinus pacifica[3]

Sp nov

Valid

Manchester & Chen

Paleocene
Danian

Malo-Mikhailovka Formation

Russia

A betulaceous fruit

Fungi

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images

Cryptodidymosphaerites[4]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Currah, Stockey, & LePage

Eocene
Ypresian

Allenby Formation
Princeton Chert

Canada
British Columbia

A hyperparasitic pleosporalean fungus of uncertain family affinity.
The type species is C. princetonensis
Its hosted by the phyllachoralean fungus Palaeoserenomyces allenbyensis

Palaeoserenomyces[4]

Gen et sp nov

valid

Currah, Stockey, & LePage

Eocene
Ypresian

Allenby Formation
Princeton Chert

Canada
British Columbia

A parasitic phyllachoralean fungus of uncertain family affinity.
The type species is P. allenbyensis
Its hosted by the fan palm Uhlia allenbyensis.
Its hyperparasitized by Cryptodidymosphaerites princetonensis

Fungal research

  • Currah, Stockey, & LePage (1998) describe the a phyllachoralean "tar spot" parasitizing Uhlia palm leaves, and host for a hyperparasitic pleosporalean fungus. They note them to be one of the first occurrences of hyperparasitic relationships in the fossil record.[4]

Arthropods

Newly named crustaceans

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Ursquilla[5]

Gen nov

Valid

Hof

Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

Israel Jordan

A mantis shrimp, type species is U. yehoachi (originally named as Eryon yehoachi in 1955).

Tyrannophontes acanthocercus[6]

Sp nov

Jr synonym

Jenner, Hof & Schram

Serpukhovian

Bear Gulch Limestone

USA

A mantis shrimp, moved to the genus Daidal (2007)[7]

Newly named insects

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acanthostichus hispaniolicus[8]

Sp. nov

Valid

De Andrade

Burdigalian

Dominican amber

Dominican Republic

A Dorylinae ant

Acanthostichus hispaniolicus

Aquarius lunpolaensis[9]

Comb nov.

valid

(Lin) Andersen

Miocene

Lunpola Basin

China

A water strider
Moved from Gerris lunpolaensis

Carabus neli[10]

Sp nov.

valid

Deuve

Turolian

Montagne d'Andance

France

A ground beetle

Carabus neli

Cylindromyrmex antillanus[11]

Sp. nov

Valid

De Andrade

Burdigalian

Dominican amber

Dominican Republic

A Dorylinae ant

Cylindromyrmex antillanus

Daniavelia[9]

Gen et sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

MØclay
Fur Formation

Denmark

A macroveliid water strider
The type species is D. morsensis

Electrovelia[9]

Gen et sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Lutetian

Baltic Amber

Denmark

A riffle bug
The type species is P. baltica

Eocenometra longicomis[9]

Sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

MØclay
0lst/Fur Formations

Denmark

A marsh treader

Ledouxnebria[10]

Gen et sp nov.

valid

Deuve

Turolian

Montagne d'Andance

France

A ground beetle

Ledouxnebria brisaci

Limnoporus wilsoni[9]

Sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

Okanagan Highlands
Driftwood shales

Canada
British Columbia

A water strider

Palaeogerris[9]

Gen et 3 sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

MØ clay
0lst/Fur Formations

Denmark

A water strider
The type species is P. furensis
Also includes P. grandis & P. mikkelseni

Palaeometra[9]

Gen et sp nov.

valid

Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

Fur Formation

Denmark

A limnobatodine water strider
The type species is P. madseni

Telmatrechus defunctus[9]

Comb nov.

valid

(Handlirsch) Andersen

Eocene
Ypresian

Okanagan Highlands
Quilchena site

Canada
British Columbia

A water strider
Moved from Gerris defuncta (1910)

Brachiopods

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images

Iridistrophia aliciae[12]

Sp nov

valid

Herrera, Salas & Giolitti

Early Devonian

Talacasto Formation

Argentina

A species of Iridistrophia

Iridistrophia dominans[12]

Sp nov

valid

Herrera, Salas & Giolitti

Early Devonian

Talacasto Formation

Argentina

A species of Iridistrophia

Iridistrophia magna[12]

Sp nov

valid

Herrera, Salas & Giolitti

Early Devonian

Talacasto Formation

Argentina

A species of Iridistrophia

Iridistrophia prima[12]

Sp nov

valid

Herrera, Salas & Giolitti

Early Devonian

Talacasto Formation

Argentina

A species of Iridistrophia

Eoschuchertella delicata[12]

Sp nov

valid

Herrera, Salas & Giolitti

Early Devonian

Talacasto Formation

Argentina

A species of Eoschuchertella

Molluscs

Bivalves

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Pojetaia sarhroensis[13]

sp nov

Valid

Geyer & Streng

Early Cambrian

Anti-Atlas mountains

Morocco

Early Cambrian Fordillidae bivalve

Echinoderms

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Alkaidia[14]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

A starfish, type species is A. sumralli.

Altairia[14]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Paw Paw Formation

A starfish, type species is A. wintoni, originally named as Comptonia wintoni in 1920.

Betelgeusia[14]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

A starfish, type species is B. reidi.

Capellia[14]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Paw Paw Formation

A starfish, type species is C. mauricei.

Crateraster texensis[14]

Comb nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

A starfish, originally named as Pentagonaster texensis in 1920.

Denebia[14]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

A starfish, type species is D. americana, originally named as Pentaceros americanus in 1920.

Fomalhautia[14]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Blake & Reid

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Paw Paw Formation

A starfish, type species is F. hortensae, originally named as Metopaster hortensae in 1920.

Amphibians

newly named anurans

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Rhadinosteus[15]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Henrici

Kimmeridgian

Morrison Formation

USA

A possible Rhinophrynidae frog

Archosauromorpha

Pterosaurs

References

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