1955 in paleontology

List of years in paleontology
In science
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958

Paleontology, palaeontology or [palæontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") 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 mankind has 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 1955.

Dinosaurs

Newly named dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[3]

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Majungasaurus[4] Valid taxon

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Maevarano Formation

 Madagascar

A majungasaurine abelisaurid.

Tarbosaurus[5] Valid taxon

Late Cretaceous (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian)

Nemegt Formation
Subashi Formation

 Mongolia
 China

A tyrannosaurid.

Synapsids

Theriodonts

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Sauroctonus

Valid

Bystrow

Late Permian

Semen Formation
Teekloof Formation

 Russia
 South Africa

A gorgonopsian.

Scalenodon

Valid

Crompton and Parrington

Middle Triassic

Manda Formation

 Tanzania

A traversodontid cynodont.

Eutherians

Cetaceans

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Liolithax pappus

Valid

Kellogg

middle Miocene (Langhian)

Calvert Formation

 US

A lophocetine kentriodontid.

Pelodelphis

Valid

Kellogg

iddle Miocene (Langhian)

Calvert Formation

 US

An odontocete of uncertain position.

Tretosphys

Valid

Kellogg

iddle Miocene (Langhian)

Calvert Formation

 US

An odontocete of uncertain position; new genus for "Delphinapterus" gabbi Cope (1868).

Plants

Pteridophyta

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Azolla primaeva[6]

Valid

Ypresian (Early Eocene)

Allenby Formation

 Canada

References

  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. Bond (1955). Sanders, Manley, and Carpenter (2001), "Table 12.1" page 167.
  3. Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  4. Lavocat, R. 1955. Sur une portion de mandibule de thérepode provenant de Crétace supérieur de Madagascar. Bull. Musee Natl. d’Histoire Nat. (ser. 2) 27: pp. 256-259.
  5. Maleev, E. A. (1955). "Гигантских плотоядных динозавров Монголии" [Gigantic carnivorous dinosaurs of Mongolia]. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 104: 634–637.
  6. Arnold, C.A. (1955). "A Tertiary Azolla from British Columbia" (PDF). Contributions from the Museum of. Paleontology, University of Michigan 12 (4): 37–45.
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