1984 in paleontology

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1984
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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 1984.

Plants

[edit]

Angiosperms

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Hooleya lata[2]

Sp nov

Valid

Wing

Eocene

Clarno Formation

 USA
 Oregon

A Platycaryeae fruit morphospecies.

Platycarya bognorensis[2]

Comb nov

valid

(Chandler) Wing & Hickey

Eocene

London Clay

 UK
 England

Moved from Pterocaryopsis bognorensis (1961)
Pterocaryopsis elliptica (1978) synonymized in.

Platycarya castaneopsis[2]

Comb nov

valid

(Lesquereux) Wing & Hickey

Ypresian

Green River Formation

 USA
 Colorado

Moved from Quercus castaneopsis (1883)

Platycarya manchesterii

Sp nov

valid

Wing & Hickey

Eocene

Clarno Formation

 USA
 Oregon

A Platycarya fruit morphospecies.

Arthropods

[edit]

Arachnids

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Selenops beynai[3]

Sp nov

Valid

Schawaller

Burdigalian

Dominican amber

 Dominican Republic

A selenopid wall spider

Selenops beynai

Newly named crustaceans

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Gorgonophontes[4]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Schram

Kasimovian

 US
( Nebraska
 Iowa)

A mantis shrimp, type species is G. peleron

Gorgonophontes

Peachocaris acanthouraea[4]

Sp nov

Valid

Schram

Upper Pennsylvanian

Swope Formation

 US
( Nebraska
 Iowa)

A lophogastrid

Pseudarmadillo cristatus[5]

Sp nov

Valid

Schmalfuss

Burdigalian

Dominican amber

 Dominican Republic

A delatorreid isopod

Pseudarmadillo tuberculatus[5]

Sp nov

Valid

Schmalfuss

Burdigalian

Dominican amber

 Dominican Republic

A delatorreid isopod

Newly named eurypterids

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Mycterops whitei[4]

Sp nov

Valid

Schram

Kasimovian

Swope Formation

 US
( Nebraska
 Iowa)

A mycteroptid

Conodont paleozoology

[edit]

Willi Ziegler and Charles A. Sandberg described the conodont genus Alternognathus.

Archosauromorphs

[edit]

Newly named archosauromorphs

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Technosaurus[6]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Chatterjee

Norian

Bull Canyon Formation

Originally described as a fabrosaurid;
now Archosauriformes incertae sedis

Newly named dinosaurs

[edit]

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[7]

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Chuandongocoelurus[8]

Valid

He

Middle Jurassic

Lower Shaximiao Formation

A tetanuran theropod

Datousaurus[9]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Dong & Tang

Middle Jurassic

Lower Shaximiao Formation

A Mamenchisaurid sauropod

Datousaurus

Harpymimus[10]

Fam., gen et sp nov

Valid

Barsbold & Perle

Hauterivian to Barremian

Shinekhudug Formation

An ornithomimosaurian

Harpymimus

Kaijiangosaurus[8]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

He

Middle Jurassic

Xiashaximiao Formation

A tetanuran theropod

Liliensternus[11]

Gen nov

Valid

Welles

Norian

Trossingen Formation

A coelophysoid

Liliensternus

Longosaurus

Gen nov

Jr. synonym of Coelophysis.

Welles

Xuanhanosaurus[12]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Dong

Middle Jurassic

Lower Shaximiao Formation

A megalosauroid. Before it was believed that this animal was a quadruped, but now it is known that this was a biped.

Newly named birds

[edit]
Name Status Novelty Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Anser thraceiensis [13]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich

Ivan M. Nikolov

Late Miocene or Early Pliocene

MN 11-15

An Anatidae.

Archaeopteryx recurva [14]

Disputed

Sp. nov.

Michael E. Howgate

Late Jura

Portlandian

 Bavaria

An Archaeopterygidae, the 5th specimen, this species becomes the type species of the new genus Jurapteryx Howgate, 1985.[15]

Bubo leakeyae [16]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Pierce Brodkorb

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Holocene

Olduvai Gorge

A Strigidae.

Cursoricoccyx geraldinae [17]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Larry D. Martin

Robert M. Mengel

Early Miocene

Pawnee Creek Formation

:

A Cuculiformes, Neomorphidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Cygnopterus alphonsi [18]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Jacques Cheneval

Early Miocene

MN 2a

An Anatidae.

Dromaius baudinianus [19]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Shane A. Parker

Holocene

Kangeroo Island

 South Australia

A Dromaiidae.

Eocypselus vincenti [20]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8

 England

An Apodiformes, Eocypselidae Harrison, 1984, this is the type species of the new genus.

Fulmarus miocaenus [21]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Hildegarde Howard

Middle Miocene

Round Mountain Silt,

Barstovian

 California

A Procellariidae.

Gansus yumenensis [22]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Hou Lianhai

Liu Zhicheng

Early Cretaceous

Xiagou Formation

 China

An Ornithuromorphae Chiappe, Ji, Ji et Norell, 1999, Gansuiformes Hou et Liu, 1984, Gansuidae Hou et Liu, 1984, this is the type species of the new genus.

Gavia moldavica [23]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Jenö Kessler

Late Miocene;

Early Pliocene

MN 9?

 Florida

A Gaviidae.

Kizylkumavis cretacea [24]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Lev A. Nessov

Late Cretaceous

Late Turonian-Coniacian

 Soviet Union:

 Uzbekistan

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Alexornithiformes, Brodkorb, 1976, Alexornithidae Brodkorb, 1976, Alexornithinae Brodkorb, 1976, this is the type species of the new genus.

Larus udabnensis [25]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich

E. G. Gabashvili

Late Miocene

 Soviet Union:

 Georgia

A Laridae.

Mioaegypius gui [26]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Hou LianHai

Middle Miocene

Xiacaowan Formation

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

Otus guildayi [27]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Pierce Brodkorb

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Pleistocene

Cave deposits

 Maryland

A Strigidae.

Parahesperornis alexi [28]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Larry D. Martin

Late Cretaceous

Niobrara Chalk Formation

 Kansas

A Hesperornithiformes Fürbringer, 1888, Hesperornithidae Marsh, 1872, this is the type species of the new genus.

Parvirallus bassetti [29]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8-9

 England

A Rallidae.

Parvirallus gassoni [29]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8-9

 England

A Rallidae.

Parvirallus medius [29]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8-9

 England

A Rallidae.

Pediorallus hookeri [30]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

Ypresian,

London Clay B

MP 8-9

 England

Described as a Rallidae, transferred to the genus Lithornis Owen, 1840 by Houde, 1988,[31] a Palaeognathae, Lithornithiformes Houde, 1988, Lithornithidae Houde, 1988.

Pediorallus nasi [30]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

Ypresian,

London Clay A

MP 8

 England

Described as a Rallidae, transferred to the genus Lithornis Owen, 1840 by Houde, 1988,[31] a Palaeognathae, Lithornithiformes Houde, 1988, Lithornithidae Houde, 1988.

Phalacrocorax owrei [32]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Pierce Brodkorb

Cécile Mourer-Chauviré

Pleistocene

Douglas Leakey Korongo

A Phalacrocoracidae.

Phalacrocorax serdicensis [13]

Valid ?

Sp. nov.

Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich

Ivan M. Nikolov

Late Miocene

MN 11-13

A Phalacrocoracidae, possibly a synonym of Phalacrocorax aristotelis.

Phasianus yanshansis [33]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Huang Wanpo

Hou Lianhai

Holocene

Cave deposits

A Phasianidae.

Podiceps miocenicus [23]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Jenö Kessler

Late Miocene

MN 9

A Podicipedidae.

Scaniacypselus wardi [20]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8

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

Scopus xenopus [34]

Valid

Sp. nov.

Storrs L. Olson

Early Pliocene

Varswater Formation

A Scopidae

Stintonornis mitchelli [29]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Colin J. O. Harrison

Early Eocene

MP 8-9

 England

Described as a Falconidae, placed in Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský, 2002.[35]

Zhyraornis kashkarovi [24]

Valid

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Lev A. Nessov

Late Cretaceous

Coniacian,

Bissekty Formation

 Uzbekistan

An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Alexornithiformes, Brodkorb, 1976, Alexornithidae Brodkorb, 1976, Zhyraornithinae Nessov, 1984, this is the type species of the new genus.

Pterosaurs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Location Notes

Azhdarcho

Valid

Nesov

the Type Genus of Azhdarchidae.

Brasileodactylus

Valid

Kellner

Rhamphinion

Valid

Padian

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c Wing, S. L.; Hickey, L. J. (1984). "The Platycarya perplex and the evolution of the Juglandaceae". American Journal of Botany. 71 (3): 388–411. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1984.tb12525.x.
  3. ^ Crews, S. (2011). "A revision of the spider genus Selenops (Arachnida, Araneae, Selenopidae) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean". ZooKeys (105): 1–182. doi:10.3897/zookeys.105.724. PMC 3131050. PMID 21852919.
  4. ^ a b c Schram, Frederick R. (1984). "Upper Pennsylvanian Arthropods from Black Shales of Iowa and Nebraska". Journal of Paleontology. 58 (1): 197–209. ISSN 0022-3360.
  5. ^ a b Schmalfuss, H. (1984). "Two new species of the terrestrial isopod genus Pseudarmadillo from Dominican amber (Amber-Collection Stuttgart: Crustacea, Isopoda, Pseudarmadillidae)". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde (B). 102: 1–14.
  6. ^ Chatterjee, S (1984). "A new ornithischian dinosaur from the Triassic of North America". Naturwissenschaften. 1 (12): 630–631. Bibcode:1984NW.....71..630C. doi:10.1007/bf00377897. S2CID 6993997.
  7. ^ Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ a b He, X. 1984. The Vertebrate Fossils of Sichuan. Sichuan Scientific and Technical Publishing House, Chengdu, Sichuan: 168 pages.
  9. ^ Dong, Z. and Z. Tang. 1984. Note on the mid Jurassic sauropod (Datousaurus bashanensis gen. et sp. nov.) from Suchuan Basin, China. Vertebr. Palasiatica 22: pp. 69-75.
  10. ^ Barsbold, R. and A. Perle. 1984. [On] The first finding of primitive ornithomimosaur from the Cretaceous of the [Mongolian People's Republic]. Paleontologischeskii Zhural 2: pp. 121- 123
  11. ^ Welles, S.P. 1984. Dilophosaurus wetherilli (Dinosauria, Theropoda): osteology and comparisons. Palaeontographica 185, A: pp. 85-180.
  12. ^ Dong, Z. 1984. A new theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Sichuan Basin. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 22: pp. 213-218.
  13. ^ a b Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich & Ivan M. Nikolov (1984). "Iskopayemmyye ptitsy Phalacrocorax serdicensis sp. n. i Anser thraceiensis sp. n. iz Bolgarii. [The fossil birds Phalacrocorax serdicensis sp. n. and Anser thraceiensis sp. n. from Bulgaria.] [in Russian, with English summ.]". Paleontologiya, Stratigrafiya I Litologiya. 19: 23–34.
  14. ^ Michael E. Howgate (1984). "The Teeth of Archaeopteryx and a Reinterpretation of the Eichstätt Specimen". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 82 (1–2): 159–175. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1984.tb00540.x.
  15. ^ Michael E. Howgate (1985). M.K. Hecht; J.H. Ostrom; G. Viohl; P. Wellnhofer (eds.). "Problems of the Osteology of Archaeopteryx Is the Eichstätt Specimen a Distinct Genus?". The Beginnings of Birds: 105–112.
  16. ^ Pierce Brodkorb & Cécile Mourer-Chauviré (1984). "Fossil Owls from Early Man Sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania" (PDF). Ostrich. 55 (1): 17–27. doi:10.1080/00306525.1984.9634590. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  17. ^ Larry D. Martin & Robert M. Mengel (1984). "A New Cuckoo and a Chachalaca from the Early Miocene of Colorado". Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication. 9: 171–177.
  18. ^ Jacques Cheneval (1984). "The Les Oiseaux Aquataniques (Gaviiformes à Anseriformes) du Gisement Aquitanien de Saint-Gérard-Le-Puy (Allier, France). Révision Systématique". Palaeovertebrata. 14 (2): 33–115.
  19. ^ Shane A. Parker (1984). "The Extinct Kangaroo Island Emu, a Hitherto Unrecognized Species" (PDF). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 104 (1): 19–22.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ a b Colin J. O. Harrison (1984). "A Revision of the Fossil Swifts (Vertebrata, Aves, Suborder Apodi) with Descriptions of Three New Genera and Two New Species". Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie. 21 (4): 157–177.
  21. ^ Hildegarde Howard (1984). "Additional Avian Records from the Miocene of Kern County, California, with the Description of a New Species of Fulmar (Aves: Procellariidae)" (PDF). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. 83: 84–89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
  22. ^ Hou Lianhai & Liu Zhicheng (1984). "A New Fossil Bird from Lower Cretaceous of Gansu and Early Evolution of Birds". Scientia Sinica. 27: 1296–1302.
  23. ^ a b Jenö Kessler (1984). "Noi Contributii Privind Studiul Avifaunelor din Paratethys". Crisia. 14: 521–532.
  24. ^ a b Lev A. Nessov (1984). "Upper Cretaceous Pterosaurs and Birds from Central Asia". Paleontological Journal. 18: 38–49.
  25. ^ Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich & E. G. Gabashvili (1984). "Fossil Gull Larus udabnensis sp. nov. in the Hypparion Fauna of Udabno". Vestnik Gosudartsvennogo Muzeya Gruzli. 33A: 3–13.
  26. ^ Hou LianHai (1984). "The Aragonian Vertebrate Fauna of Xiacaswan, Jang - 2. Aegypinae (Falconiformes, Aves)" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 22 (1): 14–20.
  27. ^ Pierce Brodkorb & Cécile Mourer-Chauviré (1984). Hugh H. Genowayf & Mary R. Dawson (eds.). "Pleistocene Birds from Cumberland Cave, Maryland". Contributions in Quaternary Vertebrate Paleontology: A Volume in Memorial to John e. Guilday. 8: 39–43.
  28. ^ Larry D. Martin (1984). "A New Hesperornithid and the Relationships of the Mesozoic Birds". Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. 87 (3–4): 141–150. doi:10.2307/3627850. JSTOR 3627850.
  29. ^ a b c d Colin J. O. Harrison (1984). "Further Additions to the Fossil Birds of Sheppey: A New Falconid and Three Small Rails". Tertiary Research. 5 (4): 179–187.
  30. ^ a b Colin J. O. Harrison (1984). "Rail-like Cursorial Birds of the British Lower Eocene, with Descriptions of Two New Species". The London Naturalist. 63: 13–23.
  31. ^ a b Peter W. Houde (1984). "Paleognathous Birds from the Early Tertiary of the Northern Hemisphere". Publication of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. 22: 1–148.
  32. ^ Pierce Brodkorb & Cécile Mourer-Chauviré (1984). "A New Species of Cormorant (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) from the Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania". Geobios. 17 (3): 331–337. Bibcode:1984Geobi..17..331B. doi:10.1016/s0016-6995(84)80098-4.
  33. ^ Huang Wanpo & Hou Lianhai (1984). "Vertebrate Fossils from Yunshui Cave, Beijing" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 22 (2): 117–122.
  34. ^ Storrs L. Olson (1984). "A Hammerkop from the Early Pliocene of South Africa (Aves: Scopidae)" (PDF). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 97 (4): 736–740. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  35. ^ Jíří Mlíkovský (2002). "Cenozoic Birds of the World Part 1: Europe" (PDF). Praha Ninox Press. 2002: 1–407. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2014-08-28.