1871 in paleontology

	… 1861; 1862; 1863; 1864; 1865; 1866; 1867; ; 1868; 1869; 1870; 1871; 1872; 1873; 1874; ; 1875; 1876; 1877; 1878; 1879; 1880; 1881 …;
	In science 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874
	Art; Archaeology; Architecture; Literature; Music; Philosophy; Science; +...

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 1871.

"Fish"

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Erismatopterus'^[2]	Gen et Sp et comb nov	valid	Cope	Eocene Ypresian	Green River Formation	US Wyoming	A percopsid fish. The type species is E. rickseckeri Also includes Cyprinodon levatus (1870) E. rickseckeri synonymized into E. levatus (1969)	Erismatopterus levatus

Archosauromorphs

Newly named pseudosuchians

Name	Status	Authors		Notes
Zatomus	Nomen dubium	Edward Drinker Cope		Dubious genus of non-dinosaurian archosaur.

Newly named dinosaurs

Name	Status	Authors		Notes
Danubiosaurus	Nomen dubium	Bunzel		Possible subjective synonym of Struthiosaurus.

Pterosaurs

New taxa

Name	Status	Authors		Notes
Diopecephalus	Jr. synonym.	Seeley		Jr. synonym of Pterodactylus.
Ornithostoma	Valid	Seeley

References

^ 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.
^ Grande, L. (1984). "Paleontology of the Green River Formation, with a review of the fish fauna". Bulletin of the Wyoming State Geological Survey. 63 2nd ed. Laramie, Wyoming.

[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.

[Grande84-2] Grande, L. (1984). "Paleontology of the Green River Formation, with a review of the fish fauna". Bulletin of the Wyoming State Geological Survey. 63 2nd ed. Laramie, Wyoming.

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