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2001 in paleontology
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2001 in paleontology

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 2001.

Plants

[edit]

Pteridophyta

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

Wessiea[2]

gen et sp nov

Valid

Pigg & Rothwell

Langhian (Middle Miocene)

"Ho ho" site, Grande Ronde Basalt.

USA

A fern, type sp W. yakimaensis

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Metasequoia foxii[3]

sp nov

Valid

Stockey, Rothwell, & Falder

late Tiffanian

Munce's Hill and Gao mine sites, Paskapoo Formation

Canada

Angiosperms

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

Trochodendron nastae[4]

sp nov

Valid

Pigg, Wehr, & Ickert-Bond

Ypresian

Tom Thumb Tuff, Klondike Mountain Formation

USA

A Trochodendron species

Trochodendron nastae

Arthropods

[edit]

Crustaceans

[edit]

Research

[edit]

New taxa

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images

Archaeopus lunicarina [6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Cretaceous
Late Campanian - Maastrichtian

Matanuska Formation

US
Alaska

A retroplumid crab

Brecanclawu[6]

Gen et sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Eocene

Twin River Group
Hoko River Formation

US
Washington

A possible callianassid ghost shrimp
The type species is B. rathbunae

Callianopsis? inornatus[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Eocene

Twin River Group
Hoko River Formation

US
Washington

A callianassid ghost shrimp of uncertain generic affinity.

Ctenocheles hokoensis[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Eocene

Twin River Group
Hoko River Formation

US
Washington

A possible ctenochelid ghost shrimp

Eucorystes platys[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Cretaceous
Albian

Hudspeth Formation

US
Oregon

A palaeocorystine frog crab.

Feldmannia[5]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Guinot & Tavares

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Paw Paw Formation

An etyid crab, type species is F. wintoni, originally named as Xanthosia wintoni in 1935.

Glyphea micheleae[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Eocene
Lutetian

Aldwell Formation?

USA
Washington

A glypheid glypheoid lobster species.

Hoploparia tshudy[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Cretaceous
late Albian - late Cenomanian

Moonshine Creek Formation

US
Alaska

A nephropid lobster sp.

Paguristes hokoensis[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Eocene

Twin River Group
Hoko River Formation

US
Washington

A Diogenid hermit crab species.

Pagurus malloryi[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Oligocene

Makah Formation
Jansen Creek Member

US
Washington

A Diogenid hermit crab species.

Palaeastacus trisulcatus[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Cretaceous
Cenomanian

Antelope Shale

US
California

A erymid glypheoid lobster species.

Palaeopentacheles? starri[6]

Sp nov

Schweitzer & Feldmann

Oligocene

Makah Formation

US
Washington

A Polychelid benthic crustacean sp. of uncertain generic affinity.

Secretanella[5]

Gen et comb nov

Valid

Guinot & Tavares

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

A crab belonging to Heterotremata, type species is S. arcuata, originally named as Xanthosia arcuata in 1964.

Insects

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images

Electromyrmococcus[7]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Williams

Burdigalian (Miocene)

Dominican amber

Dominican Republic

A Coccoidea scale insect

Electromyrmococcus abductus in the jaws of Acropyga glaesaria

Palaeopsychops[8]

Gen et 4 sp nov

valid

Andersen

Ypresian

Fur Formation

Denmark

An ithionid giant lacewing
Type species P. latifasciatus, also includes P. abruptus, P. angustifasciatus, and P. maculatus

Tainosia[9]

Gen et sp nov

Valid

Szwedo & Stroiński

Burdigalian (Miocene)

Dominican amber

Dominican Republic

A nogodinid frog hopper

Fishes

[edit]

Newly named bony fishes

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Achoania[10]

Valid

  • Zhu
  • Yu
  • Ahlberg

Early Devonian

Xitun Formation

China

The type species is Achoania jarvikii.

Westollrhynchus[11]

Valid

  • Schultze

Early Devonian

Bear Rock Formation

Canada

A new genus for "Speonesydrion" lehmanni.

Amphibians

[edit]

Newly named amphibians

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Mesophryne[12]

Valid

  • Gao
  • Shubin

Late Jurassic

Yixian Formation

China

The type species is Mesophryne beipiaoensis.

Nezpercius[13]

Valid

  • Blob
  • Carrano
  • Rogers
  • Forster
  • Espinoza

Upper Cretaceous

Judith River Formation

USA

The type species is Nezpercius dodsoni.

Sinerpeton[12]

Valid

  • Gao
  • Shubin

Late Jurassic

Zhangjiakou Formation

China

The type species is Sinerpeton fengshanensis.

Ichthyosaurs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Metashastasaurus[14]

Synonymy

  • Nichollis
  • Manabe

Late Triassic

Pardonet Formation

Canada

A new genus for "Shastasaurus" neoscapularis. A junior synonymy of Callawayia Maisch & Matzke, 2000.

Turtles

[edit]

Newly named turtles

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Caribemys[15]

Valid

  • de la Fuente
  • Iturralde-Vinent

Upper Jurassic

Jagua Formation

Cuba

The type species is Caribemys oxfordiensis.

Cearachelys[16]

Valid

  • Gaffney
  • Campos
  • Hirayama

Early Cretaceous

Santana Formation

Brazil

The type species is Cearachelys placidoi.

Kurmademys[17]

Valid

  • Gaffney
  • Chatterjee
  • Rudra

Late Cretaceous

Kallamedu Formation

India

The type species is Kurmademys kallamedensis.

Lepidosauromorphs

[edit]

Newly named basal lepidosauromorphs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Hypuronector[18]

Valid

  • Colbert
  • Olsen

Late Triassic

Lockatong Formation

USA

The type species is Hypuronector limnaios.

Newly named plesiosaurs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Hauffiosaurus[19]

Valid

  • O'Keefe

Lower Jurassic

Posidonia Shale Formation

Germany

The type species is Hauffiosaurus zanoni.

Hauffiosaurus

Newly named sphenodonts

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Godavarisaurus[20]

Valid

  • Evans
  • Prasad
  • Manhas

Early Jurassic

Kota Formation

India

The type species is Godavarisaurus latefi.

Rebbanasaurus[20]

Valid

  • Evans
  • Prasad
  • Manhas

Early Jurassic

Kota Formation

India

The type species is Rebbanasaurus jani.

Archosauromorphs

[edit]

Newly named basal archosauromorphs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Yonghesuchus[21]

Valid

  • Wu
  • Liu
  • Li

Upper Triassic

Tongchuan Formation

China

The type species is Yonghesuchus sangbiensis.

Newly named pseudosuchians

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

Mekosuchus sanderi[22]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Willis

Early Miocene

Ringtail Site of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area

Australia

A mekosuchinae crocodilian. It is the youngest known species of Mekosuchus from the Australian mainland.

Pabwehshi[23]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wilson, Malkani & Gingerich

Upper Cretaceous

Pab Formation

Pakistan

The type species is Pabwehshi pakistanensis.

Rugosuchus[24]

Gen. et. sp. nov

Valid

Wu, Wu & Russell

Lower Cretaceous

?Nenjiang Formation

China

The type species is Rugosuchus nonganensis.

Stratiotosuchus[25]

Gen. et sp. nov.

Valid

Campos et al.

Upper Cretaceous

Adamantina Formation

Brazil

The type species is Stratiotosuchus maxhechti.

Newly named dinosaurs

[edit]

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[26]

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Aletopelta[27]

Valid taxon

Ford
James Kirkland

Point Loma Formation

USA ( California)

A 20-foot-long (6.1 m) ankylosaurid. Apparently, before being fossilized, the animal's bloated carcass had floated out to sea and formed a miniature reef environment after it sank to the bottom.

Aletopelta
Citipati
Gobisaurus
Hesperosaurus
Khaan
Masiakasaurus had a unique jaw configuration with projecting teeth.
Nothronychus
Megapnosaurus
Paralititan
Rapetosaurus
Bienosaurus[28] Valid taxon

Dong Zhiming

Lower Lufeng Formation

China

A primitive scelidosaurid known from scant remains.

Cedarpelta[29] Valid taxon

Kenneth Carpenter
James Kirkland
et al.[CAL 1]

Cedar Mountain Formation

USA

The most basal known ankylosaurid.

Citipati[30] Valid taxon

James M. Clark
Mark Norell
Rinchen Barsbold

Djadokhta Formation

Mongolia

A relatively large oviraptorid known to brood its nests.

Draconyx[31] Valid taxon

Octávio Mateus
Antunes

Lourinhã Formation

Portugal

A relative of Camptosaurus.

Eotyrannus[32] Valid taxon

Hutt
Naish
et al.[CAL 2]

Wessex Formation

UK

A twenty-foot tyrannosauroid.

Eshanosaurus[33] Valid taxon

Xu Xing
Zhao Xijin
James M. Clark

Lower Lufeng Formation

China

A therizinosaur, possibly the earliest known coelurosaur.

Gobisaurus[34] Valid taxon

Matthew K. Vickaryous
Anthony P. Russell
et al.[CAL 3]

Ulansuhai Formation

China

An ankylosaurid that resembled Shamosaurus.

"Hanwulosaurus"[35] Nomen nudum

Anonymous

China

A thirty-foot ankylosaur.

"Heilongjiangosaurus"[36] Nomen nudum

Li W.
Jin J.

China

A hadrosaur, possibly synonymous with Charonosaurus.

Hesperosaurus[37] Valid taxon

Kenneth Carpenter
Miles
Cloward

Morrison Formation

USA

A stegosaurid slightly older and more primitive than Stegosaurus, although the genera may be synonymous.

Jiangshanosaurus[38] Valid taxon

Tang F.
Kang
et al.[CAL 4]

China

A titanosaur known only from a partial skeleton found near Lixian Village, China.

Jinzhousaurus[39] Valid taxon

Wang X.
Xu Xing

Yixian Formation

China

A hadrosauroid known from a nearly complete skeleton.

Khaan[30] Valid taxon

James M. Clark
Mark Norell
Rinchen Barsbold

Djadochta Formation

Mongolia

A fairly typical oviraptorid once misidentified as Ingenia.

"Kittysaurus" Junior synonym of Eotyrannus

Hargreaves

Wessex Formation

UK

Liaoningosaurus[40] Valid taxon

Xu Xing
Wang X.
You

Yixian Formation

China

A bizarre ankylosaur of uncertain classification. Known from the complete specimen of a juvenile 34 cm long, it's the smallest known ankylosaur to date.

Losillasaurus[41] Valid taxon

Maria Lourdes Casanovas-Cladellas
Santafe
Sanz

Villar del Arzobispo Formation

Spain

A large turiasaur known from a partial subadult skeleton.

Masiakasaurus[42] Valid taxon

Sampson
Carrano
Forster

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Maevarano Formation

Madagascar

A 2-meter (about 6–7 feet) noasaurid with unusual forward-pointing teeth.

Megapnosaurus[43] Valid taxon

Ivie
Slipinski
Wegrzynowicz

South Africa
Zimbabwe

Replacement name for Syntarsus Raath, 1969 non Fairmaire, 1869; a coelophysid theropod.

Neimongosaurus[44] Valid taxon

Zhang X. H.
Xu Xing
et al.[CAL 5]

Iren Dabasu Formation

China

A therizinosaur about 2.3 meters in length.

Nothronychus[45] Valid taxon

James Kirkland Wolfe

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

Moreno Hill Formation

USA

A therizinosaur.

Paralititan[46] Valid taxon

J. B. Smith
Lamanna
et al.[CAL 6]

Bahariya Formation

Egypt

A titanosaur and of the most massive dinosaurs ever discovered, with an estimated weight of 59 tonnes (65 short tons) and length of around 26 meters (85 ft).

Planicoxa[47] Valid taxon

DiCroce
Kenneth Carpenter

Cedar Mountain Formation

USA

An advanced iguanodontian.

Pukyongosaurus[48] Valid taxon

Dong Zhiming
Paik
Kim H. J.

Hasandong Formation

South Korea

A titanosauriform related to Euhelopus.

Quilmesaurus[49] Valid taxon

Rodolfo Coria

Allen Formation

Argentina

A 5–6 meters (16–20 feet) theropod known from a partial leg.

Rapetosaurus[50] Valid taxon

Kristina Curry-Rogers
Catherine A. Forster

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Maevarano Formation

Madagascar

A 15 metres (49 ft) titanosaur.

Ruehleia[51] Valid taxon

Peter Galton.

Knollenmergel

Germany

A prosauropod named for Hugo Ruehle von Lilienstern.

Wellnhoferia[52]

Valid non-dinosaurian taxon.

Andrzej Elżanowski

Solnhofen Limestone

Germany

Very similar to Archaeopteryx, which may be its senior synonym.

Venenosaurus[53] Valid taxon

Tidwell
Kenneth Carpenter
S. Meyer

Early Cretaceous (early Aptian)

Cedar Mountain Formation (Poison Strip Member)

USA

A relatively small (probably around 10 m (33 ft) long) titanosauriform sauropod, known from an incomplete skeleton of an adult and a juvenile. Its tail vertebrae articulated in a unique fashion that may be of evolutionary significance.

"Yibinosaurus"[54] Nomen nudum

Ouyang vide: Anonymous

China

An undescribed sauropod.

Yunxianosaurus[55] Valid taxon

Li

Late Cretaceous

China

A titanosaur sauropod.

Newly named birds

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

Aegypius prepyrenaicus [56]

Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Hernández Carrasquilla

Late Pleistocene

Cave depositions

Spain:

Aragon

According to Sanchez Marco (2007) it is a Nomen Dubium.

Apsaravis ukhaana [57]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Mark A. Norell

Julia A. Clarke

Late Cretaceous

Djadokhta Formation

Mongolia

The type species of the new genus.

Belgirallus minutus [58]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Gerald Mayr

Richard Smith

Early Oligocene

MP 21

Belgium:

Flemish Brabant

A Rallidae.

Belgirallus oligocaenus [58]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gerald Mayr

Richard Smith

Early Oligocene

MP 21

Belgium:

Flemish Brabant

A Rallidae, the type species of the new genus.

Boutersemia belgica [58]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gerald Mayr

Richard Smith

Early Oligocene

MP 21

Belgium:

Flemish Brabant

A Glareolidae, the type species of the new genus.

Boutersemia parvula [58]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gerald Mayr

Richard Smith

Early Oligocene

MP 21

Belgium:

Flemish Brabant

A Glareolidae.

Calonectris krantzi [59]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Storrs L. Olson

Pamela C. Rasmussen

Early Pliocene

Yorktown Formation

USA:

North Carolina

A Procellariidae.

Collocalia buday [60]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Walter E. Boles

Early Miocene

Riversleigh

Australia:

Queensland

An Apodidae.

Ducula lakeba [61]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Trevor H. Worthy

Quaternary

Lakeba Island

Fiji

A Columbidae.

Emuarius guljaruba [62]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Walter E. Boles

Late Oligocene

Etadunna Formation

Australia:

South Australia

A Dromaiidae.

Eocolius walkeri [63]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gareth J. Dyke

David M. Waterhouse

Early Eocene

MP 8

UK:

England

A stem Coliiformes.

Eocrex tagusevae [64]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Andrei V. Panteleyev

Paleogene (Late Eocene-?Early Oligocene)

Tajikistan

A Rallidae.

Falco kurochkini [65]

Sp. nov.

Valid

William Suárez Duque

Storrs L. Olson

Quaternary

Cave deposits

Cuba

A Falconidae.

Fluvioviridavis platyrhamphus [66]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gerald Mayr

Michael Daniels

Early Eocene

Green River Formation

USA:

Wyoming

A Podargiformes, Fluvioviridavidae G. Mayr, 2005, the type species of the new genus.

Gavia fortis [59]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Storrs L. Olson

Pamela C. Rasmussen

Early Pliocene

Yorktown Formation

USA:

North Carolina

A Gaviidae.

Laputavis robusta [67]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Gareth J. Dyke

Early Eocene

Ypresian,

London Clay Formation,

MP 8

UK:

England

A stem Apodiformes, the genus was originally named Laputa but that name was preoccupied, the type species of the new genus.

Limenavis patagonica[68]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Julia A. Clarke

Luis M. Chiappe

Late Cretaceous

Allen Formation

Argentina

An Avialae Gauthier, 1985. The type species of the new genus.

Natunaornis gigoura [61]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Trevor H. Worthy

Holocene

Viti Levu

Fiji

A flightless Columbidae.

Phoebastria rexsularum [59]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Storrs L. Olson

Pamela C. Rasmussen

Early Pliocene

Yorktown Formation

USA:

North Carolina

A Diomedeidae.

Pica mourerae [69]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Bartomeu Seguí

Plio-Pleistocene

Majorca,

Balearic Islands

Spain:

Majorca

A Corvidae.

Podiceps howardae [70]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Robert W. Storer

Early Pliocene

Yorktown Formation

USA:

North Carolina

A Podicipedidae, possibly a synonym of Podiceps auritus.

Pseudoseisura cursor [71]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Eduardo P. Tonni

Jorge Noriega

Early Pleistocene

Ensenadan

Argentina

A Furnariidae.

Pterodromoides minoricensis [72]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Bartomeu Seguí

Josep Quintana

Joan J. Fornos

Josep A. Alcover

Late Miocene-Pliocene

Early Pliocene

Menorca;

Yorktown Formation, North America

Spain:

Menorca;

USA:

North Carolina

A Procellariidae.

Rallus recessus [73]

Sp. nov.

Valid

Storrs L. Olson

David B. Wingate

Late Pleistocene

Bermuda

Bermuda

A flightless Rallidae.

Wellnhoferia grandis [74]

Gen. nov et Sp. nov.

Valid ?

Andrei Elzanowski

Late Jura

Portlandian

Solnhofer Plattenkalk

Germany:

Bavaria

A new name for Archaeopteryx lithographica von Meyer, 1861, specimen No 6, the "Solnhofer specimen".

Yanornis martini [75]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Zhou Zhonghe

Fucheng Zhang

Early Createcous

Jiufotang Formation

China

An Ornithuromorphae Chiappe, Ji, Ji et Norell, 1999, Yanornithiformes Zhou et Zhang, 2001, Yanornithidae Zhou et Zhang, 2001. The type species of the new genus.

Yixianornis grabaui [75]

Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.

Valid

Zhou Zhonghe

Zhang Fucheng

Early Cretaceous

Jiufotang Formation

China

An Ornithuromorphae Chiappe, Ji, Ji et Norell, 1999, Yixianornithiformes Zhou et Zhang, 2006, Yixianornithidae Zhou et Zhang, 2006. The type species of the new genus.

Newly named pterosaurs

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Haopterus[76]

Valid

  • Wang

Early Cretaceou

Yixian Formation

China

The type species is Haopterus gracilis.

Istiodactylus[77]

Valid

  • Howse
  • Milner
  • Martill

Early Cretaceous

Vectis Formation

United Kingdom

A new genus for Ornithodesmus latidens.

Synapsids

[edit]

Non-mammalian

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Delectosaurus[78]

Valid

  • Kurkin

Late Permian

Vyazniki Assemblage

Russia

A dicynodont. Two species are described Delectosaurus arefjevi and D. berezhanensis.

Lumkuia

Interpresosaurus[78]

Valid

  • Kurkin

Late Permian

Vyazniki Assemblage

Russia

A dicynodont. The type species is Interpresosaurus blomi.

Lumkuia[79]

Valid

  • Hopson
  • Kitching

Middle Triassic

Burgersdorp Formation

South Africa

A cynodont. The type species is Lumkuia fuzzi.

Malasaurus[80]

Valid

  • Tatarinov

Late Triassic

Vyazniki Assemblage

Russia

A therocephalian. The type species is Malasaurus germanus.

Mitredon[81]

Valid

  • Shapiro
  • Jenkins

Late Triassic

Fleming Fjord Formation

Greenland

A cynodont. The type species is Mitredon cromptoni.

Prozostrodon[82]

Valid

  • Bonaparte
  • Barberena

Late Triassic

Santa Maria Formation

Brazil

New genus for "Thrinaxodon" brasiliensis Barberena, Bonaparte & Sá Teixeira, 1987

Riograndia[83]

Valid

  • Bonaparte
  • Ferigolo
  • Ribeiro

Late Triassic

Caturrita Formation

Brazil

A cynodont. The type species is Riograndia guaibensis.

Mammalian

[edit]
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Abdounodus [84]

Valid

  • Gheerbrant
  • Sudre

early Eocene

Ouled Abdoun Basin

Morocco

A Mioclaneid condylarth assigned to Bulbulodentata. The type species is Abdounodus hamdii.

Ocepeia

Ocepeia[84]

Valid

  • Gheerbrant
  • Sudre

early Eocene

Ouled Abdoun Basin

Morocco

A condylarth assigned to Phenacodonta, later assigned to stem-Paenungulata. [85] The type species is Ocepeia daouiensis.

Footnotes

[edit]
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