1955 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 1955.

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

Plants

Pteridophyta

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Location Notes Images

Azolla primaeva[2]

Comb nov

Valid

(Penhallow) Arnold

Ypresian

Allenby Formation

 Canada

A waterfern, moved from Azollophyllum primaevum Penhallow, 1890


Dinosaurs

  • Massospondylus gastroliths are documented.[3]

Newly named dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[4]

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Majungasaurus[5] Valid taxon

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Maevarano Formation

A majungasaurine abelisaurid.

Tarbosaurus[6] Valid taxon

Late Cretaceous (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian)

Nemegt Formation
Subashi Formation

An Asian Tyrannosaurus-looking tyrannosaurid.

Synapsids

Theriodonts

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Sauroctonus

Valid

Bystrow

Late Permian

Semen Formation
Teekloof Formation

A gorgonopsian.

Scalenodon

Valid

Crompton and Parrington

Middle Triassic

Manda Formation

A traversodontid cynodont.

Cetaceans

Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Liolithax pappus

Jr. Synonim

Kellogg

middle Miocene (Langhian)

Synonim of Lophocetus pappus.

Pelodelphis

Valid

Kellogg

middle Miocene (Langhian)

Calvert Formation

An odontocete of uncertain position.

Tretosphys

Valid

Kellogg

iddle Miocene (Langhian)

Calvert Formation

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

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. Arnold, C.A. (1955). "A Tertiary Azolla from British Columbia" (PDF). Contributions from the Museum of. Paleontology, University of Michigan. 12 (4): 37–45.
  3. Bond (1955). Sanders, Manley, and Carpenter (2001), "Table 12.1" page 167.
  4. Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  5. 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.
  6. Maleev, E. A. (1955). "Гигантских плотоядных динозавров Монголии" [Gigantic carnivorous dinosaurs of Mongolia]. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR. 104: 634–637.
  • Bond, G. 1955. A note on dinosaur remains from the Forest Sandstone (Upper Karoo). Occasional Papers of the National Museum of Rhodesia 2: 795–800.
  • Sanders F, Manley K, Carpenter K. Gastroliths from the Lower Cretaceous sauropod Cedarosaurus weiskopfae. In: Tanke D.H, Carpenter K, editors. Mesozoic vertebrate life: new research inspired by the paleontology of Philip J. Currie. Indiana University Press; Bloomington, IN: 2001. pp. 166–180.
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