1881 in paleontology

List of years in paleontology
... 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 ... 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 ... 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 ...
In science 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884
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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. 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 1881.

Molluscs

Bivalves

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Fordilla	gen et sp nov	Valid	Barrande	Early Cambrian		USA	early Cambrian bivalve genus	File:Fordilla troyensis shell.jpg Fordilla troyensis
Nucula ponderata	sp nov	synonym	Barrande	Ordovician		Europe	moved to the genus Concavodonta as C. ponderata in 1972

Dinosaurs

Newly named dinosaurs

Name Status Authors Notes Crataeomus Nomen dubium Harry Govier Seeley Possible subjective synonym of Struthiosaurus. Diracodon Nomen dubium Othniel Charles Marsh Possible subjective synonym of Stegosaurus. Doratodon Misidentification Harry Govier Seeley Misidentified crocodilian. Hallopus Misidentification. Othniel Charles Marsh Misidentified crocodilian. Hoplosaurus Nomen dubium Harry Govier Seeley Possible subjective synonym of Struthiosaurus. Mochlodon Valid Harry Govier Seeley Oligosaurus Nomen dubium Harry Govier Seeley Possible subjective synonym of Rhabdodon. Ornithomerus Jr. synonym Harry Govier Seeley Junior subjective synonym of Rhabdodon. Pleuropeltus Nomen dubium Harry Govier Seeley Possible subjective synonym of Struthiosaurus. Rhadinosaurus Nomen dubium Harry Govier Seeley		File:Rhabdodon.jpg Rhabdodon. File:Stegosaurus Senckenberg.jpg Stegosaurus.

Pterosaurs

New taxa

Name Status Authors Notes Dermodactylus Valid Marsh Laopteryx Valid Marsh Nyctodactylus Jr. synonym. Marsh Jr. synonym of Nyctosaurus.

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name	Status	Authors	Discovery year	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Aelurosaurus	Valid	Owen						File:Aelurosaurus BW.jpg Aelurosaurus

Paleontologists

• Death of the Reverend William Fox a significant early collector of dinosaur fossils from the Isle of Wight.