2021 in paleontology
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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 2021.
| 2021 in science |
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| Fields |
| Technology |
| Social sciences |
| Paleontology |
| Extraterrestrial environment |
| Terrestrial environment |
| Other/related |
Flora[edit]
Plants[edit]
Fungi[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Poinar & Maltier | Europe (Baltic Sea region) | A fungus belonging to the group Hypocreales and the family Clavicipitaceae. Genus includes new species A. baltica. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Le Renard et al. | A dothideomycete fly-speck fungus. Type species B. ostiolatum. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Heluta & Sukhomlyn in Sukhomlyn et al. | Late Eocene | A species of Chaenothecopsis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Haelewaters & Perreau in Perreau, Haelewaters & Tafforeau | A laboulbeniale fungus, | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Lalica & Tomescu | Spores with affinities to the Glomeromycotina. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | McLoughlin et al. | Late Cretaceous (Santonian–early Campanian) | A member of the family Meliolaceae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Tykhonenko & Hayova in Tykhonenko et al. | Middle Eocene | Naibuchi Formation | A member of Pucciniales. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Krings, Serbet & Harper | A Chytridiomycotan fungus. Type species R. matryoshkae. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Le Renard et al. | A member of Dothideomycetes. Genus includes new species S. placocentrum. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | McLoughlin et al. | Late Cretaceous (Santonian–early Campanian) | A member of the family Micropeltidaceae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Tobias & Maslova in Xu et al. | Late Oligocene | A member of Ascomycota described on the basis of fungal fruiting bodies preserved on fossil tupelo endocarps. Genus includes new species Y. nyssae. |
Research[edit]
- Exceptionally preserved specimens of Tawuia, providing new information on the anatomy of this organism, are described from the Tonian Liulaobei and Shiwangzhuang formations (China) by Tang et al. (2021), who interpret Tawuia as a coenocytic eukaryote, possibly a macroalga.[12]
- Microfossils which may represent early terrestrial fungi are described from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (China) by Gan et al. (2021).[13]
- A Rhynie chert fossil Mycokidstonia sphaerialoides, originally interpreted as an ascomycete, is reclassified as a member of Glomeromycota belonging to the family Ambisporaceae by Walker et al. (2021).[14]
- Carboniferous organism Oochytrium lepidodendri, originally classified as a fungus, is reinterpreted as an oomycete by Strullu-Derrien et al. (2021).[15]
- Probable fossils of multicellular eukaryotic macroalgae (possibly with a green algal affinity) are described from the Tonian Dolores Creek Formation in the Wernecke Mountains (Canada) by Maloney et al. (2021), who interpret these fossils as likely to be some of the few green algae and some of the largest macroscopic eukaryotes yet recognized in the early Neoproterozoic, indicating that eukaryotic algae colonized marine environments by the early Neoproterozoic.[16]
- Fossil material of macroalgae, providing information on the early evolution of holdfast morphologies and attachment strategies of benthic macroalgae, is described from the Ediacaran Lantian biota and Miaohe biota (China) by Wang et al. (2021).[17]
Cnidarians[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Chwieduk | A rugose coral belonging to the group Stauriida and the family Zaphrentoididae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | A stony coral belonging to the family Cladophylliidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baron-Szabo | Langshan Formation | A stony coral belonging to the family Heterocoeniidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Axosmiliidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Bugrova | A stony coral belonging to the family Latomeandridae. The type species is B. roniewiczae. | |||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | Devonian | A rugose coral. The type species is "Phillipsastrea" currani Etheridge; genus also includes "P." speciosa Chapman, "P." maculosa Hill, "P." linearis Hill and "P." oculoides Hill. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | A rugose coral. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Carrera et al. | A member of Octocorallia, possibly belonging to the group Alcyonacea. The type species is C. argentinus. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Niko | Early Carboniferous | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baron-Szabo | A stony coral. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Löser in Löser et al. | A coral belonging to the family Solenocoeniidae. | |||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Fedorowski, Bamber & Richards | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | Lower Rundle Group | A rugose coral belonging to the group Stauriida and the family Lithostrotionidae. The type species is "Diphyphyllum" mutabile Kelly (1942); genus also includes "Lithostrotion" flexuosum Warren (1927), "Lithostrotion (Siphonodendron)" warreni Nelson (1960) and "Lithostrotion (Siphonodendron)" oculinum Sando (1963). | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Coryphylliidae. | ||||
| Coryphyllia capillaria[20] | Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Coryphylliidae. | |||
| Gen. et comb. et 3 sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | Devonian | A rugose coral. The type species is "Phillipsastrea" callosa Hill; genus also includes new species C. duni, C. jelli and C. struszi. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Ohar & Denayer | A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Cystiphylloides tetsaense[18] | Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Guo et al. | A hexangulaconulariid. Genus includes new species D. isofacialis. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Reimaniphylliidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Chwieduk | Carboniferous (Viséan) | Flett Formation | A rugose coral belonging to the group Stauriida and the family Ekvasophyllidae. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Löser in Löser et al. | Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) | Sierra del Pozo Formation | A coral belonging to the family Aulastraeoporidae. The type species is E. llanoensis. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Suzuki | Miocene | Katsuta Group | A species of Favia. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Löser in Löser et al. | Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) | Sierra del Pozo Formation | A coral belonging to the family Actinastreidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Deltocyathiidae. | ||||
| Fungiaphyllia rotunda[20] | Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Deltocyathiidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Saint Martin et al. | Lower Coralline Limestone | A species of Gyrosmilia. | ||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Niko & Badpa | A tabulate coral belonging to the family Micheliniidae. The type species is "Michelinopora" allata Tchudinova in Ruzhentsev & Sarycheva (1965). | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. Genus includes new species K. sulcatum. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Lekanophyllum robbense[18] | Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright in McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Margarophylliidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright in McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Saint Martin et al. | Oligocene (Chattian) | Lower Coralline Limestone | A stony coral. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kołodziej & Marian | A colonial coral belonging to the group Pachythecaliina, possibly belonging to the superfamily Heterocoenioidea and the family Carolastraeidae. Genus includes new species M. roniewiczae. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ou & Shu in Ou et al. | An early anthozoan. The type species is N. elegans. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Saint Martin et al. | Oligocene (Chattian) | Lower Coralline Limestone | A stony coral. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. Genus includes new species O. taylori. | ||||
| Gen et comb. nov | Valid | Song et al. | Late Cambrian | A member of Leptothecata belonging to the group Macrocolonia; a new genus for "Siberiograptus" simplex Lin (1985). | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Min et al. | A conulariid. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Protoheterastraeidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | Devonian (Pragian) | A rugose coral. | ||||
| Phillipsastrea mcraeorum[23] | Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | A rugose coral. | ||||
| Phillipsastrea pedderi[23] | Sp. nov | Valid | McLean & Wright | A rugose coral. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. The type species is P. horologium. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Thecosmiliidae. The type species is P. organum. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Dermosmiliidae. | ||||
| Proleptophyllia magna[20] | Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Dermosmiliidae. | |||
| Proleptophyllia subphaceloida[20] | Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Dermosmiliidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Reimaniphylliidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Löser in Löser et al. | A stony coral belonging to the family Rhizangiidae. The type species is S. aquilai. | |||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Pliensbachian) | A stony coral of uncertain affinities. The type species is "Coccophyllum" liasicum Turnšek & Geyer in Turnšek, Seyfried & Geyer (1975). | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. | ||||
| Stylophyllopsis veracolumella[20] | Sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Badpa | Permian (Capitanian) | A tabulate coral belonging to the family Favositidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baron-Szabo | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Latomeandridae. | ||||
| Gen. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Vasseur & Lathuilière | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) | A stony coral belonging to the family Stylophyllidae. The type species is T. regularis. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | McLean | Devonian | A rugose coral belonging to family Cystiphyllidae. Genus includes new species V. caribouensis. |
Research[edit]
- Anatomical evidence indicative of a close relationship between cloudinids and Cambrian animals with cnidarian affinities: Cambroctoconus, Lipopora and Tretocylichne is published by Park et al. (2021).[39]
- A study on the morphology, embryonic development and phylogenetic relationships of Quadrapyrgites is published by Zhao et al. (2021), who interpret this taxon and its probable relative Olivooides as more likely to be diploblastic cnidarians than triploblastic cycloneuralians.[40]
- An exceptionally preserved conulariid specimen, keeping its aperture semi-closed and making it possible to see most of the internal part of the closure with rib continuation inwards, is described from the Ordovician of southeastern Brandenburg (Germany) by Sendino & Bochmann (2021).[41]
- Revision of Palaenigma wrangeli is published by Kröger et al. (2021), who argue that this organism can be best interpreted as a conulariid, and name a new family Palaenigmaidae.[42]
- A study on the earliest growth stages and branching process in specimens of Oligophylloides from the Devonian (Famennian) of Morocco, and on the implications of these specimens for the knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of Heterocorallia, is published by Berkowski et al. (2021).[43]
Arthropods[edit]
Bryozoans[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova, Taylor & Pakhnevich | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | A cheilostome bryozoan. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | A species of Antropora. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Onychocellidae. The type species is A. magnus. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Microporidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Taylor & Rogers | A species of Conopeum. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Cribrilinidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Cribrilinidae. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Teuchoporidae. The type species C. parva. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Catenicellidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova, Taylor & Pakhnevich | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | A cheilostome bryozoan. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | López-Gappa et al. | Early Miocene | A member of Cheilostomatida. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Steginoporellidae. The type species is G. hadra. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | López-Gappa et al. | Early Miocene | A member of Cheilostomatida. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | López-Gappa et al. | Early Miocene | A member of Cheilostomatida. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Flórez, Di Martino & Ramalho | Early Miocene | Siamaná Formation | A member of the family Arachnopusiidae. |
Research[edit]
- Protomelission gatehousei is reinterpreted as a potential stem-group bryozoan by Zhang et al. (2021).[49]
- A study on the evolutionary history of cyclostome and cheilostome bryozoans over the past 150 million years, focusing on causes of cheilostome taxonomic richness surpassing the richness of once dominant cyclostomes, is published by Lidgard et al. (2021).[50]
Brachiopods[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Popov & Nikitina in Popov et al. | A kutorginide brachiopod. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Blodgett et al. | A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Gypidulidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Serobyan et al. | Devonian (Famennian) | An athyride brachiopod. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Solvik Formation | Genus includes new species E. uniplicata. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Lavié, Mestre & Carrera | Ordovician | An acrotretid brachiopod. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | García-Alcalde | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Trigonirhynchiidae. The type species is F. pulgari. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Popov et al. | A rhynchonellide brachiopod. Genus includes new species K. granulata. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Popov et al. | Silurian (Aeronian) | Shabdjereh Formation | A spiriferide brachiopod. Genus includes new species L. alatus. | |||
| Sp. nov | In press | Wang et al. | Hongjingshao Formation | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Lavié, Mestre & Carrera | Ordovician | San Juan Formation | An obolid brachiopod. Genus includes new species L. diminuta. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Popov et al. | Silurian (Aeronian) | Shabdjereh Formation | A spiriferide brachiopod. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Masunaga & Shiino | Middle Permian | Hoso-o Formation | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova & Zhegallo | Devonian (Frasnian) | A member of Linguloidea belonging to the family Paterulidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Popov & Nikitina in Popov et al. | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | Athei Formation | A protorthide brachiopod. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Rezende & Isaacson | Devonian | Ponta Grossa Formation | A member of Orthotetida. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Radulović | A rhynchonellide brachiopod belonging to the family Basiliolidae. Genus includes new species S. sphaerica. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Solvik Formation | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Solvik Formation | |||||
| Thulatrypa vikenensis[51] | Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Solvik Formation | ||||
| Nom. nov | Valid | García-Alcalde | Early Devonian | A terebratulid brachiopod; a replacement name for Xana García-Alcalde (1972). | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Guo, Chen & Liao | Early Carboniferous |
Research[edit]
- Revision and a study on the biogeography of brachiopod faunas from the Early Ordovician Mediterranean Province is published by Cocks & Popov (2021).[65]
- A study on the evolution of the strophomenoid brachiopods, aiming to determine whether environmental changes at the time of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event correlated with the diversification of this group, is published by Congreve, Patzkowsky & Wagner (2021).[66]
- A study on the selectivity of extinction of rhynchonelliform brachiopods from the Appalachian Foreland Basin during the two pulses of the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction, aiming to determine the primary kill mechanism in this fauna, is published by Pier et al. (2021).[67]
- A study on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of late Permian and Triassic rhynchonellides is published by Guo et al. (2021).[68]
Molluscs[edit]
Echinoderms[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich et al. | A monobathrid camerate belonging to the family Amphoracrinidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Néraudeau & Mouty | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | A sea urchin belonging to the family Archiaciidae. | ||||
| Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida. The type species is B. colbachi; genus also includes B. muenzbergerae. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Loba & Radwańska | A starfish belonging to the group Paxillosida, possibly a member of the family Astropectinidae. The type species is B. wapienensis. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. The type species is B. valettei. | |||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | In press | Gale & Matrion | A microcrinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. The type species is "Plotocrinus" monocarinatus Destombes (1984); genus also includes C. subplanatus (Destombes, 1984) and "Discocrinus integer Hess (2010). | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Disputed | Hunter & Ortega-Hernández | Early Ordovician | A somasteroid asterozoan. The type species is C. fezouataensis. Blake & Hotchkiss (2022) considered Cantabrigiaster to be a junior synonym of the chinianasterid genus Villebrunaster, though the authors maintained C. fezouataensis as a distinct species within the latter genus.[76] | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Roux, Martinez & Vizcaïno | Eocene (Ypresian) | A crinoid belonging to the family Rhizocrinidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Jagt et al. | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Spiennes Chalk Formation | A starfish belonging to the family Goniasteridae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Gale & Wesener | Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) | Tealby Clay | A starfish belonging to the family Goniopectinidae. | |||
| Chrispaulia wrightorum[79] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale & Wesener | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | A starfish belonging to the family Goniopectinidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | In press | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | A crinoid. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the family Ophionereididae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | A crinoid. Genus includes new species D. alumensis. | ||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Gale | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. The type species is "Asterias" scutatus Goldfuss (1833). | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. The type species is E. amellagensis. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Roux & Philippe | Early Miocene | A stalked crinoid of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species G. vinealis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Waters & Ausich | A monobathrid crinoid. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | El Qot | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | A sea urchin. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Roux, Martinez & Vizcaïno | Eocene (Ypresian) | A crinoid belonging to the family Rhizocrinidae. Genus includes new species G. amphoraformis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Bohatý & Ausich | A crinoid belonging to the group Eucladida. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | A crinoid. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Roux, Martinez & Vizcaïno | Eocene (Ypresian) | A crinoid belonging to the family Holopodidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Salamon & Płachno | Late Jurassic (Oxfordian) | A comatulid crinoid. Genus includes new species H. zitti. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Jell & Sprinkle | Cambrian | Thorntonia Limestone | An edrioblastoid. Genus includes new species I. edgari | |||
| Gen. et sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Rozhnov | Silurian | A myelodactylid disparid crinoid. Genus includes new species I. minutus, as well as "Myelodactylus" flexibilis Stukalina (1982) and "Myelodactylus" rimatus Stukalina (2000). | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Euryophiurida. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Gale & Wesener | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | A starfish belonging to the family Benthopectinidae. | ||||
| Jurapecten infrajurensis[79] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale & Wesener | A starfish belonging to the family Benthopectinidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mirantsev | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | Smedva Formation | A cladid crinoid. Genus includes new species K. ilkhovskyi. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Zhao et al. | A gogiid eocrinoid. Genus includes new species K. cupuliformis. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophioscolecida and the family Ophioscolecidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Mao & Li in Mao et al. | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | A cladid crinoid. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Forner i Valls, Arbilla Karasatorre & Moreno Alcalde | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | A sea urchin belonging to the group Holasteroida and the family Stegasteridae. The type species is N. singularis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Jagt et al. | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | A starfish belonging to the family Goniasteridae, a species of Nymphaster. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Pineda-Enríquez | A brittle star belonging to the family Ophiuridae. The type species is O. noctiluca. | |||||
| Gen. et 3 sp. nov | Valid | Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Pineda-Enríquez | Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian to Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurina. The type species is O. labadiei Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Pineda-Enríquez; genus also includes new species O. andreui Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Pineda-Enríquez and O. aliorbis Thuy & Numberger-Thuy.[71] | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida and the family Astrophiuridae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida and the family Ophiomusaidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Thuy, Maxwell & Pruss | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophintegrida. The type species is O. praeparvus. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida and the family Ophiopyrgidae. The type species is O. tennanti; genus also includes "Ophiura" astonensis Hess (1964). | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida and the family Ophiopyrgidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Roux & Philippe | Early Miocene | A stalked crinoid belonging to the family Balanocrininae. Genus includes new species P. avignonensis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Roux & Philippe | Early Miocene | A stalked crinoid belonging to the family Rhizocrinidae. | ||||
| Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Lefebvre & Ausich | Silurian?-Devonian | A mitrate. Genus includes new species P. racheboeufi and possibly P? cybeleae | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. The type species is P. pocknotata. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Donovan, Deckers & Jagt | A crinoid columnal. The type species is P. fionae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Roux, Martinez & Vizcaïno | Eocene (Ypresian) | A crinoid belonging to the family Rhizocrinidae. | ||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Hostettler et al. | St-Ursanne Formation | A sea urchin belonging to the group Cidaroida and the family Diplocidaridae. The type species is "Diplocidaris" bernasconii Bischof, Hostettler & Menkveld-Gfeller (2018). | ||||
| Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Gale & Wesener | Late Cretaceous | A starfish belonging to the family Benthopectinidae. The type species is P. spinifera; genus also includes P. ruegenensis. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian) | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. The type species is R. ruegenensis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | A crinoid. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Borghi, Bottazzi & Caporiondo | Eocene (Priabonian) | A sea urchin belongint to the family Trigonocidaridae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Donovan & Fearnhead | Early Devonian | A crinoid. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | El Qot | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | A sea urchin. Genus includes new species S. rhombohedralis. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophioscolecida and the family Ophioleucidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Thuy & Numberger-Thuy | Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to Toarcian) | A brittle star belonging to the group Ophiurida. The type species is T. desdemonia; genus also includes "Ophiomusium" sinemurensis Kutscher & Hary (1991). | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Jell & Sprinkle | Cambrian | Thorntonia Limestone | A stalked eocrinoid. Genus includes new species T. dowlingi | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Manni & Di Nardo | A crinoid belonging to the group Isocrinida and the family Paracomatulidae. The type species is T. toarcensis. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Semenov et al. | A hybocrinid crinoid. Genus includes new species T. schmidti. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Loba & Radwańska | Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. | ||||
| Valettaster thuyi[73] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | A starfish belonging to the family Sphaerasteridae. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rozhnov | Ordovician | A crinoid, possibly a myelodactylid disparid. Genus includes new species V. terentyevi | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Palópolo et al. | Eocene | A starfish belonging to the family Zoroasteridae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rozhnov | Silurian | A crinoid, possibly a myelodactylid disparid. Genus includes new species Z. milicinae |
Research[edit]
- Fossil material of Dendrocystites belonging or related to the species D. sedgwicki is described from the Ordovician Lower Ktaoua Formation (Morocco) by Nohejlová & Lefebvre (2021), representing the first record of Soluta from Morocco and Africa in general reported to date.[102]
- A study on the anatomy of Glyptosphaerites is published by Paul & Toom (2021).[103]
- Redescription of the anatomy of Cystoblastus, and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of glyptocystitoids and hemicosmitoids, is published by Paul & Toom (2021).[104]
- A study on the functional efficiency of hydrospires of blastoids, evaluating their potential significance for longer survival of blastoids than other blastozoan echinoderms, is published by Paul (2021).[105]
- A study on extinction selectivity and changes in taxonomic, morphological and ecological diversity of diplobathrid crinoids throughout their evolutionary history is published by Cole & Hopkins (2021).[106]
- A brittle star specimen (belonging to the group Oegophiurida and probably to the genus Protaster) preserving the body cavity in three dimensions and soft tissues, including the tube feet and internal structures, is described from the Silurian Herefordshire Lagerstätte (United Kingdom) by Carter et al. (2021).[107]
Conodonts[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||||
| Ancyrogondolella goldingi[108] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Yan & Wu | ||||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | ||||||
| Gen. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | A member of family Gondolellidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Barrick, Sundgren & McAdams | ||||||
| Caudicriodus murphyi[112] | Sp. nov | Valid | Barrick, Sundgren & McAdams | Devonian (Lochkovian) | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | |||||
| Columbitella talpa[113] | Sp. nov | In press | Golding | |||||
| Columbitella weitschati[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | Carboniferous | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Świś | Devonian (Famennian) | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Eriksson & Lindskog | Middle Ordovician | Lynna Formation | A member of Protopanderodontida belonging to the family Drepanoistodontidae. | |||
| Drepanoistodus svendi[115] | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Eriksson & Lindskog | Middle Ordovician | Volkhov Formation | A member of Protopanderodontida belonging to the family Drepanoistodontidae. | ||
| Drepanoistodus viirae[115] | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Eriksson & Lindskog | Middle Ordovician | Sillaoru Formation | A member of Protopanderodontida belonging to the family Drepanoistodontidae. | ||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | ||||
| Epigondolella kozjanskoensis[108] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||
| Epigondolella ritae[108] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||
| Epigondolella senovoensis[108] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||
| Epigondolella slovenica[108] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | A member of the family Gondolellidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Maekawa & Jenks | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Rosscoe & Barrick | ||||||
| Idiognathodus grubbsi[111] | Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | |||||
| Idiognathodus kinneyensis[117] | Sp. nov | Valid | Rosscoe & Barrick | Carboniferous (Kasimovian) | Atrasado Formation | |||
| Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | |||||
| Magnigondolella incurva[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Magnigondolella? minuta[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Magnigondolella mutata[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard & Goudemand in Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Magnigondolella peribola[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard & Golding in Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Magnigondolella tozeri[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Magnigondolella trutchensis[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Yuan et al. | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Li & Lai in Li et al. | Late Triassic (Carnian) | Dengdengqiao Formation | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | Carboniferous | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | |||||
| Neogondolella darwinensis[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard & Goudemand in Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Neogondolella gradinarui[120] | Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard in Golding | |||||
| Neogondolella praeacuta[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard & Goudemand in Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Neogondolella sinuosa[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard & Goudemand in Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Neogondolella spathiconstricta[110] | Sp. nov | In press | Orchard | Early Triassic (Olenekian) | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | ||||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Gómez et al. | Silurian (Ludfordian) to Devonian (Lochkovian) | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Kılıç | ||||||
| Paragondolella hirschii[122] | Sp. nov | Valid | Kılıç & Budurov in Kılıç | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | ||||
| Paragondolella nyoromo[111] | Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | |||||
| Paragondolella praecornuta[122] | Sp. nov | Valid | Kılıç et al. in Kılıç | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Rigo & Du in Du et al. | Late Triassic (Norian and Rhaetian) | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Over et al. | Devonian–Carboniferous transition | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Barrick, Sundgren & McAdams | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Golding & Orchard | Permian | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Yang et al. |
Research[edit]
- A study aiming to resolve the nature, porosity and permeability of conodont white matter is published by Atakul-Özdemir et al. (2021).[126]
- A study aiming to determine feeding behavior, growth patterns and possible changes of feeding behavior during ontogeny in Proconodontus muelleri and Panderodus equicostatus is published by Leonhard et al. (2021).[127]
- An exceptionally preserved specimen of Panderodus unicostatus is described from the Waukesha Lagerstätte (Wisconsin, United States) by Murdock & Smith (2021), who evaluate the implications of this specimen for the knowledge of the homology within conodont feeding apparatuses and body anatomy of primitive conodonts, and interpret P. unicostatus as a macrophagous predator.[128]
- A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Early Triassic conodonts is published by Bai et al. (2021).[129]
- Han et al. (2021) reconstruct ontogenetic series for seven stratigraphically important Early Triassic conodont species, on the basis of fossil material from the Salt Range and Surghar Range (Pakistan), and study the phylogenetic relationships among these taxa.[130]
Fish[edit]
Amphibians[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Werneburg, Schneider & Lucas | A dvinosauroid temnospondyl. The type species is B. kinneyi. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Macaluso, Villa & Mörs | Miocene | A proteid salamander. The type species is E. grogu. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mann, Calthorpe & Maddin | A member of Recumbirostra. The type species is J. bolti. |  | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Liu & Chen | Late Permian |
| ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Easton, Tennyson & Rawlence | Late Pliocene (Waipipian–Mangapanian) | A species of Leiopelma. | ||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Jia, Anderson & Gao | A stem-hynobiid salamander; a new genus for "Liaoxitriton" daohugouensis. | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Roček, Rage & Venczel | Miocene[138] | |||||
| Palaeobatrachus minutus[137] | Sp. nov | Valid | Roček, Rage & Venczel | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Moura et al. | A frog belonging to the suborder Neobatrachia. The type species is P. cratensis | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rage et al. | Eocene | A frog belonging to the group Ranoidea. The type species is R. ornata. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Schoch & Sobral | ||||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Novikov | Early Triassic |
Research[edit]
- A study on the function and evolution of forelimbs of early tetrapods, based on data from three-dimensional models of bones and muscles of forelimbs of Eusthenopteron foordi, Acanthostega gunnari and Pederpes finneyae, is published by Molnar et al. (2021).[143]
- A study on the evolutionary dynamics of early tetrapods and their closest fish relatives is published by Simões & Pierce (2021).[144]
- A study on the anatomy of the skull of Whatcheeria deltae is published by Rawson et al. (2021).[145]
- Description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Whatcheeria deltae is published by Otoo et al. (2021).[146]
- A study on the femoral bone histology of Greererpeton, and on its implications for the knowledge of the life history of this tetrapod, is published by Whitney & Pierce (2021).[147]
- A study on the locomotor capabilities of tetrapods from the earliest Carboniferous Blue Beach site (Nova Scotia, Canada) is published by Lennie et al. (2021).[148]
- A study on the early evolution of long bone elongation and bone marrow in tetrapods, based on data from temnospondyls (Apateon and Metoposaurus) and seymouriamorphs (Seymouria and Discosauriscus), is published by Estefa et al. (2021), who find the terrestrial Permian seymouriamorphs to be the oldest known tetrapods exhibiting a centralized marrow organization of long bones (which allows production of blood cells as in extant amniotes), and argue that the migration of blood-cell production in long bones probably wasn't an exaptation predating the water-to-land transition.[149]
- A study on the skeletal anatomy of the holotype specimen of Ichthyerpeton bradleyae is published by Ó Gogáin & Wyse Jackson (2021).[150]
- A study on the relations between vertebral shape and terrestriality in the evolution of temnospondyls is published by Carter et al. (2021).[151]
- Description of new fossil material of temnospondyls from the Triassic of the Ruhuhu and Luangwa basins (Tanzania and Zambia), providing new information on the diversity of Triassic African temnospondyls and their recovery after the Permian–Triassic extinction event, is published by Steyer et al. (2021).[152]
- A study on the morphological changes in the skeleton of Onchiodon labyrinthicus during its ontogeny, on the phylogenetic relationships of eryopids, and on the evolution of the life cycle in eryopids is published by Schoch (2021).[153]
- A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of "Cheliderpeton" lellbachae is published by Schoch (2021), who transfers this species to the genus Glanochthon in the family Sclerocephalidae.[154]
- A study on the histology of different-sized femora and vertebra of specimens of Platyoposaurus stuckenbergi is published by Uliakhin, Skutschas & Saburov (2021).[155]
- Redescription of the holotype of Cryobatrachus kitchingi is published by Gee, Makovicky & Sidor (2021), who interpret this specimen as more likely to be the juvenile of an indeterminate capitosaur than a lydekkerinid, and who also describe partial temnospondyl skull from the lower Fremouw Formation (Antarctica), provisionally referred to Lydekkerinidae.[156]
- A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Tertrema acuta is published by Slodownik, Mörs & Kear (2021).[157]
- Redescription of the metoposaurid fossil material from the Upper Triassic Zions View locality (New Oxford Formation; Pennsylvania, United States) is published by Gee & Jasinski (2021), who assign this material to the species Anaschisma browni, expanding known geographic range of this taxon.[158]
- Redescription of the holotype specimens of Borborophagus wyomingensis and Koskinonodon princeps, and a reassessment of their synonymy with Anaschisma browni, is published by Kufner & Gee (2021).[159]
- A study on the histology of the mandible of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis is published by Gruntmejer, Bodzioch & Konietzko-Meier (2021).[160]
- A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Timonya anneae and Procuhy nazariensis is published by Marsicano et al. (2021).[161]
- A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Macrerpeton huxleyi is published by Schoch & Milner (2021).[162]
- A study on the phylogenetic relationships of dissorophid temnospondyls is published by Gee (2021).[163]
- Description of a new specimen of Conjunctio from the Permian Cutler Formation (Colorado, United States), and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this genus, is published by Gee et al. (2021).[164]
- New fossil material of Micropholis stowi, expanding known geographic range of this species, is described from the lower Fremouw Formation (Halfmoon Bluff, Antarctica) by Gee & Sidor (2021).[165]
- New early adult specimen of Milnererpeton huberi, providing new information on the ontogenetic development of amphibamiform temnospondyls, is described from the Carboniferous (Kasimovian) Atrasado Formation (New Mexico, United States) by Werneburg, Schneider & Lucas (2021).[166]
- A study on the skeletal anatomy of Apateon dracyiensis, the anatomical variation in the fossil material of this species, and on its ontogeny, is published by Werneburg (2021).[167]
- A study on the anatomy and development of the wrist of Genibatrachus is published by Roček et al. (2021).[168]
- An early Campanian assemblage of anuran bones, suggestive of high local species richness of frogs, is described from the Aguja Formation (Texas, United States) by Wick (2021).[169]
- Fossil material of Late Cretaceous frogs, including fossils of calyptocephalellid frogs and the southernmost record of pipids (Kuruleufenia) worldwide reported to date, is described from the Campanian–Maastrichtian assemblages from Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia (Dorotea, Allen and Los Alamitos formations) by Suazo Lara & Gómez (2021).[170]
- Description of new pipimorph fossil material from the Cenomanian Candeleros Formation (Argentina), and a study on the implications of these fossils for the knowledge of the formation of the sacrum in pipimorphs throughout their evolutionary history, is published by Báez, Muzzopappa & Araújo (2021).[171]
- Description of new fossil material of Hungarobatrachus szukacsi from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation (Hungary), and a study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of this species, is published by Venczel, Szentesi & Gardner (2021).[172]
- Revision of the fossil record of the family Ceratophryidae is published by Gómez & Turazzini (2021).[173]
- Redescription and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Bufo servatus is published by Lemierre et al. (2021), who interpret this species as a senior synonym of Thaumastosaurus gezei (resulting in new combination Thaumastosaurus servatus), and assign it to the family Pyxicephalidae.[174]
- Revision of the fossil material of Mesozoic temnospondyls and anurans housed in the collections of the Sirindhorn Museum and the Palaeontological Research and Education Centre of Mahasarakham University (Thailand), including fossils of brachyopids resembling the Chinese forms, is published by Nonsrirach, Manitkoon & Lauprasert (2021).[175]
- Redescription of Nannaroter mckinziei, based on data from the holotype and from a new specimen from the Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States), is published by MacDougall et al. (2021).[176]
- A study aiming to determine plausible body postures and locomotion of Orobates pabsti is published by Zwafing et al. (2021).[177]
- A study on the anatomy of the braincase and inner ear of Limnoscelis dynatis is published by Klembara et al. (2021).[178]
Reptiles[edit]
Synapsids[edit]
Non-mammalian synapsids[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Kammerer & Ordoñez | A kannemeyeriid dicynodont, the type species is "Kannemeyeria" argentinensis. |
| ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Panciroli et al. | A docodont. |  | ||||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Panciroli et al. | Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) | A docodont; a new genus for "Borealestes" mussettae Sigogneau−Russell (2003). | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mao et al. | A cynodont belonging to the family Tritylodontidae. Genus includes new species F. sinensis. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Tolchard et al. | A gomphodont cynodont. Genus includes new species I. hancoxi. |  | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Sidor, Tabor & Smith | Late Permian | A burnetiamorph biarmosuchian. Genus includes new species I. luangwensis. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Kammerer & Ordoñez | A species of Kannemeyeria. |
| ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kammerer & Sidor | ||||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Huttenlocker et al. | Carboniferous (Gzhelian) | An early member of Sphenacodontia. The type species is S. bermani. |  | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Liu | Late Permian | A dicynodontoid dicynodont. |  |
Research[edit]
- A study comparing species richness of synapsids and reptiles during the Pennsylvanian and Cisuralian, evaluating the impact of the preservation biases, the effect of Lagerstätten, and contested phylogenetic placement of late Carboniferous and early Permian tetrapods on estimates of relative diversity patterns of synapsids and reptiles, is published by Brocklehurst (2021), who interprets his findings as challenging the assumption that synapsids dominated during the Pennsylvanian and Cisuralian.[187]
- A study on the evolution of the vertebral column in synapsids is published by Jones et al. (2021), who interpret their findings as refuting the idea that the transition from non-mammalian synapsids to mammals involved a shift from reptile-like lateral bending of the backbone to sagittal bending, and argue that non-mammalian synapsids were characterized by their own unique functional regime of the vertebral column, distinct from that of extant reptiles and amphibians.[188]
- A study comparing the forelimb morphology in extant mammals and fossil non-mammalian synapsids, aiming to determine whether extant mammals are good ecomorphological analogues for extinct synapsids, whether examples of ecomorphological convergence can be found among synapsids, and whether evolutionary history determined available functional solutions in synapsid forelimbs, is published by Lungmus & Angielczyk (2021).[189]
- A study aiming to determine when major shifts in shoulder joint function and a shift from sprawling to parasagittal posture occurred during synapsid evolution, based on relationships between shoulder joint morphology, mobility, and muscle function in extant Argentine black and white tegu, short-beaked echidna and Virginia opossum, as well as on data on anatomical transformations preserved in the fossil record, is published by Brocklehurst et al. (2021).[190]
- A study aiming to determine the index of blood flow into the femora of non-mammalian synapsids, and using it to determine the maximum metabolic rate of these synapsids, is published by Knaus et al. (2021), who interpret their findings as indicating that aerobic capacity was elevated in non-therapsid synapsids above the level of most recent non-varanid lepidosaurs, turtles and crocodilians since the late Carboniferous, with maximum aerobic metabolic rates at, or above, the level of varanids.[191]
- Matamales-Andreu et al. (2021) describe probable caseid tracks from the lower Permian of Mallorca (Spain), and evaluate the implications of these tracks for the knowledge of the locomotion of early synapsids.[192]
- A study comparing the morphology of the maxillary canal of Heleosaurus scholtzi, Varanosaurus acutrostris, Orovenator mayorum and Prolacerta broomi, and evaluating the implications of the morphology of the maxillary canal for the knowledge of the phylogenetic placement of varanopids, is published by Benoit et al. (2021).[193]
- A study on the neurosensory anatomy of varanopids is published by Bazzana et al. (2021).[194]
- A study on the skeletal anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Raranimus dashankouensis is published by Duhamel et al. (2021).[195]
- A study on the ontogenetic variation in the anatomy of the skulls of biarmosuchians, based on data from skulls of juvenile specimens, is published by Duhamel et al. (2021).[196]
- A study on the paleoneurology and likely paleobiology of Anteosaurus magnificus is published by Benoit et al. (2021).[197]
- A study on bone architecture and histology in two species of Anteosaurus from the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Basin (South Africa), aiming to determine the inter-elemental variation in their bone histology and their possible lifestyle adaptations, is published by Bhat, Shelton & Chinsamy (2021).[198]
- A study on the bone histology of multiple skeletal elements of three specimens belonging to the genus Jonkeria from the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone, and on its implications for the knowledge of the paleobiology of these dinocephalians, is published by Bhat, Shelton & Chinsamy (2021).[199]
- A study on the bone histology of multiple skeletal elements of dinocephalians from the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Basin is published by Bhat, Shelton & Chinsamy (2021).[200]
- New specimen of Lanthanostegus mohoii, providing new information on the anatomy of the skull of this dicynodont and providing the first direct correlation between the lower Abrahamskraal Formation at Jansenville on the eastern side of the Karoo Basin and the southwestern part of this basin, is described by Rubidge, Day & Benoit (2021).[201]
- New burrow casts containing skeletons of Diictodon, including associated remains of adult and infant specimens, are described by Smith et al. (2021), who consider it likely that portions of burrows produced Diictodon by were facultatively used as brood chambers.[202]
- A study on the histology of mandibles and maxillae of Endothiodon bathystoma, and on the development and evolution of multiple tooth rows in this dicynodont, is published by Olroyd et al. (2021).[203]
- Redescription and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Kunpania scopulusa is published by Angielczyk, Liu & Yang (2021).[204]
- A study on the bone histology and likely life history of specimens of Lystrosaurus from the Lower Triassic Turpan Basin (Xinjiang, China), comparing them with specimens from South Africa, is published by Han, Zhao & Liu (2021).[205]
- A study on the bone histology in a size range of Lystrosaurus skeletal elements from the Jiucaiyuan Formation (China), and on its implications for the knowledge whether members of the genus Lystrosaurus from northern Pangaea had differing life histories than their southern Pangean relatives, is published by Kulik et al. (2021).[206]
- A new postcranial specimen of a stahleckeriid dicynodont, possibly of Stahleckeria, is described from the Chañares Formation, representing the oldest record of stahleckeriine dicynodonts from the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in Argentina.[207]
- A study on the evolution of dicynodont tusks is published by Whitney et al. (2021).[208]
- A study on the quality of the early cynodont fossil record in time and space, and on its implications for the understanding of the group's evolutionary history, is published by Varnham, Mannion & Kammerer (2021).[209]
- A study on the anatomy and variation of the stapes in Thrinaxodon and Galesaurus is published by Gaetano & Abdala (2021).[210]
- A study on the anatomy of the skull of Bolotridon frerensis, and on the phylogenetic relationships of this species, is published by Pusch, Kammerer & Fröbisch (2021).[211]
- A study on the morphology of the nasal cavity of Exaeretodon riograndensis and Siriusgnathus niemeyerorum is published by Franco et al. (2021).[212]
- A study on the morphology of the endocast of a specimen of Riograndia guaibensis from the Linha São Luiz site (Candelária Sequence of the Santa Maria Supersequence, Brazil) is published by Kerber et al. (2021).[213]
- Description of a new specimen of Irajatherium hernandezi from the Linha São Luiz site (Candelária Sequence, Brazil), providing new information on the skeletal anatomy of this cynodont, and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of tritheledontids is published by Kerber et al. (2021).[214]
- Description of five partially preserved petrosals of early mammaliaforms from the Middle Jurassic sediments of the Berezovsk coal mine (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia), and a study on the implications of these fossils for the knowledge of the evolution of the inner ear anatomy in early mammaliaforms, is published by Schultz et al. (2021).[215]
- New specimen of the Middle Jurassic haramiyidan Vilevolodon diplomylos with well-preserved malleus, incus and ectotympanic is described by Wang et al. (2021).[216]
- Description of two partial postcranial skeletons of Borealestes from the Kilmaluag Formation (Scotland, United Kingdom), and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this docodont, is published by Panciroli et al. (2021).[217]
Mammals[edit]
Other animals[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zatoń et al. | Maywood Formation | A microconchid. Genus includes new species A. sandbergi. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Devaere et al. | Early Cambrian | Soltanieh Formation | An anabaritid. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gutiérrez-Marco, Marek & Malinky | A member of Hyolitha. Genus includes new species A. parvulus. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Moczydłowska in Moczydłowska et al. | A member of Eumetazoa of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is A. formosus. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Maletz & Ahlberg | A graptolite. | |||||
| Arienigraptus delicatus[222] | Sp. nov | Valid | Maletz & Ahlberg | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | A graptolite. | |||
| Arienigraptus robustus[222] | Sp. nov | Valid | Maletz & Ahlberg | Ordovician (Dapingian) | A graptolite. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Leibach et al. | Cambrian (Drumian) | A palaeoscolecid. Genus includes new species A. aasei. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Gehling & Runnegar | An annelid. The type species is A. soliorum. | |||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Sánchez-Beristain & García-Barrera in Sánchez-Beristain, García-Barrera & Juárez-Aguilar | Late Cretaceous | A chaetetid demosponge. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Lykova & Sennikov | Ordovician (Dapingian) | A graptolite belonging to the family Isograptidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Botting | A sponge. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Moczydłowska in Moczydłowska et al. | Ediacaran | Stáhpogieddi Formation | A member of Eumetazoa of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is C. elegantis. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Vinn & Eyzenga | Late Ordovician | A cornulitid tubeworm. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Parry et al. | Probably Marjum Formation | A member of Ctenophora. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Klug et al. | Devonian (Frasnian) | A stem-ctenophore. The type species is D. jakobvintheri. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Claybourn et al. | ||||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Maletz & Ahlberg | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | A graptolite. Genus includes new species E. inexpectatus. | ||||
| Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Martyshyn in Martyshyn & Uchman | Mogilev Formation | A possible tunicate described on the basis of sack-like body fossils. The type species is F. ukrainica; genus also includes F. oblonga. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Kozłowska | A graptolite. The type species is H. varsoviensis; genus also includes "Plectograptus" ovatus Kozłowska-Dawidziuk, Lenz & Štorch (2001) and "Plectograptus" karlsteinensis Kozłowska-Dawidziuk, Lenz & Štorch (2001). | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Jeon in Jeon et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Xiazhen Formation | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Jeon in Jeon et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Xiazhen Formation | A stromatoporoid. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Marek & Gutiérrez-Marco in Gutiérrez-Marco, Marek & Malinky | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | A member of Hyolitha. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Jacquet et al. | Devonian (Pragian) | Garra Formation | A lepidocoleid annelid. | |||
| Lepidocoleus shurikenus[236] | Sp. nov | Valid | Jacquet et al. | Devonian (Pragian) | Garra Formation | A lepidocoleid annelid. | ||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Pleș & Schlagintweit in Pleș et al. | A sponge. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Sun, Sun & Zhao | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | Mantou Formation | A member of Hyolitha belonging to the group Hyolithida. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Lykova & Sennikov | Ordovician (Dapingian) | A graptolite belonging to the family Isograptidae. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Samant et al. | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | A sponge belonging to the family Palaeospongillidae. Genus includes new species P. cretacea. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar & Brown | Eocene | Europe (Baltic Sea region) | A nematode belonging to the family Parasitylenchidae. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Luo et al. | Cambrian | A sponge. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Knaust | An annelid, possibly a member of the family Orbiniidae. Genus includes new species P. triassicus. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Kozłowska & Bates | A graptolite belonging to the family Retiolitidae. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Loydell & Abouelresh | Qusaiba Shale Formation | A graptolite. | ||||
| Gen et sp. nov | Mapalo et al. | Miocene | A tardigrade. The type species is P. chronocaribbeus. |  | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zhao et al. | Early Cambrian | A member of the family Mackenziidae (organisms of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly stem eumetazoans). Genus includes new species P. canalifera. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Łukowiak in Łukowiak et al. | Middle Eocene | A sponge belonging to the family Tetillidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Gutiérrez-Marco, Marek & Malinky | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | A member of Hyolitha. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Martyshyn & Uchman | Ediacaran | Mogilev Formation | Possibly a fragment of the pharyngeal basket of a tunicate. The type species is P. reticulata. | |||
| Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Landing et al. | Cambrian | A polychaete, likely a member of Sabellida; a new genus for "Pelagiella" exigua Resser & Howell. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gutiérrez-Marco, Marek & Malinky | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | A member of Hyolitha. Genus includes new species R. sevillanus. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Tang et al. | Early Cambrian | A ribbon-shaped, bilaterally symmetrical organism, probably a flatworm of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is R. orthogonia. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Ling et al. | A sponge of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly with protomonaxonid affinities. | |||||
| Sp. nov | Wang et al. | Yu'anshan Formation | A member of Priapulida belonging to the family Selkirkiidae. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Moczydłowska in Moczydłowska et al. | Ediacaran | Stáhpogieddi Formation | A member of Eumetazoa of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is S. crenulata. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Jeon in Jeon et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Xiazhen Formation | A stromatoporoid. Genus includes new species S. luteolus. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Johnston & Streng | Cambrian | A member of Stenothecoida (a group of animals of uncertain affinities, possibly pan-brachiopods). | ||||
| Stenothecoides terraglaciei[254] | Sp. nov | Valid | Peel | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | A member of Stenothecoida. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Parry et al. | Cambrian (Drumian) | Marjum Formation | A member of Ctenophora. The type species is T. elegans. | |||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Łukowiak in Łukowiak et al. | Late Eocene | A sponge belonging to the family Theonellidae. | ||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Luo et al. | Cambrian | Shuijingtuo Formation | A sponge. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Dieni & Massari | Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) | A microserpulid. Genus includes new species T. coralliophila. | ||||
| Sp. nov | In press | Wei et al. | A vauxiid sponge. | |||||
| Vauxia pregracilenta[256] | Sp. nov | In press | Wei et al. | Cambrian Stage 3 | A vauxiid sponge. | |||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Zhang | Cambrian (Fortunian) | An early cycloneuralian. Genus includes new species X. intermedius. |
Research[edit]
- Turner (2021) describes vermiform-microstructured masses from approximately 890-million-year-old Little Dal reefs (Stone Knife Formation, Canada), potentially representing the oldest body fossils of sponges (and animals in general) reported to date.[258]
- A study on the internal anatomical structure and development of Charnia masoni, based on data from specimens interpreted as reflecting different developmental stages, is published by Dunn et al. (2021), who interpret their findings as indicating that rangeomorphs were members of the stem group of Eumetazoa.[259]
- A study aiming to identify characters of Kimberella, Ikaria, Dickinsonia and Tribrachidium controlled by conserved developmental processes, as well as genetic elements likely responsible for their expression, is published by Evans, Droser & Erwin (2021), who also attempt to determine phylogenetic positions of these taxa relative to extant animals.[260]
- Structures interpreted as traces of motor activity of Dickinsonia are reported by Ivantsov & Zakrevskaya (2021), who interpret the studied traces as indicating that Dickinsonia was capable of both attachment and mobility.[261]
- A study on the location of module addition during growth in Dickinsonia costata is published by Evans et al. (2021).[262]
- A study aiming to determine the feeding mode of Arkarua adami is published by Cracknell et al. (2021).[263]
- A fossil specimen sharing anatomical features with both archaeocyaths and vauxiids is described from the early Cambrian Guanshan Lagerstätte (South China) by Luo et al. (2021), who suggest that vauxiids were descendants of archaeocyaths rather than Cambrian representatives of horny demosponges.[264]
- A study on the morphology and affinities of Shaanxilithes is published by Wang et al. (2021).[265]
- A study aiming to test the hypothesis that the type and extent of calcification and morphology in Cloudina was controlled environmentally, based on data from Cloudina assemblages from localities in the Upper Omkyk Member of the Nama Group (Namibia), is published by Shore & Wood (2021).[266]
- Taxonomic revision of the Ediacaran tubular fossils Cloudina, Sinotubulites and Conotubus is published by Yang et al. (2021).[267]
- Shore et al. (2021) report the first three-dimensional, pyritized preservation of soft tissue in Namacalathus hermanastes from the Nama Group (Namibia), and evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of this animal.[268]
- A novel type of agglutinated tube, made of silt-sized particles forming a flanged shape that was previously unknown in the fossil record, is described from the Devonian Ponta Grossa Formation (Brazil) by Becker-Kerber et al. (2021), who identify the studied tubes as belonging to the species Annulitubus mutvei, and note their similarities to tubes made by polychaetes from the family Maldanidae.[269]
- New specimen of Protowenella flemingi is described from the Cambrian Henson Gletscher Formation (Greenland) by Peel (2021), who interprets the anatomy of this specimen as indicating that Protowenella was a hyolith rather than a mollusc.[270]
- A new assemblage of fossil eggs, embryos attributable to the early scalidophoran Markuelia, and early post-embryonic developmental stages of camenellans is described from the Cambrian Stage 3 Salanygol Formation (Mongolia) by Steiner et al. (2021).[271]
- Yang et al. (2021) describe fossil material from the Guanshan biota (China) providing evidence of consistent occurrence of Cambrian priapulan worms (possibly belonging to the genus Eximipriapulus) within the conical shells of hyoliths, representing the first direct evidence of the adoption of a different organism's exoskeleton in the priapulans and within the Paleozoic era.[272]
- Description of new fossil material of Tabelliscolex hexagonus from the Cambrian Chengjiang biota (Yu'anshan Formation, China), and a study on the phylogenetic affinities of palaeoscolecids, is published by Shi & Howard et al. (2021);[273] the study is subsequently criticized by Smith & Dhungana (2021).[274]
- Redescription of Stanleycaris hirpex, and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species and on the functional specialization of the frontal appendages of this and other stem euarthropods, is published by Moysiuk & Caron (2021).[275]
Other organisms[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sp. nov | In press | Lee, Elias & Pratt | A calcareous alga, possibly representing an extinct group of green algae. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Strother & Wellman in Strother et al. | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an early member of Holozoa. Genus includes new species B. brasieri. Appears to have differentiated multicellularity. |  | |||||
| Sp. nov | Valid | Loron et al. | Dismal Lakes Group | An organic-walled microfossil. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Taylor et al. | An organism growing on the seafloor in a manner similar to Fractofusus and Beothukis. Genus includes new species G. samsoni. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Diniz & Leme in Diniz, Leme & Boggiani | Tamengo Formation | A macroalga of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly related to the family Eoholyniaceae. Genus includes new species L. hidria. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Diniz & Leme in Diniz, Leme & Boggiani | Ediacaran | Tamengo Formation | A macroalga of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly related to the family Eoholyniaceae. Genus includes new species L. veinosa. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Agić et al. | Late Ediacaran | A flask-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species L. collaris. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Wang et al. | Ediacaran | A high-level eukaryotic macroalga. Genus includes new species L. xiaojiangensis. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Yin et al. | Ediacaran | An embryo-like fossil of a eukaryote of uncertain affinities, possibly a holozoan. The type species is O. rara. | ||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Da Silva Paiva & de Souza Carvalho | Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–Barremian) | A spirotrich. Genus includes new species P. bahiensis. | |||||
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Miao, Moczydłowska & Zhu | Early Mesoproterozoic |
|
