1979 in paleontology explained

Archosauromorphs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[3]

Non Avian Dinosaurs

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImages
"Gadolosaurus"[4] Nomen nudum. SaitoCenomanianBayan Shireh Formationinformal name created by phonetic translation of the crylic for hadrosaur ("gadrosavr") into Japanese.
Skeleton considered possibly a juvenile Arstanosaurus.
Gilmoreosaurus[5] Gen et comb novValidBrett-SurmanCretaceous
late Campanian - early Maastrichtian
Iren Dabasu Formation
A hadrosauroid.
Gravitholus[6] Junior synonym?Wall & GaltonJudithianDinosaur Park Formation
A pachycephalosaur, possible Junior synonym of Stegoceras.
Maiasaura[7] ValidHorner & MakelaJudithianUpper Two Medicine Formation
Publication of Maiasaura renewed interest in the Two Medicine Formation.
Majungatholus[8] Gen et sp novJunior synonymHans-Dieter Sues & Philippe TaquetMaastrichtianMaevarano FormationDescribed as a pachycephalosaur, now considered an abelisaurid.
The type species is M. atopus.
Junior synonym of Majungasaurus.
Microhadrosaurus[9] Gen et sp novNomen dubium.ZhimingCampanianYuanpu FormationA hadrosaurid.
Mussaurus[10] ValidBonaparte & VinceNorianLaguna Colorada FormationAn anchisaurian.
Nanshiungosaurus[11] ValidZhimingCampanianYuanpu FormationA therizinosaur.
Patagosaurus[12] ValidBonaparteCallovianCanadon Asfalto FormationA sauropod.
PiatnitzkysaurusValidBonaparteCallovianCanadon Asfalto FormationA piatnitzkysaurid.
Secernosaurus[13] ValidBrett-SurmaCretaceous
late Campanian - early Maastrichtian
Bajo Barreal Formation
Los Alamitos Formation
A saurolophine hadrosaurid.
Segnosaurus[14] ValidPerleCenomanian-TuronianBayan Shireh FormationA therizinosaur.
Torvosaurus[15] Gen et sp novValidGalton & JensonJurassic
late Kimmeridgian-Tithonian
Morrison Formation
A megalosaurid.
Unquillosaurus[16] Gen et sp novValidPowellCampanianLos Blanquitos FormationA possible Carcharodontosaurian.
VolkheimeriaValidJose BonaparteCallovianCanadon Asfalto FormationA sauropod.
Yandusaurus[17] Gen et sp novValidHeOxfordianShangshaximiao FormationA basal neornithischian ornithopod.

Birds

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages
Amplibuteo hibbardi [18] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps An Accipitridae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Anas albae [19] Sp. nov.ValidDénes JánossyLate PlioceneMN 15-16-17 An Anatidae.
Anas amotape Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps An Anatidae.
Anas sanctaehelenae Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Early Pleistocene

Late Pleistocene

La Carolina An Anatidae.
Anas talarae Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Early Pleistocene

Late Pleistocene

Argentina: Centinale del Mar;

Talara Tar Seeps

An Anatidae, transferred to the genus Callonetta Delacour, 1936 by Agnolin, 2006.[20]
Ardea bennuides [21] Sp. nov.ValidElla HochSubrecent5000 YBP (Years Before Present)A giant Ardeidae, not formally described but a photo is published which keeps it from being a Nomen Nudum.
Argillipes magnus [22] Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle OligoceneMP 21-23Described in the Catharthidae, transferred to Aves Incertae Sedis.
Barawertornis tedfordi [23] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidPatricia Vickers-RichLate Oligocene/Early MioceneCarl Creek Limestone A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Belonopterus edmundi Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Charadriidae.
Bubo longaevus [24] Sp. nov.ValidA. S. UmanskayaLate MioceneMN 11-13 A Strigidae, transferred to the genus Asio Brisson, 1760 by Mlíkovský, 1998.[25]
Bullockornis planei Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidPatricia Vickers-RichMiddle-Late MioceneCamfield Beds A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Caprimulgus piurensis Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Caprimulgidae-nightjar.
Cayaoa bruneti [26] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidEduardo P. TonniLate Oligocene-Miocene An Anatidae.
Corvus simionescui [27] Sp. nov.ValidJenö KesslerEarly PlioceneMN 15 A Corvidae, possibly a synonym of Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758.
Cuculus csarnotanus Sp. nov.ValidDénes JánossyEarly PlioceneMN 15 A Cuculidae.
Dege hendeyi [28] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidGeorge G. SimpsonLate Miocene-Early PlioceneVarswater Formation A Spheniscidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Dromornis stirtoni Sp. nov.ValidPatricia Vickers-RichLate Miocene-Early PlioceneAlcoota Homestead A Dromornithidae.
Eudocimus peruvianus Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Threskiornithidae.
Gallinago veterior Sp. nov.ValidDénes JánossyEarly PlioceneMN 15 A Scolopacidae.
Geronogyps reliquus Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Cathartidae.
Glareola neogena [29] Sp. nov.ValidPeter BallmannMiddle MioceneMN 6 A Glareolidae.
Gymnogyps howardae Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Cathartidae.
Ilbandornis? lawsoni Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidPatricia Vickers-RichLate Miocene-Early PlioceneAlcoota Homestead A Dromornithidae, not certainly an Ilbandornis Rich, 1979.
Ilbandornis woodburnei Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidPatricia Vickers-RichLate Miocene-Early PlioceneAlcoota Homestead A Dromornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Latipons gardneri [30] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13A Rallidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Latipons robinsoni Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13A Rallidae.
Litoripes medius Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13Described in the Phasianidae, but transferred by Mlíkovský, 2002.[31] to Aves Incertae Sedis, this is the type species of the new genus.
Micropalama chapmani Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Scolopacidae.
Milvago brodkorbi Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Falconidae.
Milvoides kempi Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13Described as an Accipitridae, known only from a damaged distal end of a right tarsometatarsus, making it not possible to identify it, better treated as Aves Incertae Sedis, this is the type species of the new genus.
Mioglareola gregaria Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidPeter BallmannEarly Miocene Czech Republic;

Middle Miocene Germany

MN 4b

MN 6

A Glareolidae, it is the type species of the new genus.
Miootis compactus [32] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidA. S. UmanskayaLate MioceneMN 13 An Otididae, it is the type species of the new genus.
Miraquila terrestris Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps An Accipitridae, transferred to the genus Buteogallus Lesson, 1830 by Suárez et Olson, 2009,[33] this is the type species of the new genus.
Nannonetta invisitata Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps An Anatidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Nucleornis insolitus [34] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidGeorge G. SimpsonMioceneDuinefontein A Spheniscidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Nuntius solitarius Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Scolopacidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Oligocathartes olsoni Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle OligoceneMP 21-23Described in the Catharthidae, but the holotype is too fragmentary for identification so best treated as Aves Incertae Sedis.
Palaeopapia hamsteadiensis Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle OligoceneMP 21-23
  • :
An Anseriformes Incertae Sedis.
Paracathartes howardae [35] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. HarrisonEarly EoceneGreybullian, Middle Wasatchian, Willwood Formation Described as a Cathartidae, Houde 1988 placed it in the Lithornithiformes, Houde, 1988, Lithornithidae Houde, 1988,[36] it is the type species of the new genus.
Paracygnopterus scotti Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.Valid ?Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle OligoceneMP 21-23An Anatidae, it is the type species of the new genus.
Parvirallus gracilis Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13A Rallidae.
Percolinus proudlocki Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Middle EoceneMP 11-13Described as a Phasianidae, transferred to the genus Talantatos Reichenbach, 1852 and placed in the Cariamidae door Mlíkovský, 2002.
Phalacrocorax tanzaniae [37] Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early-Middle PleistoceneKamasianA Phalacrocoracidae.
Porzana estramosi Sp. nov.ValidDénes JánossyMiddle MioceneMN 6-8 A Rallidae.
Proanser major Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidA. S. UmanskayaLate MioceneMN 11 An Anatidae, it is the type species of the new genus.
Proardeola walkeri [38] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidColin J. O. HarrisonEarly MioceneMN 2a An Ardeidae, it is the type species of the new genus.
Proceriavis martini Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.Valid ?Colin J. O. Harrison

Cyril A. Walker

Early Middle OligoceneMP 21-23Described as an Eleutherornithidae, based on a fragment of a cervical vertebra, best treated as Aves Incertae Sedis, it is the type species of the new genus.
Sarcoramphus? fisheri Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Cathartidae, not certain to be a Sarcoramphus Duméril, 1806.
Scolopax baranensis Sp. nov.ValidDénes JánossyEarly PlioceneMN 15 A Scolopacidae.
Steganopus graui Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Phalaropodidae.
Syrigma sanctimartini Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps An Ardeidae.
Theristicus wetmorei Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Threskiornithidae.
Thinocorus koepckeae Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Thinocoridae.
Tringa ameghini Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Scolopacidae.
Turdoides borealis Sp. nov.Valid ?Dénes JánossyEarly PlioceneMN 15 The holotype is a heavily eroded proximal part of a left humerus, best placed in Passeriformes Incertae Sedis.
Valenticarbo praetermissus [39] Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.Valid ?Colin J. O. HarrisonLate PlioceneSiwalik complex A Phalacrocoracidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Viator picis Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.ValidKenneth E. Campbell, Jr.Late PleistoceneTalara Tar Seeps A Charadriidae, this is the type species of the new genus.

Synapsids

NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImages
Aycrossia[40] Gen et sp novvalidBownEocene
Bridgerian
Aycross Formation United States
An Omomyid primate
The type species is A. lovei
GaziniusGen et sp novvalidBownEocene
Bridgerian
United States
An Omomyid primate
The type species is G. amplus
StrigorhysisGen et sp novvalidBownEocene
Bridgerian
Aycross Formation United States
An Omomyid primate
The type species is S. bridgerensis

Expeditions, field work, and fossil discoveries

Notes and References

  1. Janssens . J. . Horton . D.G. . Basinger . J. . 1979 . Aulacomnium heterostichoides sp. nov., an Eocene moss from south central British Columbia . Canadian Journal of Botany . 57 . 20 . 2150–2161 . 10.1139/b79-268.
  2. Wilson . M.V.H. . 1979 . A second species of Libotonius (Pisces: Percopsidae) from the Eocene of Washington State . Copeia . 1979 . 3 . 400–405. 10.2307/1443214 . 1443214 .
  3. Web site: Olshevsky . George . Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List . 2008-08-07 . 2011-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102453/http://www.polychora.com/dinolist.html . dead .
  4. Saito, T. 1979. Wonder of the World's Dinosaurs. Kodansha Publishers, Tokyo (Plate 71).
  5. Brett-Surman, M.K. 1979. Phylogeny and paleobiogeography of hadrosaurian dinosaurs. Nature 277: pp. 560-562.
  6. Wall, W P. and P.M. Galton. 1979. Notes on pachycephalosaurid dinosaurs (Reptilla: Ornithischia) from North America, with comments on their status as ornithopods. Can. J. Earth Sci. 16: pp. 1176-1186.
  7. Horner . J.R. . Makela . R. . 1979 . Nest of juveniles provides evidence of family structure among dinosaurs . Nature . 282 . 5736 . 296–298 . 10.1038/282296a0. 1979Natur.282..296H . 4370793 .
  8. Sues . H.-D. . Taquet . P. . 1979 . A pachycephalosaurid dinosaur from Madagascar and a Laurasia-Gondwanaland connection in the Cretaceous . Nature . 279 . 5714. 633–635 . 10.1038/279633a0. 1979Natur.279..633S . 4345348 .
  9. Dong, Z. 1979. Cretaceous Dinosaurs of Hunan, in Mesozoic-Cenozoic Redbeds of Hunan. Palaeontologica Sinica: pp.346-347.
  10. Bonaparte J.F. and M. Vince. 1979. El hallazgo del primer nido de dinosaurios triasicos, (Saurischia, Prosauropoda), Triásico superior de Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana Revista de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina 16 (1-2): pp. 173-182.
  11. Dong, Z. 1979. The Cretaceous dinosaur fossils in southern China. In: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Red Beds in Southern China. Inst. Vert. Paleontol. Paleoanthropol. Nanjing Geol. Paleontol. Inst. Sci. Press, Beijing: pp.342-350.
  12. Bonaparte . J.F. . 1979 . Dinosaurs: A Jurassic assembalge from Patagonia . Science . 205 . 4413. 1377–1379 . 10.1126/science.205.4413.1377 . 17732331. 1979Sci...205.1377B . 34854458 .
  13. Brett-Surman, M. K. 1979. Phylogeny and paleobiogeography of hadrosaurian dinosaurs. Nature 277: pp. 560-562.
  14. Perle A. 1979. Segnosauridae - A new family of theropods from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. Sovm. Soviet-Mongolean Paleontol. Eksped. Trudy 8: pp. 45-55.
  15. Galton, P.M. and J.A. Jensen. 1979. A new large theropod dinosaur from the Upper Jurassic of Colorado. Brigham Young University Geology Studies. 26 (2): pp. 1-12.
  16. Powell, J.E. 1979. Sobre una asociacion de dinosaurios y otras evidencias de vertebrados del Cretacico superior de la region de La Candelaria, Prov. de Salta, Argentina. Ameghiniana 16: pp. 191-204.
  17. He X. 1979. A newly discovered ornithopod dinosaur Yandusaurus from Zigong. Sichuan. In: Contribution to International Exchange of Geology. Part 2. Stratigraphy and paleontology. Geol. publishing House, Beijing: pp. 116-123.
  18. Book: Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr. . 1979 . The Non-Passerine Pleistocene Avifauna of the Talara Tar Seeps, Northwestern Peru . Royal Ontario Museum, Life Sciences Contribution . 118 . 1–203 . 10.5962/bhl.title.52133. 978-0888542304 .
  19. Dénes Jánossy . 1979 . Plio-Pleistocene Bird Remains from the Carpathian Basin. IV. Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Passeriformes . Aquila . 85 . 11–39 .
  20. Federico L. Agnolin . 2006 . Dos Nuevos Anatidae (Aves, Anseriformes) del Pleistoceno Inferior-medio de Argentina . Stvdia Geologica Salmanticensia . 42 . 81–95 .
  21. Book: Ella Hoch . 1979 . Reflections on prehistoric life at Umm an-Nar (Trucial Oman) based on faunal remains from the third millennium . M. Taddei . South Asian Archaeology 1977, Vol. I and II . Naples . 589–638 .
  22. Colin J. O. Harrison & Cyril A. Walker . 1979 . Birds of the British Lower Oligocene . Tertiary Research Special Papers . 5 . 29–43 .
  23. Patricia Vickers Rich . 1979 . The Dromornithidae: An Extinct Family of Large Ground Birds Endemic to Australia . Department of National Development Bureau of National Resources, Geology and Geophysics Bulletin . 184 . 1–196 .
  24. A. S. Umanskaya . 1979 . Novyj vid filina (Bubo longaevus) iz pozdneneogenovych otloženij severnogo Pričernomor'ja USSR [New species of a horned owl (''Bubo longaevus'') from the late Neogene deposits of northern Pričernomor'e in the Ukrainian SSR.] . Dopovidi Akademiji Nauk Ukrajins'koji RSR (B) . 1979 . 779–782 .
  25. Jíří Mlíkovský . 1998 . Two New Owls (Aves: Strigidae) from the Early Miocene of the Czech Republic, with Comments on the Fossil History of the Subfamily Striginae . Buteo . 10 . 5–21 . 2014-09-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000656/http://www.nm.cz/download/pm/zoo/mlikovsky_lit/125-1998-MioceneStrigidae.pdf . 2014-09-12 . dead .
  26. Eduardo P. Tonni . 1979 . Un Nuevo Anseriforme de Sedimentos Marinos Terciarios de Chubut, Argentina . Hornero . 12 . 1 . 11–15 . 10.56178/eh.v12i1.1212 . 130953455 .
  27. Jenö Kessler . 1979 . Noi Date Paleornitologice din Pliocenul României . Nymphaea, Folia Naturae Bihariae . 7 . 135–138 .
  28. George G. Simpson . 1979 . A New Genus of Late Tertiary Penguin from Langebaanweg, South Africa . Annals of the South African Museum . 78 . 1 . 1–9 .
  29. Peter Ballmann . 1979 . Fossile Glareolidae aus dem Miozän des Nördlinger Ries (Southern Germany) (Aves: Charadriifores) . Bonner Zoologische Beiträge . 30 . 52–101 .
  30. Colin J. O. Harrison & Cyril A. Walker . 1979 . Birds of the British Middle Eocene . Tertiary Research Special Papers . 50 . 19–26 .
  31. Jíří Mlíkovský . 2002 . Cenozoic Birds of the World Part 1: Europe . Praha Ninox Press . 13 . 1–407 . 2014-09-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520101755/http://www.nm.cz/download/JML-18-2002-CBE.pdf . 2011-05-20 . dead .
  32. A. S. Umanskaya . 1979 . Miotsenovyye Ptitsy Zapadnogo Prichernomor'ya USSR. Soobshcheniye I. [The Miocene Birds from the Western Black Sea Littoral of the UkrSSR. Communication I.] . Vestnik Zoologii, Nauchnyy Zhurnal Instituta Zoologii Imeni I. I. Shmal'gauzena Akademii Nauk Ukrainskoy SSR . 13 . 40–45 .
  33. William Suárez Duque & Storrs L. Olson . 2009 . The Generic Position of Miraquila terrestris Campbell: Another Addition to the Buteogalline Radiation from the Pleistocene of Peru . Journal of Raptor Research . 43 . 3 . 249–253 . 10.3356/jrr-08-85.1. 84607404 .
  34. George G. Simpson . 1979 . Tertiary Penguins from the Duinefontein Site, Cape Province, South Africa . Annals of the South African Museum . 79 . 1 . 1–7 . 2014-09-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140907123312/http://biostor.org/cache/pdf/f2/08/aa/f208aa75fa416ab9deb5144f311da0b8.pdf . 2014-09-07 . dead .
  35. Colin J. O. Harrison . 1979 . A New Cathartid Vulture from the Lower Eocene of Wyoming . Tertiary Research Special Papers . 5 . 7–10 .
  36. Peter W. Houde . 1988 . Paleognathous Birds from the Early Tertiary of the Northern Hemisphere . Publication of the Nuttall Ornithological Club . 22 . 1–148 .
  37. Colin J. O. Harrison & Cyril A. Walker . 1979 . A Recent and an Extinct Cormorant Species from the Middle Pleistocene of Tanzania . Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology . 50 . 3. 182–183 . 10.1080/00306525.1979.9634108.
  38. Colin J. O. Harrison . 1979 . The Herons (Ardeidae) of the Old World Lower Tertiary . Tertiary Research Special Papers . 5 . 11–17 .
  39. Colin J. O. Harrison . 1979 . The Pliocene Siwalik Cormorant . Tertiary Research . 2 . 2 . 57–58 .
  40. Bown . T. M. . 1979 . New omomyid primates (Haplorhini, Tarsiiformes) from middle Eocene rocks of west-central Hot Springs County, Wyoming . Folia Primatologica . 31 . (1-2) . 48–73. 10.1159/000155873 .