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 1874.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
+...

Dinosaurs

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Publications

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Newly named dinosaurs

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Cionodon

Nomen dubium

Edward Drinker Cope

Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)

Laramie Formation

A hadrosaurid.

Craterosaurus

Nomen dubium

Harry Govier Seeley

Early Cretaceous

Potton Sands

  England

A dubious stegosaur.

Ischyrosaurus

Preoccupied.

Hulke, 1874

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Kimmeridge Clay

  UK

Preoccupied by Edward Drinker Cope, 1869.

Morinosaurus

Nomen dubium

Sauvage

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Unnamed unit

  France

A dubious sauropod.

Polyonax

Jr. synonym

Edward Drinker Cope

Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)

Laramie Formation

  US

Junior subjective synonym of Triceratops.

Ichthyosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Ophthalmosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

Oxford Clay Formation

  UK

An ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur.

Plesiosaurs

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New taxa

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Colymbosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Kimmeridge Clay

  UK

A cryptoclidid, new genus for "Plesiosaurus" megadeirus Seeley, 1869

Eretmosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Blue Lias

  UK

A member of Microcleididae; new genus for "Plesiosaurus" rugosus Owen, 1840.

Mauisaurus

Valid

Hector

Late Cretaceous (late Campanian-Maastrichtian)

Conway Formation

  New Zealand

An elasmosaurid.

Muraenosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

Oxford Clay

  UK

A cryptoclidid.

Rhomaleosaurus

Valid

Seeley

Early Jurassic (Toarcian)

Whitby Mudstone Formation

  UK

A rhomaleosaurid; new genus for "Plesiosaurus" cramptoni Carte and Bailey, 1863

Pterosaurs

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Newly named pterosaurs

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Coloborhynchus

Valid

Owen

Early Cretaceous (Valanginian)

Wadhurst Clay Formation

  UK

A member of Ornithocheiridae.

Criorhynchus

Jr. synonym

Owen

Jr. synonym of Ornithocheirus.

Squamates

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Newly named mosasaurs

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Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images
Taniwhasaurus Valid Hector Late Campanian Conway Formation

A tylosaurine mosasaurid.

 
Taniwhasaurus oweni

References

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  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. ^ Owen, R. (1874). Monograph on the Fossil Reptilia of the Wealden and Purbeck Formations. Supplement No. V. Dinosauria (Iguanodon). Palaeontographical Society. pp. 1–18.