2017 in paleontology

List of years in paleontology (table)
In paleobotany
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In arthropod paleontology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In paleoentomology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In paleomalacology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In paleoichthyology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In reptile paleontology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In archosaur paleontology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
In mammal paleontology
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because 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 2017.

Important taxa described (but not necessarily validly named) in 2017

Flora

Cnidarians

Research

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acanthophyllum filiforme

Sp. nov

Valid

Coen-Aubert

Devonian (Givetian)

 Mauritania

A rugose coral belonging to the family Ptenophyllidae.

Acanthophyllum sougyi

Sp. nov

Valid

Coen-Aubert

Devonian (Givetian)

 Mauritania

A rugose coral belonging to the family Ptenophyllidae.

Agetolites angullongensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Zhen, Wang & Percival

Late Ordovician

Angullong Formation

 Australia

A tabulate coral.

Aulohelia carbonica

Sp. nov

Valid

Niko & Fujikawa

Carboniferous (Viséan)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A tabulate coral.

Bothrophyllum gorbachevensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Bothrophyllidae.

Bothrophyllum kalmyussi

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Bothrophyllidae.

Cambroctoconus koori

Sp. nov

Valid

Peel

Cambrian Stage 4 or Stage 5

Henson Gletscher Formation

 Greenland

A possible member of Octocorallia.

Charactophyllum mauritanicum

Sp. nov

Valid

Coen-Aubert

Devonian (Givetian)

 Mauritania

A rugose coral belonging to the family Disphyllidae.

Charactophyllum soraufi

Sp. nov

Valid

Coen-Aubert

Devonian (Givetian)

 Mauritania

A rugose coral belonging to the family Disphyllidae.

Dianqianophyllum

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Liao & Ma

Devonian (Givetian)

 China

A rugose coral. Genus includes new species D. bianqingense.

Dibunophylloides columnatus

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae.

Dibunophylloides paulus

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae.

Dibunophylloides similis

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae.

Dibunophyllum medium

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae.

Enniskillenia multiseptata

Sp. nov

Valid

Bamber & Rodríguez in Bamber et al.

Carboniferous (Mississippian)

 Canada

A rugose coral.

Fungiaphyllia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Melnikova & Roniewicz

Early Jurassic (Hettangian/SinemurianPliensbachian)

 Afghanistan

A stony coral belonging to the family Latomeandridae. The type species is Fungiaphyllia communis.

Gillismilia

Nom. nov

Valid

Lathuilière, Charbonnier & Pacaud

Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian)

 France

A coral; a replacement name for Palaeocyathus Alloiteau (1956).

Guembelastraea dronovi

Sp. nov

Valid

Melnikova & Roniewicz

Early Jurassic (Hettangian/Sinemurian)

 Afghanistan

A stony coral belonging to the family Tropiastraeidae, a species of Guembelastraea.

Lithostrotion termieri

Sp. nov

Valid

Rodríguez & Somerville in Rodríguez, Somerville & Said

Carboniferous (Viséan)

Azrou-Khenifra Basin

 Morocco

A rugose coral belonging to the family Lithostrotionidae.

Macgeea tourneuri

Sp. nov

Valid

Coen-Aubert

Devonian (Givetian)

 Mauritania

A rugose coral belonging to the family Phillipsastreidae.

Nina

Gen. et 3 sp. et comb. nov

Junior homonym

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Serpukhovian and Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Bothrophyllidae. The type species is N. donetsiana; genus also includes new species N. dibimitaria and N. magna, as well as "Bothrophyllum" berestovensis Vassilyuk (1960). The generic name is preoccupied by Nina Horsfield (1829).

Oppelismilia spectabilis

Sp. nov

Valid

Melnikova & Roniewicz

Early Jurassic (Hettangian/Sinemurian)

 Afghanistan

A stony coral belonging to the family Oppelismiliidae, a species of Oppelismilia.

Parepismilia dolichostoma

Sp. nov

Valid

Melnikova & Roniewicz

Early Jurassic (Hettangian–early Sinemurian)

 Afghanistan

A stony coral belonging to the family Parepismiliidae, a species of Parepismilia.

Parepismilia dronovi

Sp. nov

Valid

Melnikova & Roniewicz

Early Jurassic (Hettangian/Sinemurian)

 Afghanistan

A stony coral belonging to the family Parepismiliidae, a species of Parepismilia.

Periplacotrochus

Gen. et comb. et sp. nov

Valid

Cairns

Late Eocene to middle Miocene

 Australia

A flabellid coral. Genus includes P. deltoideus (Duncan, 1864), P. corniculatus (Dennant, 1899), P. elongatus (Duncan, 1864), P. pueblensis (Dennant, 1903), P. inflectus (Dennant, 1903) and P. magnus (Dennant, 1904), as well as new species P. cudmorei.

Petrophyllia niimiensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Niko, Suzuki & Taguchi

Miocene

Bihoku Group

 Japan

A stony coral.

Protomichelinia funafusensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Niko

Early Permian

Funafuseyama Limestone

 Japan

A tabulate coral belonging to the order Favositida and the family Micheliniidae.

Qinscyphus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Liu et al.

Cambrian (Fortunian)

Kuanchuanpu Formation

 China

A probable crown jellyfish belonging to the family Olivooidae. The type species is Q. necopinus.

Rozkowskia lenta

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae.

Scoliopora hosakai

Sp. nov

Valid

Niko, Ibaraki & Tazawa

Middle Devonian

 Japan

A tabulate coral belonging to the order Favositida and the family Alveolitidae.

Sinaster

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wang et al.

Early Cambrian

Kuanchuanpu Formation

 China

A member of Medusozoa belonging to the family Olivooidae. The type species is S. petalon.

Stephanophyllia plattenwaldensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Baron-Szabo

Early Cretaceous (late Aptian to Albian)

Garschella Formation

 Austria

A stony coral belonging to the family Micrabaciidae.

Sterictopathes

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Baliński & Sun

Ordovician (early Floian)

Fenxiang Formation
Honghuayuan Formation

 China

A black coral related to Sinopathes reptans. The type species is S. radicatus.

Voragoaxum

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Fedorowski

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 Ukraine

A rugose coral belonging to the family Aulophyllidae. The type species is V. cavum.

Zaphrentites etheringtonensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Bamber & Rodríguez in Bamber et al.

Carboniferous (Mississippian)

 Canada

A rugose coral.

Zaphrentites lerandi

Sp. nov

Valid

Bamber & Rodríguez in Bamber et al.

Carboniferous (Mississippian)

 Canada

A rugose coral.

Arthropods

Bryozoans

Research

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acupipora mexicana

Sp. nov

Valid

Ernst & Vachard

Carboniferous (middle Pennsylvanian)

 Mexico

Adeonellopsis sandbergi

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Adeonidae.

'Akatopora' wilmseni

Sp. nov

Valid

Martha, Niebuhr & Scholz

Late Cretaceous (mid-late Turonian)

Strehlen Formation

 Germany

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Atactotoechus vaulxensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ernst et al.

Carboniferous (Mississippian)

 Belgium

A bryozoan.

Bashkirella arnaoense

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Chasmatoporidae.

Bigeyina cantabrica

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Semicosciniidae.

Bigeyina spinosa

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Semicosciniidae.

Bragella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

EoceneOligocene transition

 Tanzania

A cheilostome bryozoan. Genus includes new species B. pseudofedora.

Buskia waiinuensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

Pleistocene

Nukumaru Limestone

 New Zealand

A member of Ctenostomatida belonging to the superfamily Vesicularioidea and the family Buskiidae.

Cheiloporina clarksvillensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Cheiloporinidae.

Cigclisula solenoides

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Colatooeciidae.

Coeloclemis zefrehensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ernst et al.

Devonian (Frasnian)

Bahram Formation

 Iran

A trepostome bryozoan.

Diplosolen akatjevense

Sp. nov

Valid

Viskova & Pakhnevich

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

 Russia

A bryozoan belonging to the class Stenolaemata and the order Tubuliporida.

Ditaxipora lakriensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Sonar & Pawar

Miocene (Burdigalian)

Chhasra Formation

 India

A member of the family Catenicellidae.

Eridopora moravica

Sp. nov

Valid

Tolokonnikova, Kalvoda & Kumpan

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

 Czech Republic

Escharoides joannae

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Romancheinidae.

Euthyrhombopora tenuis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ernst et al.

Devonian (Frasnian)

Bahram Formation

 Iran

A rhabdomesine cryptostome bryozoan.

Exechonella minutiperforata

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Exechonellidae.

Exidmonea baghi

Sp. nov

Valid

Zágoršek, Yazdi & Bahrami

Miocene

Qom Formation

 Iran

A cyclostome bryozoan.

Fabifenestella almazani

Sp. nov

Valid

Ernst & Vachard

Carboniferous (middle Pennsylvanian)

 Mexico

Fenestrapora elegans

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (late Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Semicosciniidae.

Filites robustus

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Acanthocladiidae.

Floridina subantiqua

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Onychocellidae.

Foratella cervisia

Sp. nov

Valid

Taylor & Martha

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Beer Head Limestone Formation

 United Kingdom

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Hagiosynodos simplex

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Cheiloporinidae.

Heteractis tanzaniensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

EoceneOligocene transition

 Tanzania

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Hillmeropora

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Martha, Niebuhr & Scholz

Late Cretaceous (mid-late Turonian)

Strehlen Formation

 Germany

A cheilostome bryozoan genus belonging to the family Calloporidae. Type species H. pavonina; genus also includes Membranipora procurrens Brydone, 1929.

Jablonskipora

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Martha & Taylor

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Upper Greensand

 United Kingdom

A cheilostome bryozoan. The type species is J. kidwellae.

Kalvariella antiqua

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Acanthocladiidae.

Lacrimula crassa

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

EoceneOligocene transition

 Tanzania

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Lacrimula kilwaensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

EoceneOligocene transition

 Tanzania

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Margaretta pentaceratops

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Margarettidae.

Metrarabdotos aquaeguttum

Sp. nov

Valid

Ramalho, Távora & Zagorsek

Early Miocene

Pirabas Formation

 Brazil

A member of Lepralielloidea belonging to the family Metrarabdotosidae.

Metrarabdotos capanemensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ramalho, Távora & Zagorsek

Early Miocene

Pirabas Formation

 Brazil

A member of Lepralielloidea belonging to the family Metrarabdotosidae.

Metrarabdotos elongatum

Sp. nov

Valid

Ramalho, Távora & Zagorsek

Early Miocene

Pirabas Formation

 Brazil

A member of Lepralielloidea belonging to the family Metrarabdotosidae.

Microeciella kolomnensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Viskova & Pakhnevich

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

 Russia

A bryozoan belonging to the suborder Tubuliporina and the family Oncousoeciidae.

Microporella rusti

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino et al.

Pleistocene

Nukumaru Limestone

 New Zealand

A member of the family Microporellidae.

Nellia winstonae

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Quadricellariidae.

Nevianipora isfahani

Sp. nov

Valid

Zágoršek, Yazdi & Bahrami

Miocene

Qom Formation

 Iran

A cyclostome bryozoan.

'Onychocella' barbata

Sp. nov

Valid

Martha, Niebuhr & Scholz

Late Cretaceous (late Cenomanian)

Dölzschen Formation

 Germany

A cheilostome bryozoan. Taylor, Martha & Gordon (2018) transferred this species to the genus Kamilocella.

Onychocella saxoniae

Sp. nov

Valid

Martha, Niebuhr & Scholz

Late Cretaceous (late Cenomanian)

Dölzschen Formation

 Germany

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Paralicornia interdigitata

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Candidae.

Paraseptopora geometrica

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (late Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Septoporidae.

Paraseptopora irregularis

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Septoporidae.

Pharopora

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wyse Jackson, Ernst & Suárez Andrés

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Hook Head Formation

 Ireland

A member of Cryptostomata belonging to the family Rhabdomesidae. The type species is P. regularis.

Pleuromucrum epifanioi

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Phidoloporidae.

Pleuromucrum liowae

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Phidoloporidae.

Polyascosoecia iranica

Sp. nov

Valid

Zágoršek, Yazdi & Bahrami

Miocene

Qom Formation

 Iran

A cyclostome bryozoan.

Puellina quadrispinosa

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Cribrilinidae.

Revalotrypa inopinata

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorov, Koromyslova & Martha

Ordovician (Floian)

 Russia

An esthonioporate bryozoan belonging to the family Revalotrypidae.

Revalotrypa yugaensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Fedorov, Koromyslova & Martha

Ordovician (Floian)

 Russia

An esthonioporate bryozoan belonging to the family Revalotrypidae.

Schizolepraliella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A Schizoporella-like cheilostome bryozoan of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is S. nancyae.

Selenaria lyrulata

Sp. nov

Valid

López-Gappa, Pérez & Griffin

Early Miocene

Monte León Formation

 Argentina

A bryozoan belonging to the family Selenariidae.

Spiniflabellum jacksoni

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Cribrilinidae.

Steginoporella tiara

Sp. nov

Valid

Gordon, Voje & Taylor

Early Pleistocene

 New Zealand

A member of Cheilostomata belonging to the family Steginoporellidae.

Stylopoma farleyensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Schizoporellidae.

Stylopoma leverhulme

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Schizoporellidae.

Thalamoporella bitorquata

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Thalamoporellidae.

Thalamoporella hastigera

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Thalamoporellidae.

Thalamoporella ogivalis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Thalamoporellidae.

Thalamoporella papalis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Thalamoporellidae.

Thalamoporella polygonalis

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Thalamoporellidae.

Trypostega vokesi

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Trypostegidae.

Turbicellepora giardinai

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Celleporidae.

Utropora parva

Sp. nov

Valid

Suárez Andrés & Wyse Jackson

Devonian (Emsian–early Eifelian)

Moniello Formation

 Spain

A member of Fenestrata belonging to the family Semicosciniidae.

Vix scolaroi

Sp. nov

Valid

Di Martino, Taylor & Portell

Early Miocene

Chipola Formation

 United States
( Florida)

A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Vicidae.

Wilbertopora manubriformis

Sp. nov

Valid

Taylor & Martha

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Beer Head Limestone Formation

 United Kingdom

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Wilbertopora ostiolatoides

Sp. nov

Valid

Martha, Niebuhr & Scholz

Late Cretaceous (mid-late Turonian)

Strehlen Formation

 Germany

A cheilostome bryozoan.

Brachiopods

Research

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acrothyra bonnia

Sp. nov

Valid

Skovsted et al.

Cambrian Stage 4

Forteau Formation

 Canada
( Newfoundland and Labrador)

A member of Acrotretida belonging to the family Acrotretidae.

Anarhynchia smithi

Sp. nov

Valid

Pálfy et al.

Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian)

Inklin Formation

 Canada
( British Columbia)

Atelelasma longisulcum

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Strophomenata belonging to the order Billingsellida and the family Clitambonitidae.

Atychorhynchia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Baeza-Carratalá, Reolid & García Joral

Early Jurassic (late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian)

Zegrí Formation

 Spain

A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Norellidae. The type species is A. falsiorigo.

Avdeevella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Baranov

Ordovician

 Russia

The type species is A. mica.

Bilobia alichovae

Sp. nov

Valid

Madison

Ordovician (Sandbian)

 Russia
( Leningrad Oblast)

A member of Strophomenida.

Bittnerithyris

Gen. nov

Valid

Popov & Zakharov

Early Triassic (Olenekian)

 Russia
( Primorsky Krai)

A member of Terebratulida.

Bronnothyris danaperensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Bitner & Müller

Eocene (Priabonian)

 Ukraine

A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Megathyrididae.

Burrirhynchia albiensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Gaspard

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 France

A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Tetrarhynchiidae.

Colaptomena auduni

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Rafinesquinidae.

Cyrtinaella? houi

Sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Spiriferinida.

Cyrtospirifer ainosawensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Tazawa, Inose & Kaneko

Late Devonian

Ainosawa Formation

 Japan

A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Cyrtospiriferidae.

Cyrtospirifer choanjiensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Tazawa

Late Devonian

 Japan

A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Cyrtospiriferidae.

Dactylogonia costellata

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Strophomenidae.

Dirafinesquina antiqua

Sp. nov

Valid

Popov & Cocks

Ordovician (Dapingian)

 Iran

A strophomenoid brachiopod.

Discinisca suborbicularis

Sp. nov

Valid

Smirnova et al.

Late Jurassic

 Russia

Discinisca undata

Sp. nov

Valid

Smirnova in Smirnova et al.

Late Jurassic

 Russia

A brachiopod belonging to the family Discinidae, a species of Discinisca.

Elkanathyris

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Copper & Jin

Silurian (Aeronian)

 Canada
( Quebec)

An athyride brachiopod. The type species is E. pallula.

Eoporambonites raziabadensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Popov & Cocks

Ordovician (Dapingian)

 Iran

A porambonitoid brachiopod.

Foveola ivari

Sp. nov

Valid

Holmer et al.

Ordovician (Sandbian)

 Estonia

A member of Obolidae.

Gypidula xui

Sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Pentamerida.

Hesperorthis leinsterensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Orthida belonging to the family Hesperorthidae.

Hexigtenichonetes

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Shen in Shen et al.

Permian (Guadalupian)

Miaoling Formation

 China

A member of Productida belonging to the family Rugosochonetidae. The type species is "Hemichonetes" hemipleura Li & Su in Li et al. (1980); genus also includes "Hemichonetes guangxingensis Li & Su in Li et al. (1980), "Hemichonetes subquadrata Li & Su in Li et al. (1980) and "Hemichonetes yanjiensis Li & Su in Li et al. (1980).

Hibernobonites

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation
Tourmakeady Limestone Formation?

 Ireland

A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Porambonitidae. The type species is "Atrypa" filosa M'Coy (1846); genus might also include "Porambonites" dubius Williams & Curry (1985).

Howellites hibernicus

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Orthida belonging to the family Dalmanellidae.

Isophragma parallelum

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Dunabrattin Limestone Formation
Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Plectambonitidae.

Joania ukrainica

Sp. nov

Valid

Bitner & Müller

Eocene (Priabonian)

 Ukraine

A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Megathyrididae.

Karadagithyris boullierae

Sp. nov

Valid

Halamski & Cherif

Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)

Argiles de Saïda Formation

 Algeria

A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Muirwoodellidae.

Karlsorus

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Jin & Holmer

Silurian (Wenlock)

 Sweden

A new genus for "Pentamerus" gothlandicus Lebedev (1892).

Koninckodonta sumuntanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Baeza-Carratalá, Reolid & García Joral

Early Jurassic (late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian)

Zegrí Formation

 Spain

A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Koninckinidae.

Kurtothyris

Nom. nov

Valid

Shen in Shen et al.

Permian (late Cisuralian)

Chihsia Formation

 China

A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Skelidorygmidae; a replacement name for Litothyris Chang (1987). The type species is "Litothyris" anhuiensis Chang (1987).

Kyrshabaktella diabola

Sp. nov

Valid

Skovsted et al.

Cambrian Stage 4

Forteau Formation

 Canada
( Newfoundland and Labrador)

A member of Linguloidea belonging to the family Kyrshabaktellidae.

Lacunites ivantsovi

Sp. nov

Valid

Holmer et al.

Ordovician (early Darriwilian)

 Russia

A paterinid brachiopod.

Lamellaerhynchia carronensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Gaspard

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 France

A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae.

Leptagonia franca

Sp. nov

Valid

Mottequin & Simon

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Tournai Formation

 Belgium

A member of Strophomenoidea belonging to the family Rafinesquinidae.

Levipugnax? liui

Sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Rhynchonellida.

Liaotarimella

Nom. nov

Valid

Shen in Shen et al.

Permian (Artinskian)

Wutankule Formation

 China

A member of Productida belonging to the family Productellidae. A replacement name for Tarimella Chen (2004). The type species is "Tarimella" tarimensis Chen (2004).

Lichuanorelloides

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wang et al.

Early Triassic

 China

Genus includes new species L. lichuanensis.

Meristella? aksuensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Modzalevskaya et al.

Devonian (Lochkovian)

 Tajikistan

Nisusia guizhouensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Mao et al.

Cambrian

Kaili Formation
Qingxudong Formation

 China

A brachiopod belonging to the subphylum Rhynchonelliformea, order Kutorginida and the family Nisusiidae.

Nucleospira hannoniae

Nom. nov

Valid

Mottequin & Simon

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Tournai Formation

 Belgium

A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Nucleospiridae; a replacement name for Athyris globulina de Koninck (1887).

Onniella variabilis

Sp. nov

Valid

Harper, Parkes & Zhan

Ordovician (Katian)

Raheen Formation

 Ireland

A dalmanelloid brachiopod belonging to the family Dalmanellidae.

Ouraniorhynchus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Modzalevskaya et al.

Devonian (Lochkovian)

 Tajikistan

A brachiopod. Genus includes new species O. dronovi.

Permocryptospirifer

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Shen & Grunt in Shen et al.

Permian (late Cisuralian and Guadalupian)

Chihsia Formation
Maokou Formation
Shazipo Formation

 China

A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Athyrididae. The type species is "Cryptospirifer" omeishanensis Huang (1933); genus also includes "Cryptospirifer" minor Yang (1984) and "Cryptospirifer" shawanensis Jin et al. (1974).

Piarorhynchella tazawai

Sp. nov

Valid

Popov & Zakharov

Early Triassic (Olenekian)

 Russia
( Primorsky Krai)

A member of Rhynchonellida.

Platystrophia tramorensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Liljeroth et al.

Ordovician

Tramore Limestone Formation

 Ireland

A member of Orthida belonging to the family Platystrophiidae.

Pustulobolus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Skovsted et al.

Cambrian Stage 3-4

Forteau Formation

 Canada
( Newfoundland and Labrador)

A member of Linguloidea belonging to the family Eoobolidae. The type species is P. triangulus.

Qidongia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Terebratulida. The type species is Q. tani.

Rhipidomella discreta

Sp. nov

Valid

Cisterna et al.

Carboniferous (late SerpukhovianBashkirian)

El Paso Formation

 Argentina

A brachiopod belonging to the group Orthida and the family Rhipidomellidae.

Rioultina zalasensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Radwańska

Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)

 Poland

A member of Thecideida belonging to the family Thecidellinidae.

Sericoidea hibernica

Sp. nov

Valid

Harper, Parkes & Zhan

Ordovician (Katian)

Raheen Formation

 Ireland

A plectambonitoid brachiopod belonging to the family Sowerbyellidae.

Serratocrista scaldisensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Mottequin & Simon

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Tournai Formation

 Belgium

A member of Orthotetida belonging to the family Schuchertellidae.

Simehorthis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Kebria-Ee Zadeh, Popov & Ghobadi Pour

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Lashkarak Formation

 Iran

A member of Orthida belonging to the family Hesperorthidae. Genus includes new species S. fascicostellata.

Somalithyris lakhaparensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Mukherjee & Shome

Late Jurassic (Tithonian)

 India

Starnikoviella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Baranov

Ordovician

 Russia

The type species is S. settedabanica.

Tectogonotoechia rivasi

Sp. nov

Valid

García-Alcalde & Herrera

Devonian (Pragian)

Nogueras Formation

 Spain

A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the superfamily Ancistrorhynchoidea and the family Iberirhynchiidae.

Thomasaria? baii

Sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Spiriferida.

Thomasaria? liangi

Sp. nov

Valid

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Spiriferida.

Tunethyris blodgetti

Sp. nov

Valid

Feldman

Middle Triassic

Saharonim Formation

 Israel

A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Dielasmatidae.

Westonia mardini

Sp. nov

Valid

Mergl et al.

Cambrian (Furongian)

Sosink Formation

 Turkey

Xiangia

Gen. et sp. nov

Junior homonym

Lü & Ma

Devonian (late Frasnian)

 China

A member of Spiriferida. The type species is X. liaoi. The generic name is preoccupied by Xiangia Peng (1987).

Zhanorthis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Popov & Cocks

Ordovician (Dapingian)

 Iran

An orthoid brachiopod. Genus includes new species Z. gerdkuhensis.

Ziyunospirifer

Nom. nov

Valid

Shen in Shen et al.

Early Carboniferous

Zhaojiashan Formation

 China

A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Choristitidae; a replacement name for Quizhouspirifer Xian (1982). The type species is "Quizhouspirifer" ziyunensis Xian (1982).

Molluscs

Echinoderms

Research

  • Systematic revision of the North American members of the diploporitan family Holocystitidae is published by Sheffield & Sumrall (2017).
  • Triassic members of the otherwise Paleozoic groups of sea urchins (the family Proterocidaridae), brittle stars (the family Eospondylidae) and starfish are reported by Thuy, Hagdorn & Gale (2017).
  • Phylogenetic analysis and systematic revision of early to middle Paleozoic non-camerate crinoids published by Wright (2017).
  • Systematic revision of Ordovician camerate crinoids published by Cole (2017).
  • Major revision to the classification of fossil and extant Crinoidea by Wright et al. (2017), including the presentation of new phylogeny-based and rank-based classifications.
  • A study on large-scale patterns of morphologic evolution in the Paleozoic radiation of eucladid crinoids is published by Wright (2017).
  • A study on the internal morphology of the water vascular system in a specimen of a stem-ophiuroid species Protasterina flexuosa from the Ordovician (Katian) Kope Formation (Kentucky, United States) is published by Clark et al. (2017).
  • A study on the paleoecology of the echinoderm species known from the upper Campanian Pierre Shale (including the crinoid Lakotacrinus brezinai), especially on their adaptations to the cold seep environment, is published by Kato, Oji & Shirai (2017).

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Amblypygus matruhensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ali

Middle Miocene

 Egypt

A sea urchin.

Ambonacrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A diplobathrid camerate crinoid. Genus includes new species A. decorus.

Andymetra toarcensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

A comatulid crinoid.

Anthroosasterias

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Blake

Carboniferous

Gilmore City Formation

 United States
( Iowa)

A starfish belonging to the family Urasterellidae. Genus includes new species A. mikrotero.

Antillaster farisi

Sp. nov

Valid

Ali

Middle Eocene

 Egypt

A sea urchin.

Aspidophiura? seren

Sp. nov

Valid

Ewin & Thuy

Jurassic

Oxford Clay Formation

 United Kingdom

A brittle star.

Ateleocystites? lansae

Sp. nov

Valid

McDermott & Paul

Ordovician (Katian)

Slade and Redhill Beds

 United Kingdom

A mitrate belonging to the family Anomalocystitidae, possibly a species of Ateleocystites.

Brissus mihalyi

Sp. nov.

Valid

Polonkai et al.

Middle Miocene

Leitha Limestone Formation

 Hungary

A heart urchin belonging to the family Brissidae.

Crepidosoma doylei

Sp. nov

Valid

Blake, Donovan & Harper

Silurian (Telychian)

Kilbride Formation

 Ireland

A brittle star belonging to the group Oegophiurida and the family Encrinasteridae.

Dalicrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A diplobathrid camerate crinoid. Genus includes new species D. hammanni.

Diplodetus brisenoi

Sp. nov

Valid

Silva-Martínez et al.

Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)

Austin Formation

 Mexico

A heart urchin belonging to the family Brissidae.

Echinocyamus belali

Sp. nov

Valid

Ali

Middle Eocene

 Egypt

A sea urchin.

Enakomusium whymanae

Sp. nov

Valid

Ewin & Thuy

Jurassic

Oxford Clay Formation

 United Kingdom

A brittle star.

Eopatelliocrinus hispaniensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A monobathrid camerate crinoid.

Eotiaris guadalupensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Thompson in Thompson, Petsios & Bottjer

Permian (Capitanian)

Bell Canyon Formation

 United States
( Texas)

A sea urchin. The name first appeared in the publication of Thompson et al. (2015); however, it was published in an online only journal Scientific Reports and it was not registered with ZooBank, making it invalid until it was validated by Thompson, Petsios & Bottjer (2017).

Felbabkacystis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Nardin et al.

Cambrian (Drumian)

Jince Formation

 Czech Republic

A transitional form between calyx-bearing and theca-bearing blastozoans. Genus includes new species F. luckae.

Fombuenacrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A diplobathrid camerate crinoid. Genus includes new species F. nodulus.

Forcipicrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

An isocrinid crinoid. Genus includes new species F. normannicus.

Globator roselli

Sp. nov

Valid

Carrasco

Eocene

 Spain

A sea urchin related to members of the genus Conulus.

Goniopygus emmae

Sp. nov

Valid

Forner i Valls

Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

 Morocco

A sea urchin belonging to the group Arbacioida and the family Acropeltidae.

Grigopyrgus

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Müller & Hahn

Early Devonian

 Germany

A member of Edrioasteroidea belonging to the family Agelacrinitidae; a new genus for "Agelacrinites" curvatus Grigo (1995).

Goyacrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A diplobathrid camerate crinoid. Genus includes new species G. gutierrezi.

Heropyrgus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Briggs et al.

Silurian

Herefordshire Lagerstätte

 United Kingdom

A rhenopyrgid edrioasteroid. The type species is H. disterminus.

Holocystites salmoensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Sheffield, Ausich & Sumrall

Ordovician (Hirnantian)

Ellis Bay Formation

 Canada
( Quebec)

A member of Diploporita belonging to the group Sphaeronitida and the family Holocystitidae.

Metalia lindaae

Sp. nov

Valid

Ali

Middle Eocene

 Egypt

A sea urchin.

Monostychia alanrixi

Sp. nov

Valid

Sadler, Martin & Gallagher

Miocene

Colville Sandstone

 Australia

A sea urchin.

Monostychia macnamarai

Sp. nov

Valid

Sadler, Martin & Gallagher

Miocene

Colville Sandstone

 Australia

A sea urchin.

Monostychia robertirwini

Sp. nov

Valid

Sadler, Martin & Gallagher

Miocene

Colville Sandstone

 Australia

A sea urchin.

Moroccodiscus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Reich et al.

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Taddrist Formation

 Morocco

A cyclocystoid echinoderm. Genus includes new species M. smithi.

Oehlerticrinus peachi

Sp. nov

Valid

Donovan & Fearnhead

Early Devonian

Looe Basin

 United Kingdom

A crinoid belonging to the group Monobathrida and the family Hexacrinitidae.

Ophiotitanos smithi

Sp. nov

Valid

Ewin & Thuy

Jurassic

Oxford Clay Formation

 United Kingdom

A brittle star.

Ova rancoca

Sp. nov

Valid

Zachos

Paleocene (Thanetian)

Vincentown Formation

 United States
( New Jersey)

A sea urchin.

Paerticrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wright & Toom

Silurian (Rhuddanian)

 Estonia

A crinoid. Genus includes new species P. arvosus.

Palaeocomaster structus

Sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

A comatulid crinoid.

Persiacarpos

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Rozhnov & Parsley

Cambrian

Mila Formation

 Iran

A member of Cornuta. Genus includes new species P. jefferiesi.

Petalobrissus ossoi

Sp. nov

Valid

Forner i Valls

Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

 Morocco

A sea urchin belonging to the group Cassiduloida and the family Faujasidae.

Petalocrinus stenopetalus

Sp. nov

Valid

Mao et al.

Silurian (Aeronian)

 China

A crinoid belonging to the family Petalocrinidae.

Picassocrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cole et al.

Ordovician (Katian)

Fombuena Formation

 Spain

A cladid crinoid. Genus includes new species P. villasi.

Ronsocrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cordie & Witzke

Devonian (Givetian)

 United States
( Iowa)

A camerate crinoid belonging to the family Melocrinitidae. Genus includes new species R. rabia.

Salenia palmyra

Sp. nov

Valid

Zachos

Paleocene (Danian)

Clayton Formation

 United States
( Alabama
 Georgia (U.S. state))

A sea urchin.

Sanducystis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Zamora et al.

Cambrian (Furongian)

Sandu Formation

 China

A stemmed echinoderm. The type species is S. sinensis.

Singillatimetra truncata

Sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

An isocrinid crinoid.

Solanocrinites jagti

Sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

A comatulid crinoid.

Spinimetra

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Hess & Thuy

Early Jurassic

 France

A comatulid crinoid. Genus includes new species S. chesnieri.

Spirocrinus circularis

Sp. nov

Valid

Mao et al.

Silurian (Aeronian)

 China

A crinoid belonging to the family Petalocrinidae.

Spirocrinus dextrosus

Sp. nov

Valid

Mao et al.

Silurian (Aeronian)

 China

A crinoid belonging to the family Petalocrinidae.

Staurasterias

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Blake

Carboniferous

Keokuk Formation

 United States
( Indiana)

A starfish belonging to the family Urasterellidae. Genus includes new species S. elegans.

Sumrallia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Müller & Hahn

Early Devonian

Seifen Formation

 Germany

A member of Edrioasteroidea. Genus includes new species S. rseiberti.

Superstesaster

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Villier et al.

Early Triassic

 United States
( Utah)

A starfish. Genus includes new species S. promissor.

Teleosaster

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Hunter & McNamara

Permian (Kungurian)

Cundlego Formation

 Australia

A brittle star. Genus includes new species T. creasyi.

Tintinnabulicrinus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wright & Toom

Ordovician (Katian)

 Estonia

A crinoid. Genus includes new species T. estoniensis.

Ulphaceaster

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Néraudeau et al.

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 France

A sea urchin belonging to the family Archiaciidae. Genus includes new species U. sarthacensis.

Vologesia rollingstones

Sp. nov

Valid

Schlüter & Wiese

Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)

 Spain

A sea urchin belonging to the family Echinolampadidae.

Conodonts

Research

  • A study on the conodont assemblage from the Silurian (Homerian) Rootsiküla Formation (Estonia), interpreted as occurring in the evaporite-bearing strata, and on the conodont diversity in various environments, is published by Jarochowska et al. (2017).
  • Articulated skeletal remains of Hindeodus parvus, providing direct evidence of the number and arrangement of elements in the apparatus, are described from the Lower Triassic of China by Zhang et al. (2017).

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acodus zeballus

Sp. nov

Valid

Voldman & Albanesi in Voldman et al.

Early Ordovician

 Argentina

Aldridgeognathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Miller et al.

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Amdeh Formation

 Oman

A member of Balognathidae. Genus includes new species A. manniki.

Bispathodus ultimus corradinii

Subsp. nov

Valid

Söte, Hartenfels & Becker

Devonian (Famennian)

 Germany

Coelocerodontus hunanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Furongian)

Panjiazui Formation

 China

A euconodont.

Ctenopolygnathus parallelus

Sp. nov

Valid

Ovnatanova et al.

Late Devonian

Kedzyrschor Formation

 Russia

Fahraeusodus jachalensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Feltes & Albanesi in Serra et al.

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Gualcamayo Formation
Las Aguaditas Formation
Las Chacritas Formation
San Juan Formation

 Argentina

Furnishina wangcunensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Furongian)

Bitiao Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Gothodus vetus

Sp. nov

Valid

Voldman & Albanesi in Voldman et al.

Early Ordovician

 Argentina

Guexispathodus

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Plasencia et al.

Middle Triassic

Mukheiris Formation
Saharonim Formation

 Israel
 Jordan

A member of the family Gondolellidae. The type species is "Neospathodus" shagami Benjamini & Chepstow-Lusty (1986); genus also includes "Pseudofurnishius" siyalaensis Sadeddin & Kozur (1992).

Gullodus tieqiaoensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Sun et al.

Permian

 China

Icriodus ballbergensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Lüddecke, Hartenfels & Becker

Devonian (Famennian)

 Germany

Icriodus marieae

Sp. nov

Valid

Suttner, Kido & Suttner

Middle Devonian

Valentin Formation

 Austria
 France
 Germany

Idiognathodus boardmani

Sp. nov

Valid

Hogancamp & Barrick

Carboniferous (Gzhelian)

Heebner Shale

 United States

Idiognathodus itaitubensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Cardoso, Sanz-López & Blanco-Ferrera

Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian)

Tapajós Group

 Brazil

Idiognathoides luokunensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Hu & Qi in Hu et al.

Carboniferous (Bashkirian)

 China

Iowagnathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Liu et al.

Ordovician (Whiterock Stage)

Winneshiek Konservat-Lagerstätte

 United States
( Iowa)

Genus includes new species I. grandis.

Kirilella

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Plasencia et al.

Middle Triassic

 Austria
 Canada
 China
 Egypt
 Hungary
 Israel
 Italy
 Japan
 Jordan
 Russia
 Spain
 United States

A member of the family Gondolellidae. The type species is "Polygnathus" mungoensis Diebel (1956); genus also includes "Tardogondolella" diebeli Kozur & Mostler (1971), "Epigondolella" mostleri Kozur in Kozur & Mock (1972) and "Metapolygnathus" longobardicus Kovács (1983).

Laiwugnathus hunanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Drumian)

Huaqiao Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Laiwugnathus transitans

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Guzhangian and Paibian)

Chefu Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Lenathodus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Izokh in Izokh & Yazikov

Early Carboniferous

 Russia

Genus includes new species L. bakharevi.

Lugnathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian Stage 10 and Early Ordovician (Tremadocian)

Panjiazui Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida. Genus includes new species L. hunanensis.

Marquezella

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Plasencia et al.

Middle Triassic

 Austria
 Bulgaria
 China
 France
 Greece
 Hungary
 India
 Italy
 Japan
 Russia
 Slovakia
 Slovenia
 Spain

A member of the family Gondolellidae. The type species is "Gladigondolella" truempyi Hirsch (1971); genus also includes "Polygnathus" japonicus Hayashi (1968).

Mayrodus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Zhang, Jowett & Barnes

Silurian (Sheinwoodian)

Cape Phillips Formation

 Canada
( Nunavut)

A conodont of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is M. melchini.

Miaognathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian Stage 10

Shenjiawan Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida. Genus includes new species M. multicostatus.

Millerodontus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Furongian)

Shenjiawan Formation

 China

A euconodont. Genus includes new species M. intermedius.

Mosherella praebudaensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Chen & Lukeneder

Late Triassic (Carnian)

Kasimlar Formation

 Turkey

Neopolygnathus communis yazikovi

Subsp. nov

Valid

Izokh in Izokh & Yazikov

Early Carboniferous

 Russia

Neopolygnathus crucesignatis

Sp. nov

Valid

Plotitsyn & Zhuravlev

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

 Russia

Norigondolella carlae

Sp. nov

In press

Rigo et al.

Late Triassic (Carnian)

Scillato Formation

 Austria
 Italy
 Turkey

A member of Ozarkodinida.

Omanognathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Miller et al.

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Amdeh Formation

 Oman

A member of Balognathidae. Genus includes new species O. daiqaensis.

Palmatolepis chernovi

Sp. nov

Valid

Soboleva

Devonian (Frasnian)

 Russia

Palmatolepis spallettae

Nom. nov

Valid

Klapper et al.

Devonian (Frasnian)

 Canada
( Ontario)

A replacement name for Palmatolepis nodosa Klapper et al. (2004).

Palmatolepis zhuravlevi

Sp. nov

Valid

Soboleva

Devonian (Frasnian)

 Russia

Polygnathus arcus

Sp. nov

Valid

Plotitsyn & Zhuravlev

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

 Russia

Polygnathus mawsonae

Sp. nov

Junior homonym

Ovnatanova et al.

Devonian (Famennian)

Sortomael' Formation

 Australia
 Russia

Ovnatanova et al. (2019) coined a replacement name Polygnathus sharyuensis.

Polygnathus postvogesi

Sp. nov

Valid

Plotitsyn & Zhuravlev

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

 Russia

Prosagittodontus compressus

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Guzhangian and Paibian)

Chefu Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Pseudohindeodus elliptica

Sp. nov

Valid

Sun et al.

Permian

 China

Quadralella wanlanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Zhang et al.

Triassic

 China

Quadralella yongyueensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Zhang et al.

Triassic

 China

Siphonodella carinata

Sp. nov

Valid

Zhuravlev

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Idzhid Formation

 Russia
( Komi Republic)

Siphonodella kalvodai

Sp. nov

Valid

Kaiser, Kumpan & Cígler

Carboniferous (Tournaisian)

Líšeň Formation

 Czech Republic
 Tajikistan

A member of Ozarkodinida belonging to the family Elictognathidae.

Sweetognathus asymmetrica

Sp. nov

Valid

Sun et al.

Permian

 China

Tujiagnathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Furongian)

Bitiao Formation

 China

A euconodont. Genus includes new species T. gracilis.

Vjalovognathus carinatus

Sp. nov

Valid

Wang et al.

Permian (Changhsingian)

 China
 India

Wangcunella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Furongian)

Bitiao Formation

 China

A euconodont. Genus includes new species W. conicus.

Wangcunognathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Paibian)

Bitiao Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida. Genus includes new species W. elegans.

Westergaardodina dimorpha

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Paibian)

Bitiao Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Westergaardodina gigantea

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Guzhangian)

Chefu Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Westergaardodina sola

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong & Zhang

Cambrian (Guzhangian)

Chefu Formation

 China

A member of Paraconodontida.

Zentagnathus

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Voldman & Albanesi in Voldman et al.

Early Ordovician

 Argentina

A new genus for "Trapezognathus" primitivus Voldman, Albanesi & Zeballo in Voldman et al. (2013); genus also includes "Trapezognathus" argentinensis Rao et al. (1994)

Fishes

Amphibians

Research

  • A study on the evolution of eye size in early tetrapods and in fish belonging to the lineage that gave rise to tetrapods, as well as on the impact of the eye size on the eye performance while viewing objects through water and through air is published by MacIver et al. (2017).
  • A study on the evolution of forelimb musculature from the lobe-finned fish to early tetrapods is published online by Molnar et al. (2017).
  • A study on the influence of habitat traits on the persistence length of living and fossil amphibian species is published by Tietje & Rödel (2017).
  • A study on the development of the vertebral intercentrum and pleurocentrum in fossil amphibians is published by Danto et al. (2017).
  • A study on the probable function of the interpterygoid vacuities (holes in the palate) in temnospondyls as the site of muscle attachment is published by Witzmann & Werneburg (2017).
  • A study on the earliest larval development in temnospondyls, as indicated by specimens from the Permian (Sakmarian) lake sediments near Obermoschel (Saar–Nahe Basin, Germany), is published by Werneburg (2017).
  • A study on the histology of the small palatal plates and their denticles in a Permian dissorophoid temnospondyl from the Dolese Brothers Limestone Quarry near Richards Spur (Oklahoma, United States) is published by Gee, Haridy & Reisz (2017).
  • Taxonomic revision of all described rhinesuchids and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of members of Rhinesuchidae is published by Marsicano et al. (2017), who transfer the species "Rhinesuchus" capensis Haughton (1925) to the genus Rhinesuchoides.
  • New specimen of the rhinesuchid Australerpeton cosgriffi (a skull and mandible) is described from the Permian Rio do Rasto Formation (Brazil) by Azevedo, Vega & Soares (2017).
  • A description of the anatomy of the braincase and middle ear regions of an exceptionally well-preserved skull of Stanocephalosaurus amenasensis from the Triassic of Algeria is published by Arbez, Dahoumane & Steyer (2017).
  • A study on the anatomy of the skulls of metoposaurid species Metoposaurus krasiejowensis and Apachesaurus gregorii, as well as its implications for establishing whether metoposaurids were active or ambush predators is published by Fortuny, Marcé-Nogué & Konietzko-Meier (2017).
  • An analysis of the microanatomy and histology of metoposaurid vertebra from the Petrified Forest National Park is published by Gee, Parker & Marsh (2017), who interpret Apachesaurus gregorii as more likely to be an early ontogenetic stage of a large metoposaurid, such as Koskinonodon perfectus rather than a distinct species.
  • A juvenile specimen of Koskinonodon perfectus is described from the Norian Petrified Forest Member of the Late Triassic Chinle Formation (Arizona, United States) by Gee & Parker (2017).
  • A study on the physiology (especially metabolic rate, body temperature, breathing, feeding, digestion, osmoregulation and excretion) of Archegosaurus decheni is published by Witzmann & Brainerd (2017).
  • A study on the histology of the dermal skull roof bones in Kokartus honorarius is published by Skutschas & Boitsova (2017).
  • Fossilized soft tissues preserved with the type specimen of the salamander Phosphotriton sigei are described by Tissier, Rage & Laurin (2017).
  • A study on the bite force in extant Cranwell's horned frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli) and its implications for estimating the bite force in the Late Cretaceous species Beelzebufo ampinga is published by Lappin et al. (2017).
  • Frog fossils, including the first known fossils of shovelnose frogs, are described from the early Pliocene of Kanapoi (Kenya) by Delfino (2017).
  • A study on the morphology of the skull of Lethiscus stocki and on the phylogenetic relationships of early tetrapods, recovering lepospondyls as a polyphyletic group, is published by Pardo et al. (2017).

New taxa

Temnospondyls

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Aphaneramma gavialimimus

Sp. nov

Valid

Fortuny et al.

Early Triassic (Olenekian)

 Madagascar

Aphaneramma

Chinlestegophis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Pardo, Small & Huttenlocker

Late Triassic

Chinle Formation

 United States
( Colorado)

A member of Stereospondyli, possibly a stem-caecilian. The type species is C. jenkinsi.

Cyclotosaurus naraserluki

Sp. nov

Valid

Marzola et al.

Late Triassic

Fleming Fjord Formation

 Greenland

Cyclotosaurus

Tomeia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Eltink, Stock Da-Rosa, & Dias-da-Silva

Early Triassic

Sanga do Cabral Formation

 Brazil

A capitosaur.

Lissamphibians

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Chachaiphrynus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Nicoli

Oligocene

 Argentina

A member of Odontophrynidae. The type species is C. lynchi.

Genibatrachus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Gao & Chen

Early Cretaceous

Guanghua (upper part of Longjiang) Formation

 China

A crown-group frog. The type species is G. baoshanensis.

Sanshuibatrachus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wang, Roček & Dong

Early Eocene

 China

A pelobatoid frog of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species S. sinensis.

Other amphibians

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Spathicephalus marsdeni

Sp. nov

Valid

Smithson et al.

Carboniferous (Viséan)

Anstruther Formation

 United Kingdom

A member of the superfamily Baphetoidea.

Yumenerpeton

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Jiang, Ji & Mo

Middle Permian

Xidagou Formation

 China

A bystrowianid chroniosuchian. The type species is Y. yangi.

Reptiles

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids

Research

  • Phreatophasma aenigmaticum is argued to be a member of Caseidae by Brocklehurst & Fröbisch (2017).
  • New fossil material of the caseid Alierasaurus ronchii is described from the Permian deposits of Cala del Vino Formation (Sardinia, Italy) by Romano et al. (2017).
  • A study on the histology of the humeri of Ophiacodon, revealing the existence of fibrolamellar bone in the postcranial bones of this taxon, is published by Shelton & Sander (2017).
  • A study on the body size evolution of edaphosaurids and sphenacodontids is published by Brocklehurst & Brink (2017).
  • A study on the evolution of the endothermy in non-mammalian therapsids as indicated by oxygen isotope composition of bone and tooth phosphate in Permian and Triassic therapsids is published by Rey et al. (2017).
  • A study on the brain morphology of non-mammaliaform therapsids based on skull endocasts of Moschops capensis and a number of biarmosuchians (including Herpetoskylax hopsoni and members of the genera Hipposaurus and Lemurosaurus) is published by Benoit et al. (2017).
  • A study on the morphology of the bony labyrinth of five biarmosuchian specimens is published by Benoit et al. (2017).
  • A study on the anatomy of the skull of Moschops capensis, revealing adaptations of the central nervous system related to head-to-head fighting, is published by Benoit et al. (2017).
  • A study on the resting metabolic rate in Moghreberia nmachouensis is published by Olivier et al. (2017).
  • A study on the contents of the depression known as the "unossified zone" in the brain cavity of Diictodon feliceps is published by Laaß, Schillinger & Kaestner (2017).
  • A reassessment of the skull morphology and phylogenetic position of Compsodon helmoedi is published by Angielczyk & Kammerer (2017).
  • A skeleton of Lystrosaurus curvatus in a fossilized burrow, preserved with taphonomic evidence indicating that this individual was the burrow maker, is described from the Lower Triassic of the South African Karoo Basin by Botha-Brink (2017).
  • A structure analogous to the mammalian neocortex is reported in Kawingasaurus fossilis by Laaß & Kaestner (2017).
  • A gorgonopsian dentary affected by a condition closely resembling compound odontoma is reported from the Upper Permian of Tanzania by Whitney, Mose & Sidor (2017).
  • A detailed description of the braincase of two gorgonopsian specimens (a probable specimen of Aelurosaurus wilmanae from South Africa and a possible specimen of Arctognathus? nasuta from Tanzania) is published by Araújo et al. (2017).
  • A redescription and revision of the gorgonopsian genus Arctops is published by Kammerer (2017).
  • Rediscovered holotype of the gorgonopsian species Clelandina major is described by Kammerer (2017), who considers this species to be a junior synonym of Clelandina rubidgei.
  • A study on the anatomy of the teeth and maxilla of Euchambersia mirabilis and its implications for the hypothesis that venom gland were present in this species is published by Benoit et al. (2017).
  • A redescription and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Silphoictidoides ruhuhuensis is published by Maisch (2017), who considers the species to be a basal member of Baurioidea.
  • A study on the internal morphology of the interorbital region of the skull of basal cynodonts, including rarely fossilized orbitosphenoid elements, is published by Benoit et al. (2017).
  • A study on the anatomy of the nasal regions of the non-mammalian cynodonts Massetognathus, Probainognathus and Elliotherium, comparing it to the nasal regions of fossil mammaliaforms and extant mammals, is published by Crompton et al. (2017).
  • A survey of the aggregations of the specimens of Galesaurus planiceps and Thrinaxodon liorhinus, with emphasis on whether the aggregations consist of individuals of similar age or representing a mixture of different age classes, is published by Jasinoski & Abdala (2017).
  • A study on the ontogenetic changes in the skull and mandible of Galesaurus planiceps is published by Jasinoski & Abdala (2017).
  • A description of the postcranial skeleton of Boreogomphodon from the Triassic Pekin Formation (North Carolina, United States) and a review of the postcranial variation across members of the family Traversodontidae is published by Liu, Schneider & Olsen (2017).
  • A study on the jaw movement of Exaeretodon argentinus as indicated by its dental microwear is published by Kubo, Yamada & Kubo (2017).
  • A study on the morphology of the teeth of the cynodont Candelariodon barberenai, as well as on the phylogenetic relationships of the species, is published by Martinelli et al. (2017).
  • A description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Tritylodon longaevus is published by Gaetano, Abdala & Govender (2017).
  • A reassessment of the anatomy of the postcanine teeth of Stereognathus, based upon all available material from the United Kingdom, is published by Panciroli et al. (2017), who consider the species S. hebridicus to be a junior synonym of the species S. ooliticus.
  • Cast of a burrow which was probably made by a tritheledontid cynodont is described from the Early Jurassic upper Elliot Formation (South Africa) by Bordy et al. (2017).
  • A study on the evolution of jaw muscles across the cynodontmammaliaform transition is published by Lautenschlager et al. (2017).

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Alemoatherium

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Martinelli et al.

Late Triassic (late Carnian)

Santa Maria Formation

 Brazil

A cynodont belonging to the group Prozostrodontia. The type species is A. huebneri.

Aleodon cromptoni

Sp. nov

Valid

Martinelli et al.

Triassic (Ladinian—early Carnian)

 Brazil
 Namibia?

A cynodont belonging to the family Chiniquodontidae.

Bulbasaurus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Kammerer & Smith

Late Permian

Teekloof Formation

 South Africa

A dicynodont belonging to the family Geikiidae. The type species is B. phylloxyron.

Dalongkoua

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Liu & Abdala

Late Permian

Guodikeng Formation

 China

A therocephalian. The type species is D. fuae.

Microwhaitsia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Huttenlocker & Smith

Permian (Wuchiapingian)

Teekloof Formation

 South Africa

A whaitsiid therocephalian. The type species is M. mendrezi.

Nuurtherium

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Velazco, Buczek & Novacek

Late Jurassic

Ulan Malgait Sequence

 Mongolia

A tritylodontid cynodont. The type species is N. baruunensis.

Ophidostoma

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Huttenlocker & Smith

Permian (Wuchiapingian)

Teekloof Formation

 South Africa

A whaitsioid therocephalian of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is O. tatarinovi.

Parasuminia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Kurkin

Permian (Severodvinian)

Poldarsa Formation

 Russia

An anomodont related to Suminia. Genus includes new species P. ivakhnenkoi.

Scalenodon ribeiroae

Sp. nov

Valid

Melo, Martinelli & Soares

Triassic

Santa Maria Supersequence

 Brazil

A traversodontid cynodont.

Shartegodon

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Velazco, Buczek & Novacek

Late Jurassic

Ulan Malgait Sequence

 Mongolia

A tritylodontid cynodont. The type species is S. altai.

Shiguaignathus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Liu & Abdala

Late Permian

Naobaogou Formation

 China

An akidnognathid therocephalian. The type species is S. wangi.

Mammals

Other animals

Research

  • A study on a succession of Ediacaran to Cambrian fossil assemblages from the eastern Siberian Platform (Russia) is published by Zhu et al. (2017), who argue that so-called Ediacaran and earliest Cambrian skeletal biotas overlap without notable biotic turnover.
  • A study on the Ediacaran taxon Parvancorina minchami, indicating that this animal was capable of performing rheotaxis, is published by Paterson et al. (2017).
  • A study on the water flow around the body of the Ediacaran taxon Parvancorina and its implications for the feeding mode and mobility of this animal is published by Darroch et al. (2017).
  • Fossils of members of the genus Namacalathus (co-occurring with Cloudina and Corumbella) are reported from the Ediacaran Tagatiya Guazú Formation (Itapucumi Group, Paraguay) by Warren et al. (2017), extending known geographic range of the taxon.
  • A study on the morphology, growth and development of Dickinsonia costata is published by Evans, Droser & Gehling (2017).
  • A study on the growth and development of Dickinsonia is published by Hoekzema et al. (2017), who interpret this taxon as an animal.
  • A study on the anatomy of Dickinsonia costata and D. tenuis is published by Zakrevskaya & Ivantsov (2017), who interpret D. costata as probably descended from D. tenuis by neoteny.
  • Description of newly discovered disc-shaped, soft-bodied fossils from the early Cambrian Carrara Formation (California, United States), tentatively assigned to the genus Discophyllum (an animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement, might be a chondrophore or an eldoniid) is published by Lieberman et al. (2017).
  • Specimens of Cloudina associated with microbial mat textures are reported from the Ediacaran Tamengo Formation (Brazil) by Becker-Kerber et al. (2017).
  • An assemblage of trace fossils from EdiacaranCambrian siltstones in Brazil, probably produced by a nematoid-like organism, is described by Parry et al. (2017).
  • A diverse fauna dominated by sponges living immediately after the Hirnantian extinction is described from China by Botting et al. (2017).
  • A diverse Early Triassic (Olenekian) marine assemblage (Paris biota), including leptomitid protomonaxonid sponges (a group otherwise known only from Cambrian and Ordovician), new forms of the crinoid order Holocrinida displaying advanced characters, a probable basal ophiodermatid and gladius-bearing coleoids (previously unknown in Early Triassic strata) is reported from Paris (Idaho, United States) by Brayard et al. (2017).
  • A study on the muscle anatomy of Pambdelurion whittingtoni is published by Young & Vinther (2017).
  • Cambrian species Zhenghecaris shankouensis, originally classified as a bivalved arthropod, is reinterpreted as a member of Radiodonta by Zeng et al. (2017).
  • The holotype specimen of a putative lobopodian species Aysheaia prolata is reinterpreted as an isolated frontal appendage of a radiodontan belonging to the genus Stanleycaris by Pates, Daley & Ortega-Hernández (2017).
  • A revision of the radiodontan genus Caryosyntrips is published by Pates & Daley (2017), who interpret the holotype specimen of a putative lobopodian species Mureropodia apae as a partial isolated appendage of a member of the genus Caryosyntrips.
  • Description of the morphology of Amplectobelua symbrachiata, with a focus on its head region, is published by Cong et al. (2017).
  • A study on the anatomy of the Cambrian hyolith Haplophrentis, as well as on the phylogenetic relationships of the hyoliths, is published by Moysiuk, Smith & Caron (2017).
  • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Tullimonstrum gregarium, challenging its interpretation as a vertebrate, is published by Sallan et al. (2017).
  • New exceptionally preserved fossils of Vetulicola longbaoshanensis are described from the Lower Cambrian Wulongqing Formation (China) by Li, Liu & Ou (2017).
  • Putative trematode metacercariae preserved at the base of the femora of an agamid lizard are described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber (Myanmar) by Poinar et al. (2017).

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acoelia discontinua

Sp. nov

Valid

Wu

Permian (Changhsingian)

 China

A calcareous sponge belonging to the order Inozoa and the family Acoeliidae.

Aeroretiolites

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Melchin, Lenz & Kozłowska

Silurian

 Canada

A graptolite. Genus includes new species A. cancellatus.

Aladraco

Nom. et sp. nov

Valid

Geyer

Cambrian

Jbel Wawrmast Formation
Tannenknock Formation

 Germany
 Morocco

A member of Hyolitha; a replacement name for Oxyprymna Kiderlen (1933). Genus includes A. schloppensis (Wurm, 1925) and a new species A. ougnatensis.

Allonnia erjiensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Yun, Zhang & Li

Cambrian

Chengjiang Lagerstätte

 China

A chancelloriid.

Andiprion

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Hints et al.

Ordovician (Dapingian)

 Argentina

A polychaete described on the basis of scolecodonts. Genus includes new species A. paxtonae.

Angulosuspongia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Yang et al.

Cambrian Stage 5

Kaili Formation

 China

A sponge belonging to the order Verongida and the family Vauxiidae. Genus includes new species A. sinensis.

Ankalodous

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Shu et al.

Cambrian Series 3

Qiongzhusi (Chiungchussu) Formation

 China

An arrow worm. The type species is A. sericus.

Archaeochionelasmus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Kočí et al.

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Bohemian Cretaceous Basin

 Czech Republic

An animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally interpreted as a barnacle belonging to the group Balanomorpha and the superfamily Chionelasmatoidea; Gale & Skelton (2018) considered it to be a rudist bivalve instead. Genus includes new species A. nekvasilovae.

Biskolites

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Valent, Fatka & Marek

Cambrian (Drumian)

Buchava Formation

 Czech Republic

A member of Hyolitha. Genus includes new species B. iactans.

Capinatator

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Briggs & Caron

Cambrian

Burgess Shale

 Canada
( British Columbia)

An arrow worm. The type species is C. praetermissus.

Caryosyntrips camurus

Sp. nov

Valid

Pates & Daley

Cambrian

Burgess Shale
Langston Formation
Valdemiedes Formation?

 Canada
( British Columbia)
 United States
( Utah)
 Spain?

A member of Radiodonta.

Caryosyntrips durus

Sp. nov

Valid

Pates & Daley

Cambrian

Wheeler Shale

 United States
( Utah)

A member of Radiodonta.

Cloudina ningqiangensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Cai et al.

Late Ediacaran

 China

Cloudina xuanjiangpingensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Cai et al.

Late Ediacaran

 China

Conchicolites rossicus

Sp. nov

Valid

Vinn & Madison

Ordovician (Katian)

 Russia

A member of Cornulitida belonging to the family Cornulitidae.

Conciliospongia

Gen. et sp. nov

Botting, Zhang & Muir

Late Ordovician

Wenchang Formation

 China

A stem-demosponge of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is C. anjiensis.

Corallistes campanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Świerczewska-Gładysz

Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)

 Poland

A lithistid demosponge belonging to the family Corallistidae.

Cretacimermis aphidophilus

Sp. nov

Valid

Poinar

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Burmese amber

 Myanmar

A nematode belonging to the family Mermithidae.

Eolorica

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Harvey & Butterfield

Cambrian (Furongian)

Deadwood Formation

 Canada
( Saskatchewan)

A member of the total group of Loricifera. The type species is E. deadwoodensis.

Eorograptus spirifer

Sp. nov

Valid

Melchin, Lenz & Kozłowska

Silurian

 Canada

A graptolite.

Feiyanella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Han et al.

Earliest Cambrian

Kuanchuanpu Formation

 China

A Cloudina-like tubular microfossil. The type species is F. manica.

Geoditesia jordaniensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Ungureanu, Ahmad & Farouk

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

 Jordan

A sponge.

Glomerula gemmellaroi

Sp. nov

Valid

Sanfilippo in Sanfilippo et al.

Permian

"Pietra di Salomone" Limestone

 Italy

A polychaete belonging to the family Sabellidae, a species of Glomerula.

Guettardiscyphia zitti

Sp. nov

Valid

Vodrážka

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

Bílá Hora Formation

 Czech Republic

A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Cribrospongiidae.

Inquicus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cong et al.

Early Cambrian

Chengjiang Lagerstätte

 China

A tiny worm infecting members of the genera Cricocosmia and Mafangscolex. Genus includes new species I. fellatus.

Keretsa

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Ivantsov

Late Precambrian

Zimnie Gory Formation

 Russia
( Arkhangelsk Oblast)

An early eumetazoan, showing similarities to the arthropod species Naraoia longicaudata. The type species is K. brutoni.

Labechia yeongwolense

Sp. nov

Valid

Jeon et al.

Ordovician (Darriwilian)

Yeongheung Formation

 South Korea

A stromatoporoid.

Lepidocoleus kuangguoduni

Sp. nov

Valid

Gügel et al.

Devonian (Eifelian)

Nandan Formation

 China

A machaeridian.

'Linevitus' guizhouensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Sun et al.

Cambrian Stage 4

Balang Formation

 China

A member of Hyolitha.

Microdictyon cuneum

Sp. nov

Valid

Wotte & Sundberg

Cambrian

 United States
( Nevada)

A lobopodian.

Microdictyon montezumaensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Wotte & Sundberg

Cambrian

 United States
( Nevada)

A lobopodian.

Mughanniyyum

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Ungureanu, Ahmad & Farouk

Middle Jurassic (Callovian)

 Jordan

A sponge. Genus includes new species M. hanium.

Multiconotubus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cai et al.

Late Ediacaran

 China

A Cloudina-like fossil. Genus includes new species M. chinensis.

Neophrissospongia kacperskii

Sp. nov

Valid

Świerczewska-Gładysz

Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)

 Poland

A lithistid demosponge belonging to the family Corallistidae.

Orthrozanclus elongata

Sp. nov

Zhao & Smith in Zhao et al.

Cambrian Stage 3

Maotianshan Shales

 China

Ovatiovermis

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Caron & Aria

Cambrian

Burgess Shale

 Canada
( British Columbia)

A lobopodian belonging to the family Luolishaniidae. The type species is O. cribratus.

Pachinion canaliculatum

Sp. nov

Valid

Świerczewska-Gładysz

Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)

 Poland

A lithistid demosponge belonging to the family Corallistidae.

Paratetragraptus cooperi

Sp. nov

Valid

VandenBerg

Ordovician (early Floian)

 Australia

A graptolite belonging to the group Dichograptina and the family Phyllograptidae.

Paratetragraptus? henrywilliamsi

Sp. nov

Valid

VandenBerg

Ordovician (early Floian)

 Australia

A graptolite belonging to the group Dichograptina and the family Phyllograptidae.

Paratetragraptus thomassmithi

Sp. nov

Valid

VandenBerg

Ordovician (early Floian)

 Australia

A graptolite belonging to the group Dichograptina and the family Phyllograptidae.

Plumulites lamonti

Sp. nov

Valid

Candela & Crighton

Silurian (Telychian)

Wether Law Linn Formation

 United Kingdom

A machaeridian.

Propomatoceros permianus

Sp. nov

Valid

Sanfilippo in Sanfilippo et al.

Permian

"Pietra di Salomone" Limestone

 Italy

A polychaete belonging to the family Serpulidae, a species of Propomatoceros.

Pseudoretiolites hyrichus

Sp. nov

Valid

Melchin, Lenz & Kozłowska

Silurian

 Canada

A graptolite.

Pyrgopolon (Septenaria) cenomanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Kočí, Jäger & Morel

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 France

A polychaete belonging to the family Serpulidae.

Pyrgopolon (Turbinia?) gaiae

Sp. nov

Valid

Sanfilippo in Sanfilippo et al.

Permian

"Pietra di Salomone" Limestone

 Italy

A polychaete belonging to the family Serpulidae, a species of Pyrgopolon.

Radiofibrosclera

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wu

Permian (Changhsingian)

 China

A sclerosponge. The type species is R. laibinensis.

Ratcliffespongia arivechensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Beresi et al.

Cambrian Series 3

 Mexico

A reticulosan sponge of uncertain phylogenetic placement.

Saccorhytus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Han et al.

Earliest Cambrian

 China

An animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally described as an early deuterostome related to vetulicolians and vetulocystids, but subsequently argued to be an ecdysozoan. The type species is S. coronarius.

"Serpula" distefanoi

Sp. nov

Valid

Sanfilippo in Sanfilippo et al.

Permian

"Pietra di Salomone" Limestone

 Italy

A polychaete belonging to the family Serpulidae.

Serpula? pseudoserpentina

Sp. nov

Valid

Kočí, Jäger & Morel

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 France

A polychaete belonging to the family Serpulidae.

Silicunculus saaqqutit

Sp. nov

Valid

Peel

Cambrian Series 3

 Greenland

A sponge.

Singuuriqia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Peel

Cambrian Stage 3

Sirius Passet Lagerstätte

 Greenland

A member of Priapulida. Genus includes new species S. simoni.

Siphusauctum lloydguntheri

Sp. nov

Valid

Kimmig, Strotz & Lieberman

Cambrian Stage 5

Spence Shale

 United States
( Utah)

Tauricornicaris

Gen. et 2 sp. nov

Valid

Zeng et al.

Early Cambrian

Chengjiang Lagerstätte

 China

Originally considered as member of Radiodonta, possibly a member of Hurdiidae, but denied in 2018. Genus includes new species T. latizonae and T. oxygonae.

Thoracospongia lacrimiformis

Sp. nov

Valid

Peel

Cambrian Series 3

 Greenland

A sponge.

Tianzhushanella tolli

Sp. nov

Valid

Kouchinsky et al.

Cambrian

Medvezhya Formation

 Russia

A member of Tianzhushanellidae (a group of animals of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly stem-brachiopods).

Tshallograptus

Gen. et comb. et 3 sp. nov

Valid

VandenBerg

Ordovician (early Floian)

 Australia
 Canada

A graptolite belonging to the group Dichograptina and the family Phyllograptidae. The type species is "Graptolithus" fruticosus Hall (1858); genus also includes new species T. tridens, T. cymulus and T. furcillatus.

Valospongia sonorensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Beresi et al.

Cambrian Series 3

 Mexico

A reticulosan sponge of uncertain phylogenetic placement.

Vittatusivermis

Gen. et sp. nov

Zhang et al.

Cambrian (Fortunian)

Yuhucun Formation

 China

A worm-like organism, possibly a member of Bilateria of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is V. annularius.

Websteroprion

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Eriksson, Parry & Rudkin

Devonian (late Emsian-early Eifelian)

Kwataboahegan Formation

 Canada
( Ontario)

A eunicidan polychaete of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is W. armstrongi.

Other organisms

Research

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acadialithus

Gen. et 2 sp. nov

Valid

Howe

Late Jurassic (Tithonian)

 Bulgaria
Offshore eastern Newfoundland, Canada
Offshore in the eastern Gulf of Mexico
Offshore of the northeast coast of the United States

A nannofossil. Genus includes new species A. dennei and A. valentinei.

Adendorfia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Worobiec et al.

Miocene

 Germany

A fungus, probably a member of Chaetomiaceae. Genus includes new species A. miocenica.

Algites philippoviensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Naugolnykh

Permian (Kungurian)

Philippovian Formation

 Russia

A brown alga.

Algites shurtanensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Naugolnykh

Permian (Kungurian)

Shurtan Formation

 Russia

A brown alga.

Alpinoschwagerina nagatoensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Permian (Asselian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Amsassia argentina

Sp. nov

Valid

Carrera, Astini & Gomez

Early Ordovician

La Silla Formation

 Argentina

A coral-like organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement.

Asterina indodeightonii

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Asterina mioconsobrina

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Asterina miosphaerelloides

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Asterina neocombreticola

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Asterina neoelaeocarpi

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Asterina presaracae

Sp. nov

Valid

Vishnu et al.

Mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene

 India

A fungus, a species of Asterina.

Baculogypsinella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Matsumaru

Eocene

 Philippines

A foraminifer. Genus includes new species B. eocenica.

Blastanosphaira

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Javaux & Knoll

Mesoproterozoic

Mainoru Formation

 Australia

A possible eukaryotic microorganism of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is B. kokkoda.

Bonniea makrokurtos

Sp. nov

Valid

Cohen, Irvine & Strauss

Tonian

Callison Lake Formation

 Canada
( Yukon)

A vase-shaped microfossil.

Braarudosphaera pseudobatilliformis

Sp. nov

Valid

Alves, Lima & Shimabukuro

Early Cretaceous (Aptian)

 Brazil

A haptophyte belonging to the family Braarudosphaeraceae.

Carbonoschwagerina nipponica

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Kasimovian and Gzhelian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Cephalothecoidomyces

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Worobiec et al.

Neogene

 Germany
 Poland

A fungus, probably a member of Cephalothecaceae. Genus includes new species C. neogenicus.

Chiphragmalithus muzylevii

Sp. nov

Valid

Musatov

Eocene (Ypresian)

 Russia

A haptophyte.

Cobios

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Du et al.

Ediacaran

Doushantuo Formation

 China

A red alga. The type species is Cobios rubo.

Curviacus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Shen et al.

Ediacaran

Dengying Formation

 China

A benthic modular organism consisting of serially arranged and crescent-shaped chambers. Genus includes new species C. ediacaranus.

Cyanonema grandis

Sp. nov

Valid

Shi & Feng in Shi et al.

Early Mesoproterozoic

Gaoyuzhuang Formation

 China

A member of Cyanobacteria belonging to the group Nostocales.

Cycliocyrillium rootsi

Sp. nov

Valid

Cohen, Irvine & Strauss

Tonian

Callison Lake Formation
Chuar Group
(Kwagunt Formation)

 Canada
( Yukon)
 United States

A vase-shaped microfossil. Originally described as a species of Cycliocyrillium, but subsequently transferred to the genus Obelix. Morais et al. (2019) corrected the suffix for the specific epithet to rootsii.

Dalongicaepa

Gen. et sp. et comb. nov

Valid

Xiao & Suzuki in Xiao, Suzuki & He

Late Permian

Upper Dalong Formation

 China
 Thailand

A radiolarian belonging to the group Spumellaria and the family Spongotortilispinidae. The type species is D. bipolaris; genus also includes "Pseudospongoprunum" fontainei Sashida in Sashida et al. (2000).

Denaricion

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Bengtson in Bengtson et al.

~1.6 billion years ago

 India

An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, might be an alga or prokaryote. Genus includes new species D. mendax.

Devisphaera

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Tang et al.

Late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic

Madhubani Group

 India

An organic-walled microfossil. Genus includes new species D. corallis.

Discusphyton

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Wang, Wang & Du

Ediacaran

Doushantuo Formation

 China

A macroalga of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species D. whenghuiensis.

Fissumella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Cruz-Abad et al.

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 Italy

A foraminifer. Genus includes new species F. motolae.

Flabelloperforata

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Schlagintweit & Rashidi

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Tarbur Formation

 Iran

A foraminifer belonging to the group Loftusiida, possibly a member of the family Biokovinidae. Genus includes new species F. tarburensis.

Gigadiacrodium

Gen. et comb. et sp. nov

Valid

Szczepanik, Servais & Żylińska

Cambrian (Furongian)

Alum Shale Formation
Elliott's Cove Formation

 Canada
 Iran
 Italy
 Poland
 Sweden

An acritarch. The type species is "Veryhachium" martinum Pittau (1985); genus also includes new species G. vidalii.

Gigantosphaeridium floccosum

Sp. nov

Valid

Agić, Moczydłowska & Yin

Early Mesoproterozoic

Ruyang Group

 China

A microfossil.

Gondwanagaricites

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Heads, Miller & Crane

Early Cretaceous (Aptian)

Crato Formation

 Brazil

A gilled mushroom. Genus includes new species G. magnificus.

Hagenococcus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Krings et al.

Early Devonian

Rhynie chert

 United Kingdom

A microorganism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, most likely an alga with affinities to the Chlorophyta or Streptophyta. Genus includes new species H. aggregatus.

Haplophragmoides arcticus

Sp. nov

Valid

Kaminski, Waskowska & Chan

Middle Pleistocene

Arctic Ocean
(Lomonosov Ridge)

A foraminifer.

Jigulites titanicus

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Gzhelian) and Permian (Asselian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Limeta

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Morais, Fairchild & Lahr in Morais et al.

Neoproterozoic

Urucum Formation

 Brazil

A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species L. lageniformis.

Montiparus minensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Kasimovian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Nannoconus troelsenii

Sp. nov

Valid

Alves, Lima & Shimabukuro

Early Cretaceous (Aptian)

 Brazil

A haptophyte belonging to the family Nannoconaceae.

Oscillatoriopsis gigas

Sp. nov

Valid

Shi & Feng in Shi et al.

Early Mesoproterozoic

Gaoyuzhuang Formation

 China

A member of Cyanobacteria belonging to the group Oscillatoriales.

Palaeoamphora

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Morais, Fairchild & Lahr in Morais et al.

Neoproterozoic

Urucum Formation

 Brazil

A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species P. urucumense.

Palaeostromatus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Dentzien-Dias, Poinar & Francischini

Permian (Guadalupian)

Rio do Rasto Formation

 Brazil

An actinomycete. Genus includes new species P. diairetus.

Paleohaimatus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Poinar

Eocene-Miocene

El Mamey Formation
(Dominican amber)

 Dominican Republic

A member of Apicomplexa belonging to the group Piroplasmida. Genus includes new species P. calabresi.

Parastaffelloides kanmerai

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Moscovian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Pentadinium darmirae

Sp. nov

Valid

Slimani & Ţabără in Ţabără et al.

Paleocene (Danian)

Izvor Formation
Runcu Formation

 Romania

A dinoflagellate belonging to the group Gonyaulacales and the family Gonyaulacaceae.

Persiella

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Schlagintweit & Rashidi

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Tarbur Formation

 Iran

A foraminifer belonging to the group Loftusiida, possibly a member of the family Spirocyclinidae. Genus includes new species P. pseudolituus.

Pocillithus crucifer

Sp. nov

Valid

Lees, Bown & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the family Papposphaeraceae.

Pocillithus macleodii

Sp. nov

Valid

Lees, Bown & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the family Papposphaeraceae.

Quasifusulinoides grandis

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Kasimovian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Rafatazmia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Bengtson in Bengtson et al.

~1.6 billion years ago

 India

An alga of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species R. chitrakootensis.

Ramathallus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Sallstedt in Bengtson et al.

~1.6 billion years ago

 India

A possible stem-florideophycean red algae. Genus includes new species R. lobatus.

Schwagerina wakatakeyamensis

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Permian (Asselian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Schwagerina watanabei

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Permian (Asselian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Spearlithus

Gen. et 12 sp. nov

Valid

Da Gama

Pleistocene

 Dominican Republic

A calcareous nannofossil of uncertain phylogenetic placement.

Staffella subsphaerica

Sp. nov

Valid

Kobayashi

Carboniferous (Kasimovian and Gzhelian)

Akiyoshi Limestone Group

 Japan

A foraminifer belonging to the group Fusulinida.

Stradnerlithus? haynesiae

Sp. nov

Valid

Lees, Bown & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the order Stephanolithiales and the family Stephanolithiaceae.

Stradnerlithus wendleri

Sp. nov

Valid

Lees, Bown & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the order Stephanolithiales and the family Stephanolithiaceae.

Suraqalatia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Görmüş, Ameen Lawa & Al Nuaimy

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

 Iraq

A foraminifer belonging to the family Dicyclinidae. Genus includes new species S. brasieri.

Synaptomitus

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Poinar

Eocene to Miocene

Dominican amber

 Dominican Republic

Originally described as a fungus belonging to the group Basidiomycota, but this interpretation was challenged by Selosse et al. (2017). Genus includes new species S. orchiphilus.

Syracosphaera antiqua

Sp. nov

Valid

Bown, Lees & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the order Syracosphaerales and the family Syracosphaeraceae.

Syracosphaera repagula

Sp. nov

Valid

Bown, Lees & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte belonging to the order Syracosphaerales and the family Syracosphaeraceae.

Tarburina

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Schlagintweit, Rashidi & Barani

Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)

Tarbur Formation

 Iran

A foraminifer. Genus includes new species T. zagrosiana.

Taruma

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Morais, Fairchild & Lahr in Morais et al.

Neoproterozoic

Urucum Formation

 Brazil

A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species T. rata.

Tortolithus foramen

Sp. nov

Valid

Lees, Bown & Young

Late Cretaceous (Turonian)

 Tanzania

A haptophyte of uncertain phylogenetic placement.

Veteronostocale grandis

Sp. nov

Valid

Shi & Feng in Shi et al.

Early Mesoproterozoic

Gaoyuzhuang Formation

 China

A member of Cyanobacteria belonging to the group Nostocales.

Windipila

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Krings & Harper

Early Devonian

Windyfield chert

 United Kingdom

A fungus described on the basis of a reproductive unit. Genus includes new species W. spinifera.

Xiaohongyuia

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Shi & Feng in Shi et al.

Late Paleoproterozoic

Dahongyu Formation

 China

A probable eukaryotic microfossil. Genus includes new species X. sinica.

General paleontology

Research related to paleontology that either does not concern any of the groups of the organisms listed above, or concerns multiple groups.

  • A study on the links between changes in the composition of exposed continental crust and oxygenation of the atmosphere in the Precambrian is published by Smit & Mezger (2017).
  • A review of the progress in modeling the Snowball Earth atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, specifically as it pertains to Cryogenian geology and geobiology, is published by Hoffman et al. (2017).
  • A revised record of fossil eukaryotic steroids during the Neoproterozoic is presented by Brocks et al. (2017), who argue that bacteria were the only notable primary producers in the oceans before the Cryogenian, and that rapid rise of marine planktonic algae to domination occurred in the narrow time interval between the Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations, 659–645 million years ago, likely driving the subsequent radiation of animals in the Ediacaran period.
  • A study evaluating whether mass extinction events over the last 500 million year were caused by astronomical phenomena is published by Erlykin et al. (2017).
  • A study on the water column geochemistry of the Yangtze Sea during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition and its implications for the relationship between ocean oxygenation and Early Cambrian animal diversification is published by Zhang et al. (2017).
  • A study on the links between the expansion of siliceous sponges and seawater oxygenation during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition is published by Tatzel et al. (2017).
  • A study on the factors influencing marine invertebrate diversity dynamics through the Phanerozoic is published by Cermeño et al. (2017).
  • Edwards et al. (2017) identify a strong temporal link between the rising atmospheric oxygen levels and the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event.
  • A study on the impact of the drawdown of atmospheric carbon dioxide (caused by burial of organic carbon leading to the formation of coal) on the climate around the Carboniferous/Permian boundary is published by Feulner (2017).
  • A comprehensive reconstruction of the Permian (Lopingian) Bletterbach Biota (Italy) and a review of other best-known Lopingian terrestrial associations containing both vertebrate and plant remains is published by Bernardi et al. (2017).
  • A study on the causal connection between the Siberian Traps large igneous province magmatism and Permian–Triassic extinction event, identifying the initial emplacement pulse as likely to have triggered mass extinction, is published by Burgess, Muirhead & Bowring (2017).
  • Viglietti, Rubidge & Smith (2017) review the tectonic setting of the Late Permian Karoo Basin (South Africa), provide an updated basin development model, and interpret their findings as indicating that the climatic changes associated with the Permian–Triassic extinction event were occurring much lower in the stratigraphy (and thus earlier) than previously documented.
  • A summary of knowledge of the impact of Permian-Triassic mass extinction on reef ecosystems, and on their recovery after this extinction, is presented by Martindale, Foster & Velledits (2017).
  • A study on benthic invertebrate communities from the Lower Triassic Werfen Formation (Italy), aiming to test whether carbon isotope perturbations during the Early Triassic were associated with biotic crises that impeded benthic recovery after the Permian–Triassic extinction event, is published by Foster et al. (2017).
  • A study on the impact of the magmatic activity associated with the Central Atlantic magmatic province on the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event is published by Davies et al. (2017).
  • A study on the volcanic activity at the end of the Triassic as indicated by mercury concentrations in sediments from around the world is published by Percival et al. (2017).
  • A study on the oxygen levels in Earth's oceans during and after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event as indicated by uranium isotopes in shallow-marine limestones in the Lombardy Basin (northern Italy) is published by Jost et al. (2017).
  • A high-resolution stratigraphic chart for terrestrial Late Cretaceous units of North America and a study on the stratigraphic ranges of North American dinosaurs is published by Fowler (2017).
  • A study on the impact that large amounts of soot injected into the atmosphere during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event (probably caused by global wildfires) had on the climate is published by Bardeen et al. (2017).
  • A study estimating the decrease of the air temperature and the duration of the climate cooling caused by Chicxulub impact at the end of the Cretaceous is published by Brugger, Feulner & Petri (2017).
  • A study on the volume of the climate-active gases released from sedimentary rocks as a result of the Chicxulub impact, as well as on their effect on the global climate, is published by Artemieva, Morgan & Expedition 364 Science Party (2017).
  • Kaiho & Oshima (2017) calculate the amounts of stratospheric soot and sulfate formed by a virtual asteroid impact at various global locations, and conclude that the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event was caused by the Chicxulub impact happening at the hydrocarbon-rich, sulfate-dominated area on the Earth's surface, and that an impact at a low–medium hydrocarbon area on Earth would be unlikely to cause mass extinction.
  • A study on the data sets of molluscan fossils from the Cretaceous–Paleogene of the Seymour Island (Antarctica) is published by Tobin (2017), who identifies possible evidence of two separate extinction events, one prior to the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, and one simultaneous with the bolide impact at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary.
  • A study on the behavioral and ecological diversification of animals that colonized land as indicated by trace fossils is published by Minter et al. (2017).
  • A study on the age of the Cowie Harbour Fish Bed (Scotland, United Kingdom), containing fish and arthropod fossils (including the millipede Pneumodesmus newmani), is published by Suarez et al. (2017).
  • A study on the preservation of skin and keratinous integumentary structures in tetrapod fossils through time is published by Eliason et al. (2017).
  • A study on the differences between the tetrapod faunas at different latitudes during the early and middle Permian, as well as their implications for establishing whether the Olson's Extinction was a genuine event, is published by Brocklehurst et al. (2017).
  • A study on the non-flying terrestrial tetrapod species richness through the Mesozoic and early Palaeogene is published by Close et al. (2017).
  • A study on the evolution of the shape of brain and skull roof during the transition from early reptiles through archosauromorphs, including nonavian dinosaurs, to birds is published by Fabbri et al. (2017).
  • A study on the structure and vulnerability of the food web in marine vertebrate assemblages prior to the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event as indicated by calcium isotope data from plesiosaurs and mosasaurs is published by Martin et al. (2017).
  • Qvarnström et al. (2017) reconstruct fossil inclusions in two coprolites (produced by an insectivorous animal and a large aquatic predator) from the Late Triassic locality of Krasiejów (Poland) using propagation phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography.
  • A study on the fossil inclusions in coprolite fragments (produced by medium to large-sized carnivores, possibly therocephalian therapsids or early archosauriforms) recovered from the Late Permian locality of Vyazniki (Russia) is published by Bajdek et al. (2017).
  • A new tetrapod assemblage from the lowermost levels of the Triassic Chañares Formation (Argentina), dominated by fossils of Tarjadia ruthae, dicynodonts and cynodonts, and also including fossils of other pseudosuchians and rhynchosaurs, is described by Ezcurra et al. (2017), who also reinterpret Tarjadia ruthae and Archeopelta arborensis as erpetosuchid archosaurs.
  • A study on the cosmopolitanism of terrestrial amniote faunas in the aftermath of the Permian–Triassic extinction event and Triassic–Jurassic extinction event is published by Button et al. (2017).
  • Frese et al. (2017) determine the mineral and elemental composition of a range of fossils from the Talbragar fossil site (Australia) and their rock matrices using ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence/photoluminescence, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffractometry, and use those techniques to reveal anatomical details of animals and plants fossils that weren't discernible otherwise.
  • A study on changes of the size of fossil marine shells and predatory drill holes in those shells during the Phanerozoic, as well as their implications for changes of predator-prey size ratio throughout the Phanerozoic, is published by Klompmaker et al. (2017).
  • A study evaluating the utility of oxygen-isotope compositions of fossilised foraminifera tests as proxies for surface- and deep-ocean paleotemperatures, and its implications for inferring Late Cretaceous and Paleogene deep-ocean and high-latitude surface-ocean temperatures, is published by Bernard et al. (2017).
  • A study on the glacial development and environmental changes in the Aurora Subglacial Basin (Antarctica) throughout the Cenozoic based on geophysical and geological evidence is published by Gulick et al. (2017).
  • A study on the onset duration of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum is published by Kirtland Turner et al. (2017).
  • A study on the relationship between volcanic activity in the North Atlantic Igneous Province and the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum is published by Gutjahr et al. (2017).
  • A study on the environment in the area corresponding to the present-day Amazon basin in the Miocene as indicated by data from the shark and ray fossils from the Pirabas Formation (Brazil) is published by Aguilera et al. (2017).
  • A study on the impact of the Messinian salinity crisis on Mediterranean magmatism is published by Sternai et al. (2017).
  • A study on the changes of ice sheets volume and sea level during the late Pliocene is published by de Boer et al. (2017).
  • Pimiento et al. (2017) identify a previously unrecognized extinction event among marine megafauna at the end of the Pliocene.
  • A study on the aridity in eastern Africa over the past 4.4 million years as indicated by oxygen isotope ratios in fossil herbivore tooth enamel, and on its implications for inferring the role of climate in shaping early hominin environments, is published by Blumenthal et al. (2017).
  • Tierney, deMenocal & Zander (2017) reconstruct temperature and aridity in the Horn of Africa region spanning the past 200,000 years.
  • A vertebrate fauna from the Pleistocene and Holocene of Sumba (Indonesia) is described by Turvey et al. (2017).
  • A study on the modified mammalian bones from the Plio–Pleistocene of Ethiopia is published by Sahle, El Zaatari & White (2017), who interpret the marks on some of these bones as more likely to be produced by crocodiles than by hominids using stone tools.
  • Hagstrum et al. (2017) report impact-related microspherules and elevated platinum concentrations found in fine-grained sediments retained within Late Pleistocene bison and mammoth skull fragments from Alaska and Yukon, and interpret the findings as evidence of repeated airbursts and ground/ice impacts associated with multiple episodes of cosmic impact.
  • A study on changes in landscape moisture in the rangelands in Europe, Siberia and the Americas during the late Pleistocene as indicated by data from the bones of megaherbivores is published by Rabanus-Wallace et al. (2017).

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