1839 in paleontology

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.^[1] This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1839.

Arthropods

Crustaceans

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Aeger[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	An aegerid, type species is A. spinipes.
Antrimpos[2]	Valid	Jr synonym	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, type species is A. speciosus.
Aura[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is A. desmarestii, now a junior synonym of Eryma.
Blaculla[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is B. nikoides.
Bolina[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Jr synonym	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is B. pustulosa, now a junior synonym of Pseudastacus pustulosus. The species B. angusta was also assigned, and is now a junior synonym of Stenochirus angustus.
Bombur[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, type species is B. complicatus.
Brisa[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Jr synonym	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is B. lucida, now a junior synonym of Glyphea pseudoscyllarus.
Brome[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	An indeterminate decapod, type species is B. ventrosa.
Bylgia[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, type species is B. hexadon.
Cancrinos[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A cancrinid, type species is C. claviger.
Drobna[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, type species is D. deformis.
Dusa[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, type species is D. monocera.
Elder[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is E. ungulatus.
Hefriga[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is H. serrata.
Kolga[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Jr synonym	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is K. quindens, now a junior synonym of Antrimpos.
Magila[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Jurassic	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	An axiid, type species is M. latimana.
Orphnea[2]	Gen. et. comb. nov.	Jr synonym	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is O. pseudoscyllarus, now assigned to Glyphea.
Palinurina[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	An palinurid, type species is P. longipes.
Rauna[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A penaeid, includes the species R. angusta.
Udora[2]	Gen. et. sp. nov.	Valid	Münster	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Type species is U. brevispina.

Archosaurs

Newly named pseudosuchians

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

Name Status Authors Notes Ephoenosaurus Nomen nudum Anonymous In addition to never being formally described, it may be a subjective synonym of the crocodilian Machimosaurus

Pterosaurs

• Graf Munster received a complete skeleton of "Pterodactylus" munsteri which revealed the presence of a long bony tail in this species.^[4]

Paleontologists

• Birth of Harry Govier Seeley, the paleontologist who invented the Saurischian/Ornithischian dinosaur dichotomy.^[5]