1857 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 1857.

Dinosaurs

New taxa

Taxon	Novelty	Status	Author(s)	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Gresslyosaurus ingens[2]	Gen et sp. nov.	Disputed	Rütimeyer	Rhaetian	Knollenmergel	Switzerland	Possible subjective synonym of Plateosaurus
Stenopelix valdensis[3]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	von Meyer	Berriasian	Obernkirchen Sandstein Formation	Germany	A Marginocephalian.

Pterosaurs

• Hermann von Meyer names the species Pterodactylus crassipes, and also provides the alternative classification of the taxon as Rhamphorhynchus crassipes.^[3]

New taxa

Taxon	Novelty	Status	Author(s)	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Pterodactylus crassipes[3]	Sp. nov.	Valid	von Meyer	Kimmeridgian	Solnhofen limestone	Germany	Later identified as a theropod related to Archaeopteryx and named Ostromia crassipes.

Ichthyosaurs

• Holotype specimen of Temnodontosaurus crassimanus (Ichthyosauria) from the Early Jurassic at Kettleness, Yorkshire, England.^[4]

Paleontologists

• Birth of William Diller Matthew.^[5]