1878 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 1878.

Arthropods

Newly named arachnids

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Aranea columbiae[2]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Scudder	?Ypresian	Quesnel ?Fraser Formation	Canada British Columbia	An orb-web spider egg sack ichnogenus. moved to Araneaovoius columbiae (2011).[3]	Araneaovoius columbiae (1890 illustration

Newly named insects

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Bothromicromus[2]	Gen et Sp nov	valid	Scudder	?Ypresian	Quesnel ?Fraser Formation	Canada British Columbia	A possibly megalomine[4] hemerobiid lacewing. Type species B. lachlani	Bothromicromus lachlani (1890 illustration)
Euschistus antiquus[2]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Scudder	?Ypresian	Quesnel ?Fraser Formation	Canada British Columbia	A shield bug moved to Teleoschistus antiquus (1890).[5]	Teleoschistus antiquus (1890 illustration)
Holcorpa[6]	Gen et sp nov	valid	Scudder	Eocene Priabonian	Florissant Formation	USA Colorado	A holcorpid scorpionfly The type species is H. maculosa.	Holcorpa maculosa
Lachnus quesneli[2]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Scudder	?Ypresian	Quesnel ?Fraser Formation	Canada British Columbia	An aphidoid of uncertain placement Moved to Sbenaphis quesneli (1890).[5]	Sbenaphis quesneli (1890 illustration)
Sciara deperdita[2]	Sp nov	valid	Scudder	?Ypresian	Quesnel ?Fraser Formation	Canada British Columbia	A sciarine dark-winged fungus gnat.	Sciara deperdita (1890 illustration)

Archosauromorphs

O. W. Lucas recovers more material which would be referred to Laelaps trihedrodon from Morrison Formation strata near Garden Park, Colorado.^[7]

Newly named pseudosuchians

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Symphyrophus		Nomen dubium	Cope	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA	Possible synonym of Amphicotylus.[8]

Newly named dinosaurs

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Amphicoelias fragillimus	Sp nov	Jr. synonym	Marsh	Late Jurassic (Tithonian)	Unknown	USA	Moved to Maraapunisaurus fragillimus (2018).[9]	Maraapunisaurus fragillimus
Brachyrophus	Gen nov	jr synonym	Cope	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA	Junior synonym of Camptosaurus.	Camptosaurus dispar
Creosaurus	Gen nov	Junior synonym	Marsh	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA	Synonym of Allosaurus fragilis.	Allosaurus fragilis
Diplodocus	Gen et sp nov	Valid	Marsh	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA	A diplodocine diplodocid. Type species D. longus	Diplodocus carnegii
Epanterias	Gen et sp nov	Nomen dubium	Cope	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA Colorado	An allosaurid theropod. Possibly a synonym of Allosaurus. Type species E. amplexus
Hypsirhophus	Gen et sp nov	Nomen dubium	Cope	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA Colorado	possibly a synonym of Stegosaurus. Type species H. discurus
Laosaurus	Gen et sp nov	Nomen dubium	Marsh	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA Colorado	A dubious Neornithischian of uncertain placement.	Laosaurus
Morosaurus	Gen et sp nov	Jr. synonym	Marsh	Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Morrison Formation	USA Colorado	Junior synonym of Camarasaurus. Type species M. grandis	Camarasaurus lentus

Plesiosaurs

Newly named plesiosaurs

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Eurysaurus	Gen et sp nov	Valid	Gaudry	Early Jurassic	Unknown	France	A possible pliosauroid Type species E. raincourti

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name	Status	Authors	Discovery year	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Dimetrodon	Valid						USA Texas	Dimetrodon incisivum
Embolophorus	Valid
Ophiacodon	Valid
Sphenacodon	Valid
Theropleura	Valid