1926 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 1926.

Algae

Bacillariophyceae

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Cymbella partita[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A cymbellaceous diatom	Cymbella partita
Cymbella sagittarius[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A cymbellaceous diatom	Cymbella sagittarius
Navicula contendens[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula contendens
Navicula iridescens[2]	sp nov	jr synonym	Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom Moved to Neidium iridescens (1975)	Neidium iridescens
Navicula pauper[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula pauper
Navicula pontifica[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula pontifica
Navicula protrudens[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula protrudens
Navicula pseudoaffinis[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula pseudoaffinis
Navicula reversa[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula reversa
Navicula substauroneis[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A naviculaceous diatom	Navicula substauroneis
Stauroneis (Navicula) acutissima[2]	sp nov		Mann	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A stauroneidaceous diatom	Stauroneis acutissima

Plants

Mosses

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Archaeomnium[3]	Gen et sp nov	jr synonym	Britton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A moss of uncertain affiliation Synonymized with Hypnites (1980) The type species is A. patens	Hypnites patens
Polytrichites[3]	Gen et sp nov	valid?	Britton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A possible polytrichaceous moss The type species is P. spokanensis	Polytrichites spokanensis

Lycopods

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Lycopodium hesperium[3]	Sp nov	Nomen dubium?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A possible lycopod clubmoss Treated as a plant of uncertain affinity by Chaney & Axelrod 1959[4]	Lycopodium hesperium

Conifers

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Libocedrus praedecurrens[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Potlatch Florule	USA Idaho	A sandarac species Moved to Fokienia praedecurrens (1959)[4] Moved to Fokieniopsis praedecurrens (1997).[5] Moved to Tetraclinis salicornioides var. praedecurrens (2000)[6]	Tetraclinis salicornioides var. praedecurrens
Tumion bonseri[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A plum-yew species Moved to Torreya bonseri (1952) Moved to Cephalotaxus bonseri (1959)[4]	Cephalotaxus bonseri

Angiosperms

Monocots

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Arisaema hesperia[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A possible araceous monocot Sometimes had been treated as a jr synonym of Liquidambar pachyphyllum[7]	Arisaema hesperia
Canna? dawsoni[8]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A possible cannaceous leaf species synonymized with Cannophyllites magnifolia in 1949[7]

Basal eudicots

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Trochodendroides[8]	Gen et comb nov		Berry			Greenland	A Trochodenraceous leaf morphogenus. The type species is Populus arctica (1868)

Superasterids - basal

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Diospyros andersonae[3]	Sp nov	Jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A persimmon leaf species Synonymized into Diospyros oregoniana (1959)[4]	Diospyros oregoniana
Diospyros dawsoni[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Okanagan Highlands Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A persimmon leaf species
Diospyros? microcalyx[3]	Sp nov	Jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a persimmon calyx species.[3] Moved to Porana microcalyx (1929)[9] Moved to Remberella microcalyx (2024)[10]	Remberella microcalyx
Vaccinium salicoides[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a huckleberry leaf species Synonymized into Vaccinium americanum (1929)[9] Resurrected as a species of uncertain affinity (1959)[4]	Vaccinium salicoides

Superrosids - Fabids

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Alnus cremastogynoides[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	An alder leaf species
Alnus crispoides[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	An alder leaf species
Betula bryani[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a birch leaf species Synonymized into Alnus fairi (1937)[11]	Alnus fairi
Betula fairii[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a birch leaf species Moved to Alnus fairi (1966)[12]	Alnus fairi
Betula? largei[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a birch leaf species Synonymized into Alnus fairi (1937)[11] Resurrected and moved to Alnus largei (1966)[12]	Alnus largei
Betula nanoides[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a birch leaf species Synonymized into Alnus fairi (1934)[13]	Alnus fairi
Betula parvifolia[8]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	First named as a birch leaf species Moved to Alnus parvifolia (1987)[14]	Alnus parvifolia
Betula thor[3]	Sp nov	valid	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a birch leaf species Synonymized into Betula heteromorpha (1937)[11] Resurrected as Betula thor (1959)[4]	Betula thor
Celastrophyllum pugetensis[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A possible celastraceous leaf species
Celastrus fernquisti[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a Celastrus leaf species Synonymized into Alnus fairi (1937)[11]	Alnus fairi
Cercis? spokanensis[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a redbud fruit species Moved to Caesalpinia spokanensis (1991)[15]	Caesalpinia spokanensis
Comptonia predryandroides[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A myricaceous leaf species
Ficus? johnstoni[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A possible moraceous leaf species
Ficus? washingtonensis[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a fig leaf species Synonymized into Cercis spokanensis (1937)[11] Synonymized into Exbucklandia oregonesis (1946)[16]	Exbucklandia oregonensis
Hicoria dawsoni[8]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A punitive hickory leaf species Moved to Carya dawsoni in 1952[7]
Hicoria stanleyanum[8]	comb nov	jr synonym	(Dawson) Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A punitive hickory leaf species Moved from Dryophyllum stanleyanum (1895)[8] Moved to Carya stanleyanum in 1952[7]
Juglans nigelloides[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A juglandaceous leaf species
Leguminosites johnstoni[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A legume leaf morphospecies.
Meibomites lucens[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a Meibomites leaf species Synonymized into Cercis spokanensis (1937)[11] Synonymized into Exbucklandia oregonesis (1946)[16]
Myrica uglowi[8]	Sp nov	Jr synonym	Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A myricaceous leaf species synonymized with Bohlenia insignis in 1987.[14]
Populus acuminatafolia[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A cottonwood leaf species
Populus fairii[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a cottonwood leaf species Synonymized with Zizyphoides auriculata (1991)[17]	Zizyphoides auriculata
Populus heteromorpha[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a cottonwood leaf species Synonymized with Zizyphoides auriculata (1991)[17]	Zizyphoides auriculata
Populus washingtonensis[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a cottonwood leaf species Moved to Vitus washingtonensis (1937)[11]	Vitis washingtonensis
Prunus rustii[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as a cherry leaf species Synonymized into Alnus corallina (1937)[11] Synonymized into Alnus hollandiana (1959)[4]	Alnus hollandiana
Quercus chaneyi[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	An oak leaf species Synonymized with Quercus simulata (1929)[9]	Quercus simulata
Quercus cognatus[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	An oak leaf species Synonymized with Quercus payettensis (1937)[11]	Quercus payettensis
Quercus obtusa[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	An oak leaf species Synonymized with Quercus payettensis (1937)[11]	Quercus payettensis
Quercus praenigra[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	An oak leaf species Synonymized with Quercus payettensis (1937)[11]	Quercus payettensis
Quercus rustii[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	An oak leaf species Synonymized with Quercus payettensis (1937)[11]	Quercus payettensis
Quercus spokanensis[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	First named as an oak leaf species Synonymized with Castanea orientalis (1929)[9] Resurrected as Castanea spokanensis (1959)[4]	Castanea spokanensis
Quercus uglowi[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A oak leaf species
Rhamnus kitsilaniana[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene	Burrard Formation	Canada British Columbia	A buckthorn leaf morphospecies.
Salix bryani[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A willow leaf species Synonymized into Salix florissanti (1934)[13] Synonymized into Salix hesperia (1959)[4]	Salix hesperia
Salix inquirenda[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A willow leaf species Synonymized into Salix hesperia (1944)[18]	Salix hesperia
Salix remotidens[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A willow leaf species Synonymized into Salix hesperia (1944)[18]	Salix hesperia
Sophora alexanderi[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A Sophora leaf species Synonymized into Sophora spokanensis (1937)[11]	Sophora spokanensis
Sophora spokanensis[3]	Sp nov		Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A Sophora leaf species	Sophora spokanensis
Sorbus decorifolia[8]	Sp nov		Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	A punitive mountain ash leaf species
Ulmus columbianus[8]	sp nov	jr homonym	Berry	Eocene Ypresian	Chu Chua Formation	Canada British Columbia	An elm leaf species Name preoccupied by Ulmus columbianus Penhallow (1907) Moved to Ulmus chuchuanus in 1952.[7]	Ulmus chuchuanus
Ulmus fernquisti[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as an elm leaf species Synonymized into Zelkova oregoniana (1937)[11] Moved to Zelkova browni (1977)[19]	Zelkova browni

Superrosids - Malvids

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Acer chaneyi[8][20]	Sp nov	Valid	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A maple species	Acer chaneyi
Malva? hesperia[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a possible mallow fruit species Synonymized with Nordenskioldia interglacialis (1991)[17]	Nordenskioldia interglacialis

Angiosperms - other

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Carpites boraginoides[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A fruit or seed of uncertain affinity Suggested to possibly be boraginaceous or malvaceous	Carpites boraginoides
Carpites ginkgoides[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A fruit or seed of uncertain affinity Strongly similar to modern Ginkgo biloba fruits.	Carpites ginkgoides
Carpites magnifica[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A fruit or seed of uncertain affinity Moved to Nyssa magnifica (1929)[9]	Nyssa magnifica
Carpites menthoides[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a fruit of uncertain affinity Synonymized into Nordenskioldia interglacialis (1991)[17]	Nordenskioldia interglacialis
Carpites paulownia[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Coeur d'Alene Florule	USA Idaho	A fruit or seed of uncertain affinity Synonymized into Gordonia hesperia (1937)[11] Synonymized into Gordonia idahoensis (1959)[4]	Gordonia idahoensis
Carpites polygonoides[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	A fruit or seed of uncertain affinity Reminiscent of Rumex fruits	Carpites polygonoides
Carpites spokanensis[3]	Sp nov	valid?	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	Seed or other reproductive organs of uncertain affinity Brown (1937) suggested as bud scales[11]	Carpites spokanensis
Phyllites amplexicaulis[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a fruit of uncertain affinity Synonymized with Nordenskioldia interglacialis (1991)[17]	Nordenskioldia interglacialis
Phyllites crustacea[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a leaf of uncertain affinity Synonymized into Zelkova oregoniana (1937)[11] Synonymized into Quercus simulata (1959)	Quercus simulata
Phyllites pardeei[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a leaf of uncertain affinity Moved to Philadelphus pardeei (1937)[11]	Philadelphus pardeei
Phyllites peculiaris[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a leaf of uncertain affinity Synonymized into Philadelphus pardeei (1937)[11]	Philadelphus pardeei
Phyllites relatus[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a leaf of uncertain affinity Moved to Alnus relatus (1937)[11]	Alnus relatus
Phyllites sophoroides[3]	Sp nov	jr synonym	Knowlton	Miocene Langhian	Latah Formation Spokane Florule	USA Washington	First named as a leaf of uncertain affinity Moved to Vaccinium sophoroides (1937)[11]	Vaccinium sophoroides

Conodonts

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Ancyrodella[21]		Valid	Ulrich & Bassler

Amphibians

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Crassigyrinus	Gen et comb nov	jr synonym	Watson				A new genus for Macromerium scoticum	Crassigyrinus

Newly named basal diapsids

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Coelurosauravus[22]		Valid	Piveteau			Madagascar	A weigeltisaurid gliding Reptile	Coelurosauravus

Dinosaurs

Taxon	Novelty	Status	Author(s)	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Proceratosaurus[23]	Gen. nov.	Valid	von Huene	Bathonian	Forest Marble Formation	England	A new genus name for Megalosaurus bradleyi
Rhoetosaurus brownei[24]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Longman	Oxfordian	Walloon Coal Measures	Queensland	An early sauropod
Thespesius saskatchewanensis[25]	Sp. nov.	Jr. synonym	Sternberg	Maastrichtian	Frenchman Formation	Saskatchewan	A species of Thespesius now a synonym of Edmontosaurus annectens

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Chiwetasaurus		Junior synonym	Haughton	Late Permian Lopingian	Beaufort Group Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone	South Africa	A junior synonym of Gorgonops.
Dixeya		Junior synonym	Haughton	Late Permian	Teekloof Formation Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone	South Africa	A junior synonym of Aelurognathus.