2012 in paleontology

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 2012.

Arthropods

The following is a summary of the arthropods described in 2012 • 41 arachnids • 105 crustaceans • 362 insects • 5 merostomatans • 51 trilobites • 9 other arthropods ==Bryozoans==

Molluscs

The following is a summary of the Molluscs described in 2012 • 54 ammonites • 14 other cephalopods • 52 gastropods • 15 other molluscs ==Echinoderms==

Fishes

During 2012, 81 new species of fish were described. ==Amphibians==

Amphibians

Research • A study of the braincase of Eocaecilia micropodia and a phylogenetic analysis of non-amniote tetrapods is published by Hillary C. Maddin, Farish A. Jenkins Jr and Jason S. Anderson (2012). • A study of anatomy and relationships of Solenodonsaurus janenschi is published by Marylène Danto, Florian Witzmann and Johannes Müller (2012). • A study of limb joint mobility of Ichthyostega is published by Stephanie E. Pierce, Jennifer A. Clack and John R. Hutchinson (2012). New taxa Newly named basal tetrapods Newly named temnospondyls Newly named lepospondyls Newly named lissamphibians ==Parareptiles==

Parareptiles

Newly named parareptiles ==Ichthyopterygians==

Ichthyopterygians

Newly named ichthyosaurs ==Lepidosauromorphs==

Lepidosauromorphs

Newly named saurosphargids Newly named sauropterygians Newly named rhynchocephalians Squamates Research • A large phylogenetic analysis of living and fossil squamates is published by Jacques A. Gauthier et al. (2012). • A study of squamate diversity in North America during the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) and the impact of Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event on the diversity of the group is published by Nicholas R. Longrich, Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar and Jacques A. Gauthier (2012). New taxa ==Turtles==

Turtles

Research • A large phylogenetic analysis of basal turtles is published by Jérémy Anquetin (2012). New taxa ==Archosauromorphs==

Archosauromorphs

Newly named basal archosauromorphs Archosaurs The following is a summary of the archosaurs described in 2012 • 8 pseudosuchians • 1 basal dinosauriform • 40 non-avian dinosaurs • 64 birds • 9 pterosaurs • 1 archosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement ==Synapsids==

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids Research • A phylogenetic analysis of basal synapsids is published by Roger B. J. Benson (2012). New taxa Mammals The following is a summary of the mammals described in 2012 • 9 non-eutherian mammals • 24 eutherian mammals ==Other animals==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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