Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoriclife 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 1824.
Dinosaurs
William Buckland realizes that fossils he previously believed to be of cetacean origin were actually Iguanodon fossils. This mistake cost him the chance to describe the genus himself.[2]
"Iguanosaurus" was first mentioned in a magazine article by an anonymous author (possibly Mantell) in 1824. The author suggested that Mantell was originally going to name the teeth "Iguanosaurus", but William Daniel Conybeare suggested that it be instead named Iguanodon.[3]
The Reverend William Buckland gives a presentation to the Geological Society describing the first scientifically named dinosaur, Megalosaurus on February 20. Later that year its formal scientific description is published in writing.[2]
Cornybeare named the genus in 1821, following up with the type speciesP. dolichodeirus in 1824. The species was named on the basis of a complete skeleton discovered by Mary Anning.[7]
^Gini-Newman, Garfield; Graham, Elizabeth (2001). Echoes from the past: world history to the 16th century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. ISBN9780070887398. OCLC46769716.
^ abFarlow, J.O.; Brett-Surmann, M.K. (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Indiana University Press. pp. 8–9. ISBN0-253-21313-4.
^ abDelair, J.B.; Sarjeant, W.A.S. (1975). "Earliest Discoveries of the Dinosaurs". Isis. 66 (1): 4–25. doi:10.1086/351373. JSTOR229523.
^ abBenson, R.B.J. (2009). "An assessment of variability in theropod dinosaur remains from the Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) of Stonesfield and New Park Quarry, UK and taxonomic implications for Megalosaurus bucklandii and Iliosuchus incognitus". Palaeontology. 52 (4): 857–877. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00884.x.
^ abcdeStorrs, G.W. (1997). "Morphological and taxonomic clarification of the genus Plesiosaurus". In Callaway, J.M; Nicholls, E.L. (eds.). Ancient Marine Reptiles. Academic press. pp. 145–190.