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 1837.

List of years in paleontology (table)
In science
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
+...

Archosauromorphs

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Newly named dinosaurs

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Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.[2]

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Plateosaurus[3]

Gen. et sp. nov. Valid Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer Late Triassic Feuerletten Formation, Fleming Fjord Formation, Knollenmergel, Marnes Irisees Superieures Formation, Obere Bunte Mergel Stubensandstein, Trossingen Formation   France,   Norway,   Germany,   Greenland,    Switzerland German paleontologist Hermann von Meyer formally named and described Plateosaurus. This was the first described prosauropod, and is still the one we know most about.[4]  

Synapsids

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Newly named mammals

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Afrotherians

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Name Status Authors Age Location Notes Images

Gomphotherium

Valid

Burmeister

Early Miocene to Early Pliocene

A gomphothere.

 
Gomphotherium

References

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  1. ^ Gini-Newman, Garfield; Graham, Elizabeth (2001). Echoes from the past: world history to the 16th century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. ISBN 9780070887398. OCLC 46769716.
  2. ^ Olshevsky, George. "Dinogeorge's Dinosaur Genera List". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  3. ^ Meyer, H. von (1837). "Mitteilung an prof, Bronn (Plateosaurus engelhardti)". Neues Jahrbuch Mineral Geol. Palaeontol. 1837: 317.
  4. ^ Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 11. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.