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 1821.
Conybeare named the genus in Plesiosaurus 1821 without designating a type species. The genus was named on the basis of a complete skeleton discovered by Mary Anning.[3]
^Gini-Newman, Garfield; Graham, Elizabeth (2001). Echoes from the past: world history to the 16th century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. ISBN9780070887398. OCLC46769716.
^Farlow, James Orville; Brett-Surmann, M. K. (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 8. ISBN9780253213136. OCLC37107117.
^ 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.
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