# 1961 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 1961.

## Plants
### Angiosperms

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Acer beckianum | Sp nov | Valid | Prakash & Barghoorn | Langhian | Ginkgo Petrified Forest | USA Washington | A maple, described from petrified wood |
| Acer palaeorufinerve | sp nov | Valid | Tanai & Onoe | Miocene - Pliocene | Ningyo-toge Formation | | A maple, A member of the Macrantha section. |
| Davisicarpum | Gen et sp nov | valid | Chandler | Ypresian | London Clay | UK England | A moon seed relative. Type species D. gibbosum |

## Archosauromorphs
### Phytosaurs

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Rileyasuchus | Gen et comb nov | Nomen dubium. | Kuhn | Rhaetian | | UK England | A dubious phytosaur, possibly a chimera; replacement name for Rileya von Huene 1902 (non Ashmead, 1888). | |

### Pseudosuchians

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Avalonianus | Gen et comb nov | Nomen dubium | Kuhn | Late Triassic (Rhaetian) | | UK England | Dubious non-dinosaurian archosaur; replacement name for Avalonia Seeley, 1898 (non Walcott, 1889). | |
| Dasygnathoides | Gen et comb nov | Nomen dubium? | Kuhn | Late Triassic (Carnian) | Lossiemouth Sandstone | UK Scotland | A pseudosuchian of uncertain affinity. Replacement name for Dasygnathus Huxley, 1877 (non MacLeay, 1819). | |

### Dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Astrodonius | Gen et comb nov | Junior synonym | Kuhn | Early Cretaceous | Arundel Formation | USA Maryland | Junior synonym of Astrodon. | Astrodon johnstoni |
| Campylodoniscus | Gen et comb nov | Nomen dubium. | Kuhn | Late Cretaceous | Bajo Barreal Formation | Argentina | A possible titanosaur Replacement name for "Campylodon" von Huen 1929 | Campylodoniscus |
| Pachysaurops | Gen et sp nov | Junior synonym | von Huene | Late Triassic | | Germany | Junior synonym of Pachysauriscus. | |

### Birds

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Anas pullulans | Sp nov. | valid | Brodkorb | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | An Anatidae. |
| Eremochen | Gen et Sp nov. | valid | Brodkorb | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | An Anatidae, type species E. russelli. |
| Fulica infelix | Sp. nov. | valid | Brodkorb | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | A Rallidae. |
| Ocyplonessa shotwelli | Sp. nov. | jr synonym | Brodkorb | Late Miocene - Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | An Anatidae, moved to Histrionicuslli shotwelli by Olson & Rasmussen, 2001 |
| Megapaloelodus opsigonus | Sp. nov. | valid | Brodkorb | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | A Palaelodidae. |
| Neortyx | Gen et Sp. nov. | valid | Holman | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | An Odontophoridae Type species N. peninsularis |
| Phalacrocorax leptopus | Sp. nov. | valid | Brodkorb | Early Pliocene | Juntura Formation | USA ( Oregon) | A Phalacrocoracidae. |
| Puffinus mitchelli | Sp. nov. | valid | Miller | Middle Miocene | Temblor Formation | USA ( California) | A Procellariidae. |
| Puffinus priscus | Sp. nov. | valid | Miller | Middle Miocene | Temblor Formation | USA ( California) | A Procellariidae. |