# 2020 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 2020.

## Sponges

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Endostoma stellata | Sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. |
| Eoghanospongia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | | United Kingdom | A hexactinellid sponge. Genus includes new species E. carlinslowpensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Eudea maxima | Sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. |
| Iniquispongia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. The type species is I. iranica. |
| Polyendostoma? irregularis | Sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. |
| Polyendostoma? regularis | Sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. |
| Preperonidella tabasensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) | Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. |
| Seriespongia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi | Middle Jurassic (Callovian) | Esfandiar Limestone Formation | Iran | A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. The type species is S. iranica. |
| Shouzhispongia | Gen. et 2 sp. nov | In press | Botting et al. | Ordovician (Hirnantian) | | China | A rossellid sponge. Genus includes S. coronata and S. prodigia. |
| Spongia mantelli | Nom. nov | Valid | Van Soest, Hooper & Butler | Cretaceous | | United Kingdom | A replacement name for Spongia ramosa Mantell (1822). |

## Cnidarians
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Actinoseris riyadhensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Aruma | Saudi Arabia | A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Alichurastrea | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species A. major. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Alveopora kumadai | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Suzuki | Miocene (Langhian) | Katsuta Group | Japan | A species of Alveopora. |
| Amplexus gennarenensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Liao, Liang & Luo | Carboniferous (Tournaisian) | | China | A rugose coral. |
| Anthracomedusa? hoferhauseri | Sp. nov | Valid | Szente | Early Triassic | Werfen Formation | Austria | A box jellyfish. |
| Asteroseris arabica | Sp. nov | Valid | Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Aruma | Saudi Arabia | A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Bowanophyllum ramosum | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang, Percival & Zhen | Ordovician (Katian) | Malachis Hill | Australia | A rugose coral. |
| Carinthiaphyllum ramovsi | Sp. nov | Valid | Kossovaya, Novak & Weyer | Permian (Asselian) | | Slovenia | A rugose coral belonging to the family Geyerophyllidae. |
| Colligophyllum | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Fedorowski | Carboniferous (Bashkirian) | | Ukraine | A rugose coral. The type species is "Lytvophyllum" dobroljubovae Vassilyuk (1960). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Cunnolites (Plesiocunnolites) riyadhensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Aruma | Saudi Arabia | A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Eohydnophora baingoinensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Early Cretaceous | | China | A stony coral. |
| Eomicrophyllia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species E. nalivkini. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Galliconularia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Van Iten & Lefebvre | Ordovician (Tremadocian) | Saint-Chinian | France | A member of Conulariida. The type species is "Conularia" azaisi Thoral (1935). |
| Guembelastreomorpha | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species G. vinogradovi. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Gurumdynia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species G. gracilis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Hanagyroia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Early Cambrian | Kuanchuanpu | China | A medusozoan of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly representing an intermediate morphological type between scyphozoans and cubozoans. Genus includes new species H. orientalis. |
| Hemiagetiolites longiseptatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang, Percival & Zhen | Ordovician (Katian) | Malachis Hill | Australia | A tabulate coral. |
| Heteroamphiastrea | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kołodziej | Early Cretaceous (Aptian) | | Tanzania | A stony coral belonging to the superfamily Heterocoenioidea and the family Carolastraeidae. Genus includes new species H. loeseri. |
| Heterostrotion huaqiaoense | Sp. nov | Valid | Denayer et al. | Early Carboniferous | | China | A rugose coral |
| Krynkaphyllum | Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Fedorowski | Carboniferous (Bashkirian) | | Ukraine | A rugose coral. The type species is K. multiplexum; genus also includes K. validum. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Martsaphyton | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Tinn, Vinn & Ainsaar | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | | Estonia | A member of Medusozoa of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is M. moxi. |
| Michelinia flugeli | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Badpa | Carboniferous (Bashkirian) | Sardar Formation | Iran | A tabulate coral belonging to the order Favositida and the family Micheliniidae. |
| Nancygyra | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Bosellini & Stolarski in Bosellini et al. | Eocene (Ypresian) | | Italy | A member of the family Euphylliidae. The type species is N. dissepimentata. |
| Neosyringaxon michelini | Sp. nov | Valid | Weyer & Rohart | Devonian (Frasnian) | | France | A rugose coral belonging to the family Petraiidae |
| Paramixogonaria wangyouensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Liao & Liang | Devonian (Givetian) | Wenglai | China | A rugose coral. |
| Pinacomorpha | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species P. apimelos. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Placophyllia baingoinensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Early Cretaceous | | China | A stony coral. Originally described as a species of Placophyllia, but subsequently transferred to the genus Sonoraphyllia. |
| Placophyllia amnica | Sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A placophylliid coral. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Protokionophyllum feninoense | Sp. nov | Valid | Fedorowski | Carboniferous (Bashkirian) | | Ukraine | A rugose coral. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Protostephanastrea | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | An actinastraeid coral. Genus includes new species P. leveni. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Psenophyllia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. The type species is "Cylindrosmilia" longa Melnikova (1989). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Rotiphyllum xinjiangense | Sp. nov | Valid | Liao, Liang & Luo | Carboniferous (Tournaisian) | | China | A rugose coral. |
| Sanidophyllum dubium | Sp. nov | Valid | Yu et al. | Devonian (Emsian) | Mia Le | Vietnam | A rugose coral belonging to the family Breviphyllidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Sedekastrea | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A coral. Genus includes new species S. djalilovi. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Siphonophyllia khenifrense | Sp. nov | | Rodríguez, Said & Somerville in Rodríguez et al. | Carboniferous (Viséan) | Azrou-Khenifra | Morocco | A rugose coral belonging to the family Cyathopsidae |
| Stylimorpha | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Melnikova & Roniewicz | Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian) | | Tajikistan | A placophylliid coral. Genus includes new species S. kardjilgensis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Stylina namcoensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Early Cretaceous | | China | A stony coral. |
| Stylostrotion houi | Sp. nov | Valid | Denayer et al. | Carboniferous (Viséan) | | China | A rugose coral |
| Syringopora iranica | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Badpa | Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) | Sardar Formation | Iran | A tabulate coral belonging to the order Auloporida and the family Syringoporidae. |

### Research

* Revision of tabulate-like fossils from before the latest Middle Ordovician is published by Elias, Lee & Pratt (2020), who reject the interpretation of these fossils as true tabulate corals.
* Drake, Whitelegge & Jacobs (2020) report the first recovery, sequencing, and identification of fossil biomineral proteins from a Pleistocene fossil invertebrate (the stony coral Orbicella annularis).

## Bryozoans

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Anastomopora blankenheimensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Germany | |
| Anastomopora minor | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Germany | |
| Anomalotoechus parvus | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst, Bahrami & Parast | Devonian (Famennian) | Bahram | Iran | A member of Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Atactotoechidae. |
| Asperopora sinensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | Hanchiatien | China | A trepostome bryozoan. |
| Biforicula collinsi | Sp. nov | Valid | Taylor | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Gault | United Kingdom | |
| Cheethamia volgaensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova & Seltser | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | | Russia ( Saratov Oblast) | A member of Cheilostomata |
| Cribrilaria profunda | Sp. nov | Valid | Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky | Pleistocene | | Italy | A member of the family Cribrilinidae. |
| Dianulites altaicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova & Sennikov | Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Russia ( Altai Republic) | A member of Esthonioporata. |
| Dyscritella kalmardensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Gorgij | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | Siliciclastic Imagh | Iran | A member of Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Dyscritellidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Dyscritella multiporata | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Gorgij | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | Siliciclastic Imagh | Iran | A member of Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Dyscritellidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Figularia spectabilis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky | Pleistocene | | Italy | A member of the family Cribrilinidae. |
| Filites bakharevi | Sp. nov | Valid | Mesentseva in Mesentseva & Udodov | Devonian (Emsian) | | Russia | |
| Filites fragilis | Sp. nov | Valid | Udodov in Mesentseva & Udodov | Devonian (Emsian) | | Russia | |
| Filites regularis | Sp. nov | Valid | Mesentseva in Mesentseva & Udodov | Devonian (Emsian) | | Russia | |
| Filites vulgaris | Sp. nov | Valid | Udodov in Mesentseva & Udodov | Devonian (Emsian) | | Russia | |
| Glabrilaria transversocarinata | Sp. nov | Valid | Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky | Pleistocene | | Italy | A member of the family Cribrilinidae. |
| Hemiphragma insolitum | Sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova & Fedorov | Ordovician (Dapingian) | | Russia | A trepostome bryozoan. |
| Microporella tanyae | Sp. nov | Valid | Di Martino, Taylor & Gordon | Pliocene | Yorktown | United States ( Virginia) | A member of the family Microporellidae. |
| Moorephylloporina parvula | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | Hanchiatien | China | A fenestrate bryozoan. |
| Parastenodiscus sinaiensis | Sp. nov | In press | Ernst et al. | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | | Egypt | A member of Trepostomata |
| Planopora | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Koromyslova & Fedorov | Ordovician (Dapingian) | | Russia | A bifoliate cystoporate. Genus includes new species P. volkhovensis. |
| Rhombopora aryani | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Gorgij | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | Siliciclastic Imagh | Iran | A member of Cryptostomata belonging to the group Rhabdomesina and to the family Rhomboporidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Taylorus patagonicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Pérez et al. | Early Miocene | | Argentina | A member of the family Escharinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Trematopora jiebeiensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | Hanchiatien | China | A trepostome bryozoan. |
| Trematopora tenuis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | Hanchiatien | China | A trepostome bryozoan. |
| Zefrehopora | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ernst, Bahrami & Parast | Devonian (Famennian) | Bahram | Iran | A member of Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Eridotrypellidae. The type species is Z. asynithis. |

## Brachiopods
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Altiplanotoechia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Colmenar in Colmenar & Hodgin | Ordovician | Umachiri | Peru | A polytoechioid brachiopod. Genus includes new species A. hodgini. |
| Ametoria nassichuki | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Echinoconchidae. |
| Anemonaria robusta | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Paucispiniferidae. |
| Balkhasheconcha thorsteinssoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Scacchinelloidea and the family Rhamnariidae. |
| Beaussetithyris | Gen. et sp. nov | | Gaspard & Charbonnier | Late Cretaceous (Santonian) | | France | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. The type species is B. asymmetrica. |
| Betaneospirifer politus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Neospiriferidae. |
| Biconvexiella saopauloensis | Sp. nov | In press | Simões et al. | Late Paleozoic | Taciba | Brazil | |
| Bockeliena | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Baarli | Silurian (Rhuddanian) | | United Kingdom | A member of the family Atrypinidae; a new genus for "Atrypa" flexuosa Marr & Nicholson (1888). |
| Brevilamnulella minuta | Sp. nov | Valid | Jin & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | | United States ( Alaska) | |
| Callaiapsida ustritskii | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the superfamily Stenoscismatoidea and the family Psilocamaridae. |
| Catatonaria transversaria | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the superfamily Elitoidea and the family Phricodothyridae. |
| Chilcatreta lariojana | Sp. nov | Valid | Lavié & Benedetto | Ordovician | Suri | Argentina | A siphonotretid brachiopod. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Chinellirostra | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett | Devonian (Givetian) | | China | A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Genus includes new species C. rara. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Cimmeriella coyneae | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Takhandit Formation | Canada ( Yukon) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Anidanthidae. |
| Contortithyris | Gen. et sp. nov | | Gaspard & Charbonnier | Late Cretaceous (Santonian) | Micraster | France | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. The type species is C. thermae. |
| Costasulculus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian (Wuchiapingian) | Episkopi Formation | Greece | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the superfamily Pennospiriferinoidea and the family Paraspiriferinidae. The type species is C. claphami. |
| Cyclothyris cardiatelia | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero, Barroso-Barcenilla & Joral | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Rhynchonellida |
| Cyclothyris grimargina | Sp. nov | | Gaspard & Charbonnier | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Micraster | France | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae |
| Cyclothyris nekvasilovae | Sp. nov | Valid | Berrocal-Casero, Joral & Barroso-Barcenilla | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Czech Republic | A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Cyclothyris segurai | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero, Barroso-Barcenilla & Joral | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Rhynchonellida |
| Derbyia semicircularis | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of the superfamily Orthotetoidea belonging to the family Derbyiidae. |
| Dihelictera engerensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Ordovician/Silurian boundary | Solvik | Norway | A member of the family Atrypidae. |
| Dogdoa talyndzhensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Baranov | Early Devonian | | Russia | A member of Rhynchonellida. |
| Dyoros gentilis | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of the family Rugosochonetidae. |
| Dyoros modestus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada | A member of the family Rugosochonetidae. |
| Balkhasheconcha thorsteinssoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Scacchinelloidea and the family Rhamnariidae. |
| Echinalosia pondosus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Strophalosioidea and the family Dasyalosiidae. |
| Elliptoglossa kononovae | Sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova & Zhegallo | Devonian (Famennian) | | Russia | A member of Lingulida. |
| Enriquetoechia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Colmenar & Hodgin | Ordovician | Umachiri | Peru | A polytoechioid brachiopod. Genus includes new species E. umachiriensis. |
| Eoobolus incipiens | Sp. nov | In press | Zhang, Popov, Holmer & Zhang in Zhang et al. | Cambrian | Ajax Limestone Dengying Formation Mernmerna Formation Wilkawillina Limestone | Australia China | A member of Linguloidea. |
| Euroatrypa? sigridi | Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Ordovician/Silurian boundary | Solvik | Norway | A member of the family Atrypinidae. |
| Famatinobolus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Lavié & Benedetto | Ordovician | Suri | Argentina | An obolid brachiopod. Genus includes new species F. cancellatum. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Fissulina | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Sabine Bay Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Strophomenata belonging to the superfamily Orthotetoidea and the family Schuchertellidae. The type species is F. delicatula. |
| Germanoplatidia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Dulai & Von der Hocht | Oligocene (Chattian) | | Germany | A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Platidiidae; a new genus for "Terebratula" pusilla Philippi (1843). |
| Gjelispinifera punctuata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada ( Yukon) | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the superfamily Pennospiriferinoidea and the family Reticulariinidae. |
| Gotatrypa vettrensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Ordovician/Silurian boundary | Solvik | Norway | A member of the family Atrypidae. |
| Gruntoconchinia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Foldvik Creek Group | Canada Greenland | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Echinoconchoidea and the family Waagenoconchidae. The type species is G. payerinia. |
| Hassanispirifer | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani | Devonian (Givetian) | Taboumakhlouf | Morocco | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Xenomartiniidae. The type species is H. africanus. |
| Himathyris arctica | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Athyrididae. |
| Holynetes? mzerrebiensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani | Devonian (Givetian) | Ahrerouch | Morocco | A member of Chonetidina belonging to the family Anopliidae. |
| Imbriea | Nom. nov | Valid | Reily | Devonian | | United States | A member of Orthotetida belonging to the family Areostrophiidae; a replacement name for Orthopleura Imbrie (1959). |
| Kafirnigania jorali | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Terebratulida. |
| Kafirnigania massiliensis | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | France Spain | A member of Terebratulida. |
| Kirkidium canberrense | Sp. nov | Valid | Strusz | Silurian (Wenlock) | Canberra | Australia | A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Pentameridae. |
| Kutorginella minuta | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Productoidea and the family Retariidae. |
| Kuvelousia perpusillus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada ( Nunavut Yukon) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Anidanthidae. |
| Lambdarina winklerprinsi | Sp. nov | Valid | Voldman et al. | Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | San Emiliano | Spain | |
| Levitusia elongata | Sp. nov | Valid | Tazawa | Carboniferous (Viséan) | | Japan | A member of Productidina belonging to the family Leioproductidae. |
| Lingulellotreta yuanshanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhang et al. | Cambrian | | China | |
| Linnaeocaninella | Nom. nov | Valid | Hernández | Middle Permian | Lengwu | China | A replacement name for Caninella Liang (1990) |
| Linnarssonia sapushanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Duan et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | Wulongqing | China | An acrotretoid brachiopod. |
| Liosella | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada Greenland Norway United States | A member of Productida belonging to the family Paucispiniferidae. The type species is "Liosotella" grandicosta Dunbar (1955); genus also includes "Productus" spitzbergianus Toula (1874), "Liosotella" vadosisinuata Dunbar (1955) and "Liosotella" delicatula Dunbar (1955). |
| Liraria borealis | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Anidanthidae. |
| Lithobolus limbatum | Sp. nov | Valid | Lavié & Benedetto | Ordovician | Suri | Argentina | An obolid brachiopod. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Magadania attenuata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Proboscidelloidea and the family Auriculispinidae. |
| Magniplicatina shii | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Jungle Creek Formation | Canada | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Proboscidelloidea and the family Paucispinauriidae. |
| Martinia stehlii | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Sabine Bay Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Martiniidae. |
| Megousia tortus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada ( Yukon) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Anidanthidae. |
| Mishninia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Baranov | Early Devonian | | Russia | The type species is M. nodosa |
| Nahoniella prolata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Degerböls Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the group Syringothyridina and the family Licharewiidae. |
| Neobolus wulongqingensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhang, Strotz, Topper & Brock in Zhang et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | Wulongqing | China | A member of Lingulida belonging to the family Neobolidae. Many specimens had tubeworm-like kleptoparasites attached to their shells. |
| Neochonetes culcita | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada | A member of the family Rugosochonetidae. |
| Neochonetes (Sommeriella) longa | Sp. nov | Valid | Wu et al. | Permian (Changhsingian) | Luokeng | China | |
| Neochonetes (Sommeriella) transversa | Sp. nov | Valid | Wu et al. | Permian (Changhsingian) | Luokeng | China | |
| Nucleatina anotia | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain France? | A member of Terebratulida. |
| Nucleatina arcana | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Terebratulida. |
| Nucleatina barrosoi | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal-Casero | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Terebratulida. |
| Orbiculoidea katzeri | Sp. nov | In press | Corrêa & Ramos | Devonian (Lochkovian) | Manacapuru | Brazil | |
| Orbiculoidea ornata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of the family Discinidae. |
| Orbiculoidea xinguensis | Sp. nov | In press | Corrêa & Ramos | Devonian (Lochkovian) | Manacapuru | Brazil | |
| Palaeotreta | Gen. et sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Zhang et al. | Cambrian Series 2 | Shuijingtuo | China | A member of the family Acrotretidae. The type species is P. shannanensis; genus also includes "Eohadrotreta" zhujiahensis Li & Holmer (2004). |
| Paragilledia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Shi, Waterhouse & Lee | Early Permian | Pebbley Beach | Australia | A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Gillediidae. Genus includes new species P. kioloaensis. |
| Paramickwitzia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pan et al. | Cambrian Series 2 | Xinji | China | A stem-brachiopod belonging to the group Mickwitziidae. Genus includes new species P. boreussinaensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Paraspiriferina mcdougallensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada ( Nunavut Yukon) | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the superfamily Pennospiriferinoidea and the family Paraspiriferinidae. |
| Paraspiriferina stoschensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Greenland | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the superfamily Pennospiriferinoidea and the family Paraspiriferinidae. |
| Plectatrypa rindi | Sp. nov | Valid | Baarli | Ordovician/Silurian boundary | Solvik | Norway | A member of the family Atrypinidae. |
| Pleurohorridonia platys | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Trold Fiord Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Horridoniidae. |
| Plicarmus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Claybourn et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | Byrd Group | Antarctica | A member of Lingulata. Genus includes new species P. wildi. |
| Pomatotrema laubacheri | Sp. nov | Valid | Colmenar & Hodgin | Ordovician | Umachiri | Peru | |
| Rhinatrypa | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Baarli | Ordovician/Silurian boundary | Solvik | Norway | A member of the family Atrypidae. The type species is "Plectatrypa" henningsmoeni Boucot & Johnson (1967). |
| Rhipidium oepiki | Sp. nov | Valid | Strusz | Silurian (Wenlock) | Canberra | Australia | A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Pentameridae. |
| Rhipidomella transfigona | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada | A member of Orthida belonging to the family Rhipidomellidae. |
| Rigrantia laudata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Takhandit Formation | Canada ( Yukon) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Productoidea and the family Retariidae. |
| Schrenkiella truncata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the family Schrenkiellidae. |
| Simplicitasia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut Yukon) Norway | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Neospiriferidae. The type species is "Spirifer" osborni Harker (1960). |
| Sowerbina longi | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Kapp Starostin Formation | Norway | A member of Productida belonging to the family Horridoniidae. |
| Spinocarinifera qilinzhaiensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Nie et al. | Carboniferous (Tournaisian) | Tangbagou Formation | China | |
| Spiriferella angulata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Great Bear Cape Formation | Canada Greenland Norway | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. |
| Spiriferella oregonia | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Coyote Butte Limestone | United States ( Oregon) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. |
| Spiriferella separata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut Yukon) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. |
| Spiriferella sulcoconstricta | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut Yukon) | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. |
| Spirigerella inflata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Athyrididae. |
| Spirigerella plana | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Athyridida belonging to the family Athyrididae. |
| Stringocephalus sinensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett | Devonian (Givetian) | | China | A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Sulcicosta transmarinus | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Assistance Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Spiriferinida belonging to the family Syringothyrididae. |
| Tabellina laseroni | Sp. nov | Valid | Shi, Waterhouse & Lee | Early Permian | Pebbley Beach | Australia | An ingelarelloidean brachiopod belonging to the family Notospiriferidae. |
| Tapuritreta gribovensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Holmer et al. | Cambrian (Guzhangian) | Karpinsk Formation | Russia ( Arkhangelsk Oblast) | A member of the family Acrotretidae. |
| Tcherskidium tenuicostatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Jin & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | | United States ( Alaska) | |
| Thamnosia sangminlee | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | Great Bear Cape Formation | Canada ( Nunavut) | A member of Productida belonging to the superfamily Productoidea and the family Retariidae. |
| Thomasaria bultyncki | Sp. nov | Valid | Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani | Devonian (Givetian) | Ahrerouch | Morocco | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Thomasariidae. |
| Tintoriella laticostata | Sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Permian | | Greenland | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. |
| Undulatina | Gen. et comb. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Waterhouse | Carboniferous and Permian | Miseryfjellet Formation | Canada Norway Russia | A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Spiriferellidae. The type species is "Spirifer" keilhavii von Buch (1847); genus also includes new species U. verchoyanica and U. kletsi. |
| Vagrania naanchanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Baranov | Early Devonian | | Russia | A member of Atrypida. |
| Verchojania abramovi | Sp. nov | Valid | Makoshin | Late Carboniferous | | Russia | A member of Productida |
| Wahwahlingula? pankovensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Holmer et al. | Cambrian (Guzhangian) | Karpinsk Formation | Russia ( Arkhangelsk Oblast) | A member of Linguloidea belonging to the family Zhanatellidae. |
| Woodwardirhynchia pontemdiaboli | Sp. nov | In press | Berrocal Casero, Barroso Barcenilla & Joral | Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) | | Spain | A member of Rhynchonellida |
| Yangirostra | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett | Devonian (Givetian) | | China | A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Genus includes new species Y. asiatica. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |

### Research

* A study on the mode of life of Paleozoic strophomenatans is published by Stanley (2020), who argues that nearly all strophomenatans lived infaunally.
* A study on the paleobiogeography of Early−Middle Devonian (Pragian−Eifelian) brachiopods from West Gondwana, aiming to determine any potential controls that may have driven bioregionalization, is published by Penn-Clarke & Harper (2020).
* A study on the phylogenetic relationships and ecomorphologic diversification of Mesozoic spiriferinids is published by Guo, Chen & Harper (2020).

## Echinoderms
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Abertella carlsoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Miocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Abludoglyptocrinus steinheimerae | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A monobathrid crinoid. |
| Aenigmaticumcrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Scheffler | Devonian | Belén | Bolivia | A crinoid belonging to the group Dimerocrinitacea. Genus includes new species A. rochacamposi. |
| Aerliceaster | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Blake, Gahn & Guensburg | Ordovician (Floian) | Garden City | United States ( Idaho) | A starfish. Genus includes new species A. nexosus. |
| Alkaidia megaungula | Sp. nov | Valid | Ewin & Gale | Early Cretaceous (Barremian) | Taba | Morocco | A starfish belonging to the family Terminasteridae. |
| Arceoaster | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Blake & Sprinkle | Silurian | Hunton Group | United States ( Oklahoma) | A starfish belonging to the family Hudsonasteridae. Genus includes new species A. hintei. |
| Aszulcicrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hagdorn | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | Gogolin | Poland | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Dadocrinidae. The type species is A. pentebrachiatus. |
| Brissopsis hoffmani | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Miocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Bronthaster | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Jell & Cook | Carboniferous (Namurian) | Yagon Siltstone | Australia | A brittle star belonging to the family Protasteridae. Genus includes new species B. retus. |
| Calclyra bifida | Sp. nov | Valid | Pabst & Herbig | Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) | Genicera | Spain | A brittle star belonging to the group Oegophiurida and the family Calclyridae. |
| Clypeaster petersonorum | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Miocene | | United States ( Florida) | A species of Clypeaster. |
| Comptonia bretoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Aptian) | Atherfield | United Kingdom | A starfish |
| Coulonia caseyi | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Aptian) | Atherfield | United Kingdom | An astropectinid starfish |
| Cyclogrupera | Gen. et sp. nov | | Torres-Martínez, Villanueva-Olea & Sour-Tovar | Permian (Asselian‒Sakmarian) | Grupera | Mexico | A crinoid belonging to the family Cyclomischidae. The type species is C. minor. |
| Discocrinus africanus | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Aït Lamine | Morocco | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae. |
| Discometra luberonensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Eléaume, Roux & Philippe | Miocene (Burdigalian) | | France | A feather star belonging to the family Himerometridae. |
| Drepanocrinus wardorum | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Morocco  Tunisia | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Durhamicystis | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zamora, Sprinkle & Sumrall | Ordovician (Sandbian) | Chambersburg | United States ( Maryland) | A member of Eocrinoidea belonging to the family Rhipidocystidae. The type species is D. americana. |
| Encrinaster alsbachensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Müller & Hahn | Early Devonian | | Germany | A brittle star. |
| Enodicalix | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Paul & Gutiérrez-Marco | Ordovician | | Spain | A member of Diploporita belonging to the family Aristocystitidae. The type species is "Calix" inornatus Meléndez (1958). |
| Eoastropecten | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Triassic (Carnian) | | China | A starfish belonging to the family Astropectinidae. Genus includes new species E. sechuanensis. |
| Euglyphocrinus cristagalli | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | | Morocco  United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Euglyphocrinus jacobsae | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Morocco  Tunisia | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Euglyphocrinus truncatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Morocco  Tunisia | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Euglyphocrinus worthensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | | Morocco  United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Euptychocrinus longipinnulus | Sp. nov | Valid | Fearnhead et al. | Silurian (Telychian) | Pysgotwr Grits | United Kingdom | A camerate crinoid |
| Eutaxocrinus ariunai | Sp. nov | Valid | Waters et al. | Devonian (Famennian) | Samnuuruul Formation | Mongolia | A crinoid. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Eutaxocrinus sersmaai | Sp. nov | Valid | Waters et al. | Devonian (Famennian) | Samnuuruul Formation | Mongolia | A crinoid. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Fenestracrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Aït Lamine | Morocco | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae. The type species is F. oculifer. |
| Fernandezaster whisleri | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Pliocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Floricyclocion | Gen. et sp. nov | | Torres-Martínez, Villanueva-Olea & Sour-Tovar | Permian (Asselian‒Sakmarian) | Grupera | Mexico | A crinoid belonging to the family Floricyclidae. The type species is F. heteromorpha. |
| Gagaria hunterae | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Miocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Genocidaris oyeni | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Pliocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Heterobrissus lubellii | Sp. nov | Valid | Borghi & Stara | Late Oligocene-early Miocene | | Italy | A heart urchin. |
| Holocrinus qingyanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Stiller | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | | China | A crinoid belonging to the family Holocrinidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) covuncoensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Lazo et al. | Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) | Agrio | Argentina | A crinoid. |
| Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) pehuenchensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Lazo et al. | Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) | Agrio | Argentina | A crinoid. |
| Kolataster | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Blake, Gahn & Guensburg | Ordovician (Sandian) | Mifflin | United States ( Illinois) | A starfish. Genus includes new species K. perplexus. |
| Lebenharticrinus quinvigintensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Aït Lamine | Morocco | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Lebenharticrinus zitti | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Aït Lamine | Morocco | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Linguaserra heidii | Sp. nov | Valid | Pabst & Herbig | Carboniferous (Tournaisian to Serpukhovian) | Genicera Heiligenhaus | Germany Spain | A member of Ophiocistioidea belonging to the family Linguaserridae. |
| Lovenia kerneri | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Pliocene | | United States ( Florida) | A species of Lovenia. |
| Maestratina | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Forner i Valls & Saura Vilar | Early Cretaceous (Aptian) | Forcall Formation | Spain | A sea urchin belonging to the group Arbacioida and the family Arbaciidae. The type species is "Cotteaudia" royoi Lambert (1928). |
| Magnasterella | Gen. et comb. nov | In press | Fraga & Vega | Devonian (Frasnian) | Ponta Grossa | Brazil | A starfish belonging to the group Euaxosida; a new genus for "Echinasterella" darwini Clarke (1913). |
| Marginix notatus | Sp. nov | In press | Fraga & Vega | Devonian (Frasnian) | Ponta Grossa | Brazil | A brittle star |
| Meperocrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Scheffler | Devonian | Icla | Bolivia | A crinoid belonging to the family Emperocrinidae. Genus includes new species M. angelina. |
| Mongoliacrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Waters et al. | Devonian (Famennian) | Samnuuruul Formation | Mongolia | A crinoid belonging to the family Acrocrinidae. Genus includes new species M. minjini. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. |
| Odontaster tabaensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ewin & Gale | Early Cretaceous (Barremian) | Taba | Morocco | A starfish, a species of Odontaster. |
| Ophiacantha oceani | Sp. nov | Valid | Numberger-Thuy & Thuy | Pliocene to Pleistocene (Piacenzian to Gelasian) | | Italy | A brittle star belonging to the family Ophiacanthidae. |
| Ophiomitrella floorae | Sp. nov | Valid | Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Gale | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Maastricht | Netherlands | An ophiacanthid brittle star. |
| Paragonaster felli | Sp. nov | Valid | Stevens | Early Cretaceous | | New Zealand | A starfish. |
| Paranaster | Gen. et comb. nov | In press | Fraga & Vega | Devonian (Emsian) | Ponta Grossa | Brazil | A starfish belonging to the group Euaxosida. Genus includes new species P. crucis. |
| Pararchaeocrinus kiddi | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A diplobathrid crinoid. |
| Peckicrinus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Duck Creek | United States ( Oklahoma Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. The type species is "Poecilocrinus" porcatus Peck (1943). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Pegoasterella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Blake & Koniecki | Late Ordovician | Bromide Guttenberg | United States ( Illinois Oklahoma) | A starfish belonging to the family Urasterellidae. Genus includes new species P. pompom. |
| Periglyptocrinus astricus | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A monobathrid crinoid. |
| Periglyptocrinus kevinbretti | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A monobathrid crinoid. |
| Periglyptocrinus mcdonaldi | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A monobathrid crinoid. |
| Periglyptocrinus silvosus | Sp. nov | Valid | Cole et al. | Ordovician (Katian) | Brechin Lagerstätte Bobcaygeon & Verulam | Canada ( Ontario) | A monobathrid crinoid. |
| Plotocrinus molineuxae | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Goodland | United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Plotocrinus rashallae | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Goodland | France United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Plotocrinus reidi | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Kiamichi | United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Psammaster | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Fau et al. | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Grès des Oies | France | A starfish belonging to the group Forcipulatida. The type species is "Ophidiaster" davidsoni de Loriol & Pellat (1874). |
| Rhyncholampas meansi | Sp. nov | Valid | Osborn, Portell & Mooi | Pleistocene | | United States ( Florida) | A sea urchin. |
| Roveacrinus gladius | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Morocco  Tunisia | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Roveacrinus morganae | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Pawpaw | United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Roveacrinus proteus | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Pawpaw | United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Roveacrinus solisoccasum | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | | Morocco  United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Schoenaster carterensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Harris, Ettensohn & Carnahan-Jarvis | Carboniferous (Chesterian) | Slade | United States ( Kentucky) | A brittle star |
| Seifenia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Müller & Hahn | Early Devonian | Seifen | Germany | A member of Edrioasteroidea. The type species is S. ostara. |
| Spiracarneyella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sumrall & Phelps | Ordovician (Katian) | Point Pleasant | United States ( Kentucky Ohio) | A carneyellid edrioasteroid. Genus includes new species S. florencei. |
| Streptoiocrinus | Gen. nov | Valid | Rozhnov | Ordovician | | Estonia Russia ( Leningrad Oblast) | A crinoid belonging to the group Disparida. |
| Styracocrinus rimafera | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Morocco  Tunisia | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae |
| Styracocrinus thomasae | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale in Gale et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Goodland | United States ( Texas) | A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Tallinnicrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cole, Ausich & Wilson | Ordovician (Hirnantian) | | Estonia | An anthracocrinid diplobathrid crinoid. Genus includes new species T. toomae. |
| Tollmannicrinus leidapoensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Stiller | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | | China | A crinoid. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Tuberocrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Scheffler | Devonian | Belén | Bolivia | A crinoid belonging to the group Dimerocrinitacea. Genus includes new species T. lapazensis. |
| Vaquerosella perrillatae | Sp. nov | Valid | Martínez Melo & Alvarado Ortega | Miocene | San Ignacio | Mexico | A sand dollar belonging to the family Echinarachniidae |

### Research

* A study on morphological diversification of echinoderms and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the establishment of echinoderm body plans during the early Paleozoic is published by Deline et al. (2020).
* A study on the locomotion of cornute stylophorans, based on data from a specimen of Phyllocystis crassimarginata from the Ordovician (Tremadocian) Saint-Chinian Formation (France), is published by Clark et al. (2020).
* A study on the speciation and dispersal of the diploporan blastozoans through the Ordovician period is published by Lam, Sheffield & Matzke (2020).
* A study on the evolutionary history of eublastoid blastozoans is published by Bauer (2020).
* A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Eumorphocystis is published by Guensburg et al. (2020), who consider this taxon to be a blastozoan far removed from crinoids, contrary to the results of the study of Sheffield & Sumrall (2019).
* A study on the phylogeny of the crown group of Echinoidea, based on both phylogenomic and paleontological data, is published by Koch & Thompson (2020).
* A study on the structure of the arms and on probable locomotion strategies of Devonian brittle stars from the Hunsrück Slate (Germany) is published by Clark, Hutchinson & Briggs (2020).

## Conodonts
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Ancyrognathus minjini | Sp. nov | Valid | Suttner et al. | Late Devonian | Baruunhuurai | Mongolia | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Baltoniodus norrlandicus denticulatus | Subsp. nov | Valid | Dzik | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | | Poland | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Belodina watsoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhen | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | | Australia | |
| Bipennatus hemilevigatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Lu & Königshof | Devonian (Eifelian) | Beiliu | China | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Bipennatus planus | Sp. nov | Valid | Lu & Königshof | Devonian (Eifelian) | Beiliu | China | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Diplognathodus benderi | Sp. nov | Valid | Hu et al. | Carboniferous (Bashkirian–Moscovian boundary) | | China | |
| Erraticodon neopatu | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhen in Zhen et al. | Ordovician | Willara | Australia | Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Gladigondolella laii | Sp. nov | In press | Chen in Chen et al. | Early Triassic | | Oman | |
| Idiognathodus fengtingensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary) | | China | |
| Idiognathodus luodianensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary) | | China | |
| Idiognathodus naqingensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary) | | China | |
| Idiognathodus naraoensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary) | | China | |
| Latericriodus guangnanensis | Sp. nov | In press | Lu & Valenzuela-Ríos in Lu et al. | Devonian (Emsian) | Daliantang | China | A member of Prioniodontida belonging to the family Icriodontidae. |
| Misikella kolarae | Sp. nov | Valid | Karádi et al. | Late Triassic | | Hungary | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Pachycladina rendona | Sp. nov | In press | Wu & Ji in Wu et al. | Early Triassic | | China | An ellisonid conodont. |
| Palmatolepis subperlobata tatarica | Nom. nov | Valid | Ovnatanova & Gatovsky | Devonian (Famennian) | Prikazanskaya Formation | Russia ( Tatarstan) | A replacement name for Palmatolepis subperlobata helmsi Ovnatanova (1976). The subspecies was subsequently raised to the rank of a separate species by Ovnatanova & Kononova (2023). |
| Paullella omanensis | Sp. nov | In press | Chen in Chen et al. | Early Triassic | | Croatia Oman | |
| Polygnathus nalaiensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Lu & Königshof | Devonian (Eifelian) | Beiliu | China | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Rossodus? boothiaensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhang | | Turner Cliffs | Canada ( Nunavut) | |
| Scalpellodus percivali | Sp. nov | Valid | Zhen | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | | Australia | |
| Scythogondolella dolosa | Sp. nov | Valid | Bondarenko & Popov | Early Triassic | | Russia ( Primorsky Krai) | |
| Siphonodella leiosa | Sp. nov | In press | Souquet, Corradini & Girard | Carboniferous (Tournaisian) | | France | |
| Streptognathodus nemyrovskae | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Gzhelian) | | China | |
| Streptognathodus zhihaoi | Sp. nov | Valid | Qi et al. | Carboniferous (Gzhelian) | | China | |
| Tortodus dodoensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gouwy, Uyeno & McCracken | Devonian (Givetian) | | Canada | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Trapezognathus pectinatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Dzik | Ordovician (Darriwilian) | | Poland | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Zieglerodina petrea | Sp. nov | Valid | Hušková & Slavík | Silurian/Devonian boundary | Prague Synform | Czech Republic | Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |

### Research

* Evidence of variations in crystallography and microstructure due to both ontogeny and element type within the conodont feeding apparatus of Dapsilodus obliquicostatus is presented by Shohel et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of their findings for the knowledge of the integrity of conodont apatite as a recorder of seawater chemistry.
* A study aiming to determine whether the repeated emergence of similar morphologies in the dental elements of Permian conodonts belonging to the genus Sweetognathus is an example of parallel evolution is published by Petryshen et al. (2020).

## Synapsids
### Non-mammalian synapsids
#### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Agudotherium | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Stefanello et al. | Late Triassic | Candelária | Brazil | A non-mammaliaform prozostrodontian cynodont. Genus includes new species A. gassenae. |
| Bohemiclavulus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Spindler, Voigt & Fischer | Carboniferous (Gzhelian) | Slaný | Czech Republic | A member of the family Edaphosauridae; a new genus for "Naosaurus" mirabilis Fritsch (1895). Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Caodeyao | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Liu & Abdala | Late Permian | Naobaogou | China | A therocephalian. Genus includes new species C. liuyufengi. |
| Chiniquodon omaruruensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Mocke, Gaetano & Abdala | Triassic | Omingonde | Namibia | |
| Dendromaia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Maddin, Mann & Hebert | Carboniferous | | Canada ( Nova Scotia) | A member of Varanopidae. Genus includes new species D. unamakiensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Etjoia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hendrickx et al. | Triassic (Ladinian/Carnian) | Omingonde | Namibia | A traversodontid cynodont. Genus includes new species E. dentitransitus. |
| Hypselohaptodus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Spindler | Permian (Cisuralian) | Kenilworth | United Kingdom | An early member of Sphenacodontia; a new genus for "Haptodus" grandis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Inditherium | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Bhat, Ray & Datta | Late Triassic | Tiki | India | A dromatheriid cynodont. Genus includes new species I. floris. |
| Kalaallitkigun | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sulej et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | Fleming Fjord | Greenland | An early member of Mammaliaformes, possibly a member of Haramiyida. Genus includes new species K. jenkinsi. |
| Kataigidodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kligman et al. | Late Triassic | Chinle | United States ( Arizona) | A non-mammalian eucynodont. Genus includes new species K. venetus. |
| Kenomagnathus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Spindler | Carboniferous (late Pennsylvanian) | Rock Lake Shale Mb, Stanton | United States ( Kansas) | An early member of Sphenacodontia. The type species is K. scottae. |
| Martensius | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Berman et al. | Permian (Artinskian) | Tambach | Germany | A member of Caseidae. The type species is M. bromackerensis. |
| Nshimbodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Huttenlocker & Sidor | Late Permian | Madumabisa Mudstone | Zambia | A basal cynodont, probably a member of the family Charassognathidae. Genus includes new species N. muchingaensis. |
| Polonodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sulej et al. | Late Triassic (Carnian) | | Poland | A non-mammaliaform eucynodont. Genus includes new species P. woznikiensis. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Remigiomontanus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Spindler, Voigt & Fischer | Carboniferous–Permian transition | Saar–Nahe | Germany | A member of the family Edaphosauridae. Genus includes new species R. robustus. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Rewaconodon indicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Bhat, Ray & Datta | Late Triassic | Tiki | India | A dromatheriid cynodont. |
| Taoheodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Liu | Late Permian | Sunjiagou Formation | China | A dicynodontoid dicynodont. Genus includes new species T. baizhijuni. |
| Theroteinus jenkinsi | Sp. nov | Valid | Whiteside & Duffin | Late Triassic (Rhaetian) | | United Kingdom | A haramiyidan mammaliaform. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Tikiodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Bhat, Ray & Datta | Late Triassic | Tiki | India | A mammaliamorph cynodont. Genus includes new species T. cromptoni. |

#### Research

* A study on the evolution of the well-defined morphological regions of the vertebral column and of vertebral functional diversity in synapsids is published by Jones et al. (2020).
* A study aiming to determine the resting metabolic rates and the thermometabolic regimes (endothermy or ectothermy) in eight non-mammalian synapsids is published by Faure-Brac & Cubo (2020).
* A study on the shoulder musculature in extant Argentine black and white tegu and Virginia opossum, evaluating its implications for reconstructions of the shoulder musculature in non-mammalian synapsids, is published by Fahn-Lai, Biewener & Pierce (2020).
* A study aiming to determine whether a vicariance pattern can explain early synapsid evolution is published by Brikiatis (2020).
* Mann et al. (2020) reinterpret Carboniferous taxon Asaphestera platyris Steen (1934) from the Joggins locality (Nova Scotia, Canada) as the earliest unambiguous synapsid in the fossil record reported so far.
* A study on the long bone histology of varanopids from the lower Permian Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States), evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the paleobiology of early synapsids, is published by Huttenlocker & Shelton (2020).
* Mann & Reisz (2020) report a new hyper-elongated neural spine of Echinerpeton intermedium from the Pennsylvanian-aged Sydney Mines Formation (Nova Scotia, Canada), indicating a wider distribution of hyper-elongation of vertebral neural spines in early synapsids than previously known.
* A study on the histology of vertebral centra of Edaphosaurus and Dimetrodon is published by Agliano, Sander & Wintrich (2020).
* A study on the anatomy of the holotype skull of Tetraceratops insignis and on the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon is published by Spindler (2020).
* A study comparing the oxygen and carbon stable isotope compositions of tooth and bone apatite of Endothiodon and Tropidostoma, and aiming to determine the ecology and diet of Endothiodon, is published by Rey et al. (2020).
* Whitney & Sidor (2020) compare the frequency and patterns of growth marks in tusks of Lystrosaurus from polar Antarctica and from the non-polar Karoo Basin of South Africa living ~250 Mya, and report evidence of prolonged stress interpreted as indicative of torpor in polar specimens. This could be the oldest evidence of a hibernation-like state in a vertebrate animal and indicates that torpor arose in vertebrates before mammals and dinosaurs evolved.
* A study on the skull length and growth patterns of the four South African Lystrosaurus species (L. maccaigi, L. curvatus, L. murrayi and L. declivis), aiming to determine whether the end-Permian mass extinction caused the Lilliput effect in Lystrosaurus species from the Karoo Basin and to infer their lifestyle, is published by Botha (2020).
* A study aiming to examine the basis for claims that the genus Lystrosaurus is a disaster taxon is published by Modesto (2020).
* A study on tooth serrations in a Permian gorgonopsian from Zambia, identifying the occurrence of denticles and interdental folds forming the cutting edges in the teeth which were previously thought to be unique to theropod dinosaurs and some other archosaurs, is published by Whitney et al. (2020).
* Redescription of the skull of Lycosuchus vanderrieti, providing new information on the endocranial anatomy of this taxon, is published by Pusch et al. (2020).
* A review of the fossil record of Triassic non-mammaliaform cynodonts from western Gondwana and its importance for the knowledge of the origin of mammals, focusing on taxa known from Argentina, is published by Abdala et al. (2020).
* A study on the tooth replacement in Galesaurus planiceps is published by Norton et al. (2020).
* The third specimen of Prozostrodon brasiliensis, providing novel information on the anatomy of this taxon, is described by Kerber et al. (2020).

### Mammals
## Other animals
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Aladraco kirchhainensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Geyer & Malinky | Cambrian (Miaolingian) | Delitzsch–Torgau–Doberlug | Germany | A member of Hyolitha. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Armilimax | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kimmig & Selden | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | Spence Shale | United States ( Utah) | A shell-bearing animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species A. pauljamisoni. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Avitograptus akidomorphus | Sp. nov | Valid | Muir et al. | Ordovician (Hirnantian) | Wenchang | China | A graptolite. |
| Bizeticyathus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes B. carmen (Carmen & Carmen, 1937). |
| Canadiella | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Skovsted et al. | Cambrian | Mural Rosella | Canada | A tommotiid belonging to the family Kennardiidae. The type species is "Lapworthella" filigrana Conway Morris & Fritz (1984). |
| Collinsovermis | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Caron & Aria | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | Burgess Shale | Canada ( British Columbia) | A luolishaniid lobopodian. Genus includes new species C. monstruosus. |
| Cordaticaris | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Sun, Zeng & Zhao | Cambrian (Drumian) | Zhangxia | China | A member of Radiodonta belonging to the family Hurdiidae. Genus includes new species C. striatus. |
| Cornulites baranovi | Sp. nov | Valid | Vinn & Toom | Silurian (Přidoli) | Ohesaare | Estonia | A member of Cornulitida. |
| Dahescolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Shao et al. | Cambrian (Fortunian) | Kuanchuanpu | China | An animal which might be a stem-lineage derivative of Scalidophora. Genus includes new species D. kuanchuanpuensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Dakorhachis | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Conway Morris et al. | Cambrian (Guzhangian) | Weeks | United States ( Utah) | An animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a stem-group member of the Gnathifera. Genus includes new species D. thambus. |
| Dannychaeta | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Chen et al. | Early Cambrian | Canglangpu | China | A crown annelid, probably a relative of the families Magelonidae and Oweniidae. Genus includes new species D. tucolus. |
| Degeletticyathus dailyi | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| "Dictyonema" khadijae | Sp. nov | In press | Gutiérrez Marco, Muir & Mitchell | Late Ordovician | | Morocco | A graptolite |
| "Dictyonema" villasi | Sp. nov | In press | Gutiérrez Marco, Muir & Mitchell | Late Ordovician | | Morocco | A graptolite |
| Gyaltsenglossus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Nanglu, Caron & Cameron | Cambrian | Stephen | Canada ( British Columbia) | A member of the stem group of Hemichordata. The type species is G. senis. |
| Herpetogaster haiyanensis | Sp. nov | | Yang et al. | Cambrian Stage 3 | Chiungchussu | China | |
| Hillaecyathus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes H. contractus (Hill, 1965). |
| Ikaria | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Evans et al. | Ediacaran | | Australia | An early bilaterian. Genus includes new species I. wariootia. |
| Korenograptus selectus | Sp. nov | In press | Chen in Chen et al. | Late Ordovician | | Myanmar | A graptolite |
| Kylinxia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zeng, Zhao & Huang in Zeng et al. | Early Cambrian | | China | A transitional euarthropod that bridges radiodonts and true arthropods. Genus includes new species K. zhangi. |
| Lenzograptus | Nom. nov | In press | Loydell | Silurian (Ludlow) | | Canada ( Yukon) | A graptolite; a replacement name for Lenzia Rickards & Wright (1999). |
| Longxiantheca | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Li in Li et al. | Cambrian Stages 3–4 | Xinji | China | A member of Hyolitha belonging to the group Orthothecida. The type species is L. mira. |
| Maxdebrennius | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species M. mimus. |
| Microconchus cravenensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Zatoń & Mundy | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | Cracoe Limestone Malham | United Kingdom | A member of Microconchida. |
| Microconchus maya | Sp. nov | Valid | Heredia-Jiménez et al. | Permian (Roadian) | Paso Hondo | Mexico | A member of Microconchida. |
| Monograptus hamulus | Sp. nov | Valid | Saparin et al. | Silurian (Llandovery) | Co To | Vietnam | A graptolite |
| Neodiplograptus mandalayensis | Sp. nov | In press | Chen in Chen et al. | Late Ordovician | | Myanmar | A graptolite |
| Nochoroicyathus ordinarius | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| Nochoroicyathus sublimus | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| Paranacyathus arboreus | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| Pontagrossia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Chahud & Fairchild | Devonian (Emsian) | Ponta Grossa | Brazil | An invertebrate of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is P. reticulata. |
| Porocoscinus eurys | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| Pristiograptus paradoxus | Sp. nov | In press | Loydell & Walasek | Silurian (Telychian) | | Sweden | A graptolite |
| Stictocyathus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species S. cavus. |
| Subtumulocyathellus satus | Sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. |
| Torquigraptus loveridgei | Sp. nov | In press | Loydell & Walasek | Silurian (Telychian) | | Sweden | A graptolite |
| Torquigraptus wilsoni | Sp. nov | Valid | Loydell | Silurian (Telychian) | | United Kingdom | A graptolite |
| Toscanisoma | Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Wendt | Late Triassic (Carnian) | San Cassiano | Italy | A member of Ascidiacea. The type species is T. multipartitum; genus also includes T. triplicatum. |
| Utahscolex | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Whitaker et al. | Cambrian (Wuliuan) | Spence | United States ( Utah) | A palaeoscolecid; a new genus for "Palaeoscolex" ratcliffei Robison (1969) |
| Vermilituus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Cambrian Stage 3 | Chiungchussu | China | A small, encrusting tubular protostomian, preserved attached to a mobile host (Vetulicola). The type species is V. gregarius. |
| Wronacyathus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kruse & Debrenne | Cambrian | | Australia | A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species W. ayuzhui. |
| Zhongpingscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Shao et al. | Cambrian (Fortunian) | Kuanchuanpu | China | A scalidophoran, probably a stem-group kinorhynch. Genus includes new species Z. qinensis. |
| Zuunia | Gen. et sp. nov | | Yang et al. | Late Ediacaran | Zuun-Arts | Mongolia | A cloudinid. The type species is Z. chimidtsereni. |

### Research

* A study on the taphonomy of three-dimensionally preserved specimens of Charnia from the White Sea, and on their implications for the knowledge of rangeomorph feeding and physiology, is published by Butterfield (2020).
* A study on the morphology and likely mode of life of Beothukis mistakensis is published by McIlroy et al. (2020).
* Evidence of preservation of internal anatomical structures in cloudinomorph fossils from the Ediacaran Wood Canyon Formation (Nevada, United States) is reported by Schiffbauer et al. (2020), who interpret these structures as probable digestive tracts, and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of cloudinomorphs.
* Fossils of Dickinsonia identical with D. tenuis from the Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite in South Australia are reported from the late Ediacaran Maihar Sandstone of the Bhander Group (India; found in the roof of Auditorium Cave at Bhimbetka rock shelters) by Retallack et al. (2020), who interpret this finding as confirming the assembly of Gondwana by 550 Ma; however, Meert et al. (2023) subsequently reinterpreted purported fossil material of Dickinsonia as an impression resulting from decay of a modern beehive.
* New specimens of Mafangscolex, providing the first detailed information on the anatomy of a proboscis in palaeoscolecids, are described from the Cambrian Xiaoshiba Lagerstätte (Kunming, China) by Yang et al. (2020).
* A study on the type material of a putative Ordovician annelid Haileyia adhaerens is published by Muir & Botting (2020) who find no evidence indicating that H. adhaerens is an annelid, or even a recognizable fossil.
* New hyolithid specimens preserving helens and interior soft tissues, including muscle scars and digestive tracts, are described from the Guanshan Biota (Cambrian Stage 4; Yunnan, China) by Liu et al. (2020).
* Redescription of Acosmia maotiania based on data from new and historic fossil material is published by Howard et al. (2020), who interpret this animal as a stem group ecdysozoan.
* Two types of microscopic reticulate cuticular patterns are described in Cambrian stem-group scalidophorans from the Kuanchuanpu Formation (China) by Wang et al. (2020), who argue that these cuticular networks replicate the cell boundaries of the epidermis.
* A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Facivermis yunnanicus, based on data from the holotype and new specimens, is published by Howard et al. (2020), who consider this species to be a luolishaniid lobopodian.
* New type of a compound eye is identified in specimens of "Anomalocaris" briggsi from the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale (Australia) by Paterson, Edgecombe & García-Bellido (2020), who interpret the eye morphology of "A." briggsi as suggestive of this animal being a mesopelagic species, capable of inhabiting depths of several hundred meters, and likely using its acute, light-sensitive eyes to detect plankton in dim down-welling light.
* An isolated frontal appendage of a miniature hurdiid radiodont (less than half the size of the next smallest radiodont frontal appendage discovered so far) is described from the Ordovician (Tremadocian) Dol-cyn-Afon Formation (Wales, United Kingdom) by Pates et al. (2020), representing the first radiodont reported from the UK, the first record of this group from the palaeocontinent Avalonia, and the first from an environment dominated by sponges rather than euarthropods.
* Barrios-de Pedro, Osuna & Buscalioni (2020) report the discovery of trematode and nematode eggs in coprolites from the Barremian Las Hoyas fossil site (Spain).

## Foraminifera

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
| Carseyella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Schlagintweit | Early Cretaceous (Aptian and Albian) | | Algeria Mexico United States Venezuela | A new genus for "Orbitolina" walnutensis Carsey (1926) and "Dictyoconus" algerianus Cherchi & Schroeder (1982). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. | |

## Other organisms
### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes |
| Annularidens | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Ouyang et al. | Ediacaran | Doushantuo | China | An acritarch. Genus includes new species A. inconditus. |
| Anqiutrichoides | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A multicellular organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a eukaryotic alga. Genus includes new species A. constrictus. |
| Aphralysia anfracta | Sp. nov | Valid | Kopaska-Merkel, Haywick & Keyes | Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) | | United States ( Alabama) | A tubular calcitic microfossil of uncertain affinities |
| Arborea denticulata | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Ediacaran | Dengying | China | A frondose fossil of uncertain affinities. |
| Archaeosporites | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Harper et al. | Early Devonian | Rhynie chert | United Kingdom | A fungus belonging to the group Archaeosporaceae. Genus includes new species A. rhyniensis. |
| Asteridium tubulus | Sp. nov | Valid | Yin et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | | China | An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Attenborites | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Droser et al. | Ediacaran | Rawnsley | Australia | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, described on the basis of a well-defined irregular oval to circular fossil. Genus includes new species A. janeae. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Bispinosphaera vacua | Sp. nov | In press | Ouyang et al. | Ediacaran | Doushantuo | China | An acritarch. |
| Brijax | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Krings & Harper | Devonian | Rhynie chert | United Kingdom | A probable chytrid fungus. Genus includes new species B. amictus. |
| Convolutubus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Vaziri et al. | Ediacaran | | Iran | An organic-walled tubular organism. Genus includes new species C. dargazinensis. |
| Corrugasphaera perfecta | Sp. nov | Valid | Yin et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | | China | An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Crassimembrana | Gen. et 2 sp. nov | In press | Ouyang et al. | Ediacaran | Doushantuo | China | An acritarch. Genus includes new species C. crispans and C. multitunica. |
| Cyanosarcinopsis | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Calça & Fairchild | Permian | Assistência | Brazil | A chroococcacean. Genus includes new species C. hachiroi. |
| Cyathochitina brussai | Sp. nov | In press | De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari | Ordovician (Hirnantian) and Silurian (Rhuddanian) | Brutia Clemville Salar del Rincón Soom Shale | Argentina Belgium Canada Chad Mauritania South Africa Iran? Jordan? Libya? | A chitinozoan. |
| Cyathochitina lariensis | Sp. nov | In press | De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari | Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian | Salar del Rincón | Argentina | A chitinozoan. |
| Cyathochitina punaensis | Sp. nov | In press | De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari | Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian | Salar del Rincón | Argentina | A chitinozoan. |
| Cymatiosphaera spina | Sp. nov | Valid | Yin et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | | China | An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Dichothallus | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Naugolnykh | Permian (early Kungurian) | Philippovian | Russia | A brown alga of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species D. divaricatus. |
| Dictyocyrillium | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Martí Mus, Moczydłowska & Knoll | Tonian | Elbobreen | Norway | A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species D. erythron. |
| Distosphaera jinguadunensis | Sp. nov | In press | Ouyang et al. | Ediacaran | Doushantuo | China | An acritarch. |
| Dongyesphaera | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Yin et al. | Paleoproterozoic | Tianpengnao | China | An acritarch. Genus includes new species D. tenuispina. |
| Eoentophysalis hutuoensis | Sp. nov | In press | Yin et al. | Paleoproterozoic | Hebiancun | China | A cyanobacterium belonging to the family Entophysalidaceae |
| Eosolena magna | Sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A multicellular, eukaryotic alga. |
| Flabellophyton obesum | Sp. nov | Valid | Wan et al. | Ediacaran | | China | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an alga. |
| Flabellophyton stupendum | Sp. nov | In press | Xiao et al. | Ediacaran | Rawnsley Quartzite | Australia | Probably a benthic macroalga. |
| Flabellophyton typicum | Sp. nov | Valid | Wan et al. | Ediacaran | | China | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an alga. |
| Liulingjitaenia irregularis | Sp. nov | In press | Xiao et al. | Ediacaran | Rawnsley Quartzite | Australia | Probably a benthic macroalga. |
| Mengeosphaera matryoshkaformis | Sp. nov | In press | Ouyang et al. | Ediacaran | Doushantuo | China | An acritarch. |
| Nepia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Golubkova in Golubkova & Kochnev | Ediacaran | | Russia | An oscillatorian cyanobacteria. Genus includes new species N. calicina. |
| Noffkarkys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Retallack & Broz | Ediacaran and Cambrian | Arumbera Flathead Grant Bluff Jodhpur Synalds | Australia India United Kingdom United States ( Montana) | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a member of the family Charniidae. Genus includes new species N. storaaslii. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Obamus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Dzaugis et al. | Ediacaran | Rawnsley | Australia | A torus-shaped organism, similar in gross morphology to some poriferans and benthic cnidarians. Genus includes new species O. coronatus. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Ophiocordyceps dominicanus | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar & Vega | Eocene or Miocene | Dominican amber | Dominican Republic | A fungus, a species of Ophiocordyceps. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Palaeomycus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Burmese amber | Myanmar | A fungus described on the basis of pycnidia. Genus includes new species P. epallelus. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Pararenicola gejiazhuangensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A coenocytic alga. |
| Patagonifilum | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Massini et al. | Late Jurassic | La Matilde | Argentina | A cyanobacterium. Genus includes new species P. jurassicum. |
| Plagasphaera | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Yin et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | | China | An organic-walled microfossil. Genus includes new species P. balangensis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Polycephalomyces baltica | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar & Vega | Eocene | Baltic amber | Russia ( Kaliningrad Oblast) | A fungus belonging to the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |
| Proaulopora ordosia | Sp. nov | In press | Liu et al. | Ordovician | Ordos Basin | China | A member of Nostocales. |
| Protoarenicola baishicunensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A coenocytic alga. |
| Protoarenicola shijiacunensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A coenocytic alga. |
| Protographum | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Le Renard et al. | Early Cretaceous | Potomac | United States ( Virginia) | A fungus belonging or related to the family Aulographaceae. Genus includes new species P. luttrellii. |
| Pterospermella vinctusa | Sp. nov | Valid | Yin et al. | Cambrian Stage 4 | | China | An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Ramochitina deynouxi | Sp. nov | In press | De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari | Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian | Salar del Rincón | Argentina Mauritania | A chitinozoan. |
| Sinosabellidites huangshanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | Tonian | Shiwangzhuang | China | A coenocytic alga. |
| Spinachitina titae | Sp. nov | In press | De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari | Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian | Salar del Rincón | Argentina | A chitinozoan. |
| Spiroplasma burmanica | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) | Burmese amber | Myanmar | A bacterium belonging to the group Mollicutes, a species of Spiroplasma. |
| Stomiopeltites shangcunicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Maslova & Tobias in Maslova et al. | Oligocene | Shangcun | China | A fungus belonging to the family Micropeltidaceae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Triskelia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Strullu-Derrien et al. | Devonian | Rhynie Chert | United Kingdom | An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a green alga or a fungus. Genus includes new species T. scotlandica. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. |
| Windipila wimmervoecksii | Sp. nov | Valid | Krings & Harper | Early Devonian | Windyfield | United Kingdom | A fungal reproductive unit. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. |

### Research

* A study on fossilized biopolymers in 3.5–3.3 Ga microbial mats from the Barberton Greenstone Belt (South Africa) is published by Hickman-Lewis, Westall & Cavalazzi (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that Bacteria and Archaea flourished together in Earth's earliest ecosystems.
* Putative ciliate fossils from the Cryogenian Taishir Formation (Tsagaan Olom Group, Zavkhan Terrane, Mongolia) are reinterpreted as more likely to be algal reproductive structures by Cohen, Vizcaíno & Anderson (2020), who also report the first occurrence of these fossils in the earliest Ediacaran Ol Formation.
* The discovery of fungal fossils in an 810 to 715 million year old dolomitic shale from the Mbuji-Mayi Supergroup (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is reported by Bonneville et al. (2020), representing the oldest, molecularly identified remains of Fungi reported so far.
* Specimens of Palaeopascichnus linearis living before the Gaskiers glaciation are described from marine strata within the Rocky Harbour Formation by Liu & Tindal (2020), representing the oldest documented macrofossils from the Ediacaran successions of Newfoundland reported so far.
* A study on the developmental biology and phylogenetic relationships of Helicoforamina wenganica is published by Yin et al. (2020).
* A study on the morphology and affinities of a putative early sponge Namapoikia rietoogensis is published by Mehra et al. (2020), who argue that Namapoikia lacked the physical characteristics expected of an animal.
* A study on the morphology and inner ultrastructure of exceptionally preserved chitinozoan specimens from the Ordovician of Estonia, the United States and Russia is published by Liang et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence of a protist affinity of chitinozoans.

## Trace fossils

* A study on patterns of ecosystem engineering behaviors across the Permian-Triassic boundary, as indicated by data from trace fossils, and on their possible impact on ecosystem recovery in the benthic environment in the aftermath of the Permian–Triassic extinction event is published by Cribb & Bottjer (2020).
* New fossil tracks, probably produced by a pterygote insect, are described from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Botucatu Formation (Brazil) by Peixoto et al. (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Paleohelcura araraquarensis, and evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of ecological relationships within the Botucatu paleodesert.
* A new assemblage of nests produced by social insects is described from the Brushy Basin Member of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Utah, United States) by Smith, Loewen & Kirkland (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Eopolis ekdalei.
* New tetrapod trackways are described from the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the South African Karoo Basin by Cisneros et al. (2020), who interpret these tracks as produced by small amphibians, and consider them to be evidence that the diversity of Guadalupian amphibians of the Karoo Basin was greater than indicated by body fossils alone.
* Mujal & Schoch (2020) describe amphibian tracks from the Middle Triassic Erfurt Formation (Germany, probably produced by capitosaurid temnospondyls, and evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of the locomotion and habitats of temnospondyls.
* Fossil tracks likely produced by early amniotes are described from the Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) Manakacha Formation (Arizona, United States) by Rowland, Caputo & Jensen (2020), who interpret these tracks as evidence of early adaptation of amniotes to eolian dunefield deserts, as well as the first documented occurrence of a lateral-sequence gait in the pre-Miocene tetrapod fossil record.
* Revision of Pachypes-like footprints from the Cisuralian–Guadalupian of Europe and North America is published by Marchetti et al. (2020), who date the earliest known occurrence of Pachypes to the Artinskian, interpret the footprints belonging to the ichnospecies Pachypes ollieri as produced by nycteroleter pareiasauromorphs, and argue that the earliest occurrences of pareiasauromorph footprints precede the earliest occurrence of this group in the skeletal record by at least 10 million years.
* The first known fossil example of an iguana nesting burrow is reported from the Pleistocene Grotto Beach Formation (The Bahamas) by Martin et al. (2020).
* Fossil tracks possibly produced by a monjurosuchid-like choristoderan are described from the Albian Daegu Formation (South Korea) by Lee, Kong & Jung (2020), who attempt to determine the trackmaker's locomotory posture on land, and name a new ichnotaxon Novapes ulsanensis.
* New Early Triassic archosauriform track assemblage is described from the Gardetta Plateau (Western Alps, Italy) by Petti et al. (2020), who interpret this finding as evidence of the presence of archosauriforms at low latitudes soon after the Permian–Triassic extinction event, and name a new ichnotaxon Isochirotherium gardettensis.
* Fossil tracks produced by large crocodylomorphs, possibly moving bipedally, are described from the Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation (South Korea) by Kim et al. (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Batrachopus grandis.
* The first probable deinonychosaur (likely troodontid) tracks from Canada are described from the Campanian Wapiti Formation (Alberta) by Enriquez et al. (2020).
* Three sauropod trackways, probably produced by members of Titanosauriformes, are described from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of the Castelbouc cave (France) by Moreau et al. (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Occitanopodus gandi.
* New dinosaur tracks, including tracks representing the ichnogenus Deltapodus (probably produced by stegosaurians), are described from the Middle Jurassic of the Isle of Skye (Scotland, United Kingdom) by dePolo et al. (2020), expanding known diversity of dinosaur tracks from this locality.
* A review of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur tracksites of Bolivia is published by Meyer et al. (2020), who describe new dinosaur tracksites from the Chuquisaca and Potosi departments, and report parallel trackways of subadult ankylosaurs interpreted as evidence of social behavior amongst these dinosaurs.
* A study on Pleistocene bird tracks from the Cape south coast of South Africa is published by Helm et al. (2020), who report six tracksites with tracks produced by large birds, possibly indicating the existence of large Pleistocene forms of extant bird taxa.
* Mazin & Pouech (2020) describe non-pterodactyloid pterosaur tracks from the ichnological site known as "the Pterosaur Beach of Crayssac" (Tithonian; south-western France), evaluate the implications of these tracks for the knowledge of the terrestrial capabilities of non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs, and name a new ichnogenus Rhamphichnus.
* Dinosaur and synapsid tracks are described from the Pliensbachian-Toarcian of the northern main Karoo Basin (South Africa) by Bordy et al. (2020), who interpret these tracks as evidence that dinosaurs and synapsids were among the last inhabitants of the main Karoo Basin some 183 million years ago, and name a new ichnotaxon Afrodelatorrichnus ellenbergeri (likely of ornithischian affinity).
* New complex burrow system produced by geomyid rodents is described from the Oligocene Chilapa Formation (Mexico) by Guerrero-Arenas, Jiménez-Hidalgo & Genise (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Yaviichnus iniyooensis, and interpret the complexity of these burrows as probable evidence of some degree of gregariousness of their producers.

## History of life in general

* Bobrovskiy et al. (2020) and van Maldegem et al. (2020) argue that putative sponge biomarkers can be generated from algal sterols, and interpret their findings as undermining the interpretation of biomarkers found in Precambrian rocks posited as evidence of existence of animals before the latest Ediacaran.
* Liu & Dunn (2020), describe filamentous organic structures preserved among frond-dominated fossil assemblages from the Ediacaran of Newfoundland (Canada), including filaments that appear to directly connect individual specimens of one rangeomorph taxon, and interpret this finding as possible evidence that Ediacaran frondose taxa were clonal.
* A study on the age of the Ediacaran biota from the Conception and St. John's Groups at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve (Newfoundland, Canada) is published by Matthews et al. (2020).
* Approximately 563-million-year-old Ediacaran biota is reported from the Itajaí Basin (Brazil) by Becker-Kerber et al. (2020), representing the first record of Ediacaran macrofossils from Gondwana in deposits of similar age to the Avalon biota.
* An Ediacaran Lagerstätte with phosphatized animal-like eggs, embryos, acritarchs and cyanobacteria is reported from the Portfjeld Formation (Peary Land, Greenland) by Willman et al. (2020), representing the first record of a Doushantuo type preservation of fossils (with diagenetic phosphate replacement of originally organic material) from Laurentia reported so far.
* A study on biomarkers from Ediacaran sediments in the White Sea area is published by Bobrovskiy et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that eukaryotic algae were abundant among the food sources available for the Ediacaran biota.
* A study aiming to quantify changes of regional-scale diversity in marine fossils across time and space throughout the Phanerozoic is published by Close et al. (2020).
* A study on the structure of the Phanerozoic fossil record, aiming to determine relative impacts of extinctions and evolutionary radiations on the co-occurrence of species throughout the Phanerozoic, is published by Hoyal Cuthill, Guttenberg & Budd (2020), who argue that their findings refute any direct causal relationship between the proportionally most comparable mass radiations and extinctions.
* A study on the timing of known diversification and extinction events from Cambrian to Triassic, based on data from 11,000 marine fossil species, is published by Fan et al. (2020).
* The discovery of a new, exceptionally-preserved Cambrian biota, with fossils belonging to multiple phyla, is reported from the Guzhangian Longha Formation (Yunnan, China) by Peng et al. (2020).
* A study on changes in body size in skeletal animals from the Siberian Platform through the early Cambrian is published by Zhuravlev & Wood (2020).
* A study on the relationship between body size and extinction risk in the marine fossil record across the past 485 million years is published by Payne & Heim (2020).
* A study on the diversification rates of Ordovician animals living on hard substrates, aiming to determine when they experienced their greatest origination rates, is published by Franeck & Liow (2020).
* New information on the biotic composition of the Silurian Waukesha Lagerstätte (Wisconsin, United States) is presented by Wendruff et al. (2020), who report a biodiversity far richer than previously reported, and explore the taphonomic history of the fossils of this biota.
* A study on the diversity dynamics of the marine brachiopods, bivalves and gastropods throughout the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age is published by Seuss, Roden & Kocsis (2020).
* A study comparing the chemistry of fossil soft tissues of invertebrates and vertebrates from the Carboniferous Mazon Creek fossil beds (Illinois, United States) is published by McCoy et al. (2020), who report Tullimonstrum gregarium as grouping with vertebrates in their analysis.
* A study on the ages of known early–middle Permian tetrapod-bearing geological formations, as indicated by Bayesian tip dating methods, is published by Brocklehurst (2020), who interprets his findings as supporting the occurrence of the Olson's Extinction.
* A study on global infaunal response to the Permian–Triassic extinction event, as indicated by data from trace fossils, is published by Luo et al. (2020).
* A study on changes of marine latitudinal diversity gradient caused by the Permian–Triassic mass extinction is published by Song et al. (2020).
* A study on the latitudinal variation in Late Triassic tetrapod diversity, aiming to determine the relationship between latitudinal species richness and palaeoclimatic conditions, is published by Dunne et al. (2020).
* Description of new fossil material of Late Triassic tetrapods from the Hoyada del Cerro Las Lajas site (Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina), and a study on the age of tetrapod fossils from this site (including fossils of Pisanosaurus mertii) and their implications for the knowledge of the Late Triassic tetrapod evolution, is published by Desojo et al. (2020).
* A review of the evidence of a major change in ecological community structure during the Carnian, focusing on the temporal links of these biological changes with the Carnian Pluvial Event and on the role of volcanic eruptions and associated climate change as a possible trigger, is published by Dal Corso et al. (2020).
* An assemblage of fossilized vomits and coprolites is described from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) Reingraben Shales in Polzberg (Austria) by Lukeneder et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of these bromalites for the knowledge of pelagic invertebrates-vertebrates trophic chain of the Late Triassic Polzberg biota, and interpret their finding as evidence indicating that the Mesozoic marine revolution has already started in the early Mesozoic.
* A study on the dynamics of the Adamanian/Revueltian faunal turnover, based on fossil data from the Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, United States), is published by Hayes et al. (2020).
* A study on the palynological record from the Carnian–Norian transition in the western Barents Sea region is published by Klausen, Paterson & Benton (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that major sea-level changes across the vast delta plains situated in the northern Pangaea might have triggered terrestrial turnovers during the Carnian–Norian transition and facilitated the gradual rise of the dinosaurs to ecosystem dominance.
* Wignall & Atkinson (2020) argue that the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event can be resolved into two distinct, short-lived extinction pulses separated by a several hundred-thousand-year interlude phase.
* A study on changes in shell size of marine bivalves and brachiopods from the Iberian Basin (Spain) across the Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, aiming to determine the role of temperature for changes in body size of bivalves and brachiopods, is published by Piazza, Ullmann & Aberhan (2020).
* A study on the impact of warming and disturbance of the carbon cycle during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event on marine benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages from the Iberian Basin is published by Piazza, Ullmann & Aberhan (2020).
* A study on the persistence and abundance of an association of serpulids and hydroids during the Middle and Late Jurassic is published by Słowiński et al. (2020).
* Foster, Pagnac & Hunt-Foster (2020) describe the Late Jurassic biota from the Little Houston Quarry in the Black Hills of Wyoming, including the vertebrate fauna which is the second-most diverse in the entire Morrison Formation and the most diverse north of Como Bluff.
* A study on the age of the Huajiying Formation (China) and its implications for the knowledge of the timing of appearance and duration of the Jehol Biota is published by Yang et al. (2020).
* A study on the age of the biota from the Cretaceous Burmese amber from Hkamti is published by Xing & Qiu (2020).
* A study on extinction patterns of marine vertebrates during the last 20 million years of the Late Cretaceous, as indicated by fossils from northern Gulf of Mexico, is published by Ikejiri, Lu & Zhang (2020), who report evidence of two separate extinction events: one in the Campanian, and one at the end of the Maastrichtian.
* Rodríguez-Tovar et al. (2020) present evidence from trace fossils from the Chicxulub crater indicating that full recovery of the macrobenthic biota from this area was rapid, with the establishment of a well-developed tiered community within ~700 thousand years.
* A study on the impact of the early Cenozoic hyperthermal events on shallow marine benthic communities, based on data from fossils from the Gulf Coastal Plain, is published by Foster et al. (2020).
* A study on the geology and fauna (including hominins) of the new Mille-Logya site (Afar, Ethiopia) dated to between 2.914 and 2.443 Ma is published by Zeresenay Alemseged et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this site for the knowledge of how hominins and other fauna responded to environmental changes during this period.
* Studies on the magnitude and likely causes of megafaunal extinctions in the Indian subcontinent during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene are published by Jukar et al. (2020) and Turvey et al. (2020).
* A new, diverse megafauna assemblage that suffered extinction sometime after 40,100 (±1700) years ago is reported from the South Walker Creek fossil deposits (Queensland, Australia) by Hocknull et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this assemblage for prevailing megafauna extinction hypotheses for Sahul.
* A study on ancient DNA of vertebrates and plants recovered from fossils and sediment from Hall's Cave (Edwards Plateau, Texas, United States), evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the climatic fluctuations from the Pleistocene to the Holocene on the local ecosystem, is published by Seersholm et al. (2020).
* A study on the phylogenetic relationships of early amniotes, recovering Parareptilia and Varanopidae as nested within Diapsida, will be published by Ford & Benson (2020), who name a new clade Neoreptilia.
* Regional-scale diversity patterns for terrestrial tetrapods throughout their entire Phanerozoic evolutionary history are presented by Close et al. (2020), who attempt to determine how informative the fossil record is about true global paleodiversity.
* A study on the impact of the appearance and evolution of herbivorous tetrapods on the evolution of land plants from the Carboniferous to the Early Triassic is published by Brocklehurst, Kammerer & Benson (2020).
* A study the terrestrial and marine fossil record of Late Permian to Late Triassic tetrapods, comparing species-level tetrapod biodiversity across latitudinal bins, is published by Allen et al. (2020).
* In a study published by Chiarenza et al. (2020) the two main hypotheses for the mass extinction (the Deccan Traps and the Chicxulub impact) were evaluated using Earth System and Ecologial modelling, confirming that the asteroid impact was the main driver of this extinction while the volcanism might have boosted the recovery instead.
* Bishop, Cuff & Hutchinson (2020) outline a workflow for integrating paleontological data with biomechanical principles and modeling techniques in order to create musculoskeletal models and study locomotor biomechanics of extinct animals, using Coelophysis as a case study.
* Saitta et al. (2020) propose a framework for studying sexual dimorphism in non-avian dinosaurs and other extinct taxa, focusing on likely secondary sexual traits and testing against all alternate hypotheses for variation in the fossil record.
* A study evaluating the utility of rare earth element profiles as proxies for biomolecular preservation in fossil bones, based on data from a specimen of Edmontosaurus annectens from the Standing Rock Hadrosaur Site (Hell Creek Formation; South Dakota, United States), is published by Ullmann et al. (2020).
* A study on the diversity and evolution of skull and jaw functions in sabre-toothed carnivores during the last 265 million years is published by Lautenschlager et al. (2020).

## Other research

* Evidence indicating that the Great Oxidation Event predated Paleoproterozoic glaciation in Russia and snowball Earth deposits in South Africa is presented by Warke et al. (2020), who argue that their findings preclude hypotheses of Earth's oxygenation in which global glaciation preceded or caused the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis.
* A study on the timing of the onset and termination of the Shuram carbon isotope excursion is published by Rooney et al. (2020), who argue that this excursion was divorced from the rise of the earliest preserved animal ecosystems.
* A study on the causes of the Late Ordovician mass extinction, based on data from the Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype (Dob's Linn, Scotland), is published by Bond & Grasby (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence that this extinction event was caused by volcanism, warming and anoxia.
* Evidence of wildfires at the Frasnian−Famennian boundary is reported from Upper Devonian sections from western New York (United States) by Liu et al. (2020), who also provide an estimate of atmospheric O$_2$ levels at this interval, and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of causes of the Late Devonian extinction.
* A study on the timing of the environmental changes associated with the Kellwasser events is published by Da Silva et al. (2020).
* Evidence of anomalously high mercury concentration in marine deposits encompassing the Hangenberg event from Carnic Alps (Italy and Austria) is presented by Rakociński et al. (2020), who argue that methylmercury poisoning in otherwise anoxic seas, caused by extensive volcanic activity, could be a direct kill mechanism of the end-Devonian Hangenberg extinction.
* A study on fossil plant spores with malformed sculpture and pigmented walls, recovered from terrestrial Devonian-Carboniferous boundary sections from East Greenland, is published by Marshall et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence that the terrestrial mass extinction at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary coincided with elevated UV-B radiation, indicative of ozone layer reduction.
* Fields et al. (2020) attempt to determine whether the dramatic drop in stratospheric ozone coinciding with the end-Devonian extinction events was caused by a nearby supernova explosion.
* A series of articles on the biostratigraphy of the Karoo Supergroup, providing a formal biozonation scheme for the Stormberg Group and dividing the Beaufort and Stormberg groups into nine tetrapod assemblage zones, is published in the June 2020 issue of the South African Journal of Geology.
* A study on the age of a pristine ash-fall deposit in the Karoo Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone (South Africa) is published by Gastaldo et al. (2020), who report that turnover from the Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone to Lystrosaurus AZ in this basin occurred over 300 ka before the end-Permian marine event, and interpret their findings as refuting the concurrentness of turnovers in terrestrial and marine ecosystems at the end of the Permian.
* A study evaluating the contribution of loss of ecosystems on land and consequent massive terrestrial biomass oxidation to atmosphere–ocean biogeochemistry at the Permian–Triassic boundary is published by Dal Corso et al. (2020).
* A study aiming to determine the mechanism that drove vast stretches of the ocean to an anoxic state during the Permian–Triassic extinction event is published by Schobben et al. (2020).
* Evidence indicating that the Permian–Triassic extinction event was linked with ocean acidification due to carbon degassing from the Siberian sill intrusions is presented by Jurikova et al. (2020).
* Evidence from paired coronene and mercury spikes in stratigraphic sections in south China and Italy, indicative of the occurrence of two pulsed volcanic eruption events coinciding with the initiation of the end-Permian terrestrial ecological disturbance and marine extinction, is presented by Kaiho et al. (2020).
* A study on variations of ~10-Myr scale monsoon dynamics during the early Mesozoic, and on their impact on climate and ecosystem dynamics (including the dispersal of early dinosaurs), is published by Ikeda, Ozaki & Legrand (2020).
* New geochronologic and paleoclimatic data from Carnian-aged strata in the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin (Argentina) is presented by Mancuso et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that the Carnian Pluvial Event interval in western Gondwana was warmer and more humid than periods before or after this interval, confirming that the CPE was a global event.
* A study on the age of the top of the Moenkopi Formation, the lower Blue Mesa Member, and the lower and upper Sonsela Member of the Chinle Formation is published by Rasmussen et al. (2020), who argue that the biotic turnover preserved in the mid-Sonsela Member at the Petrified Forest National Park was a mid-Norian event.
* A study on ocean temperatures during the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event is published by Petryshyn et al. (2020), who report no evidence for short-term cooling or initial warming across the 1-80,000 years of the extinction event.
* Evidence of low ocean sulfate levels at the end-Triassic mass extinction, linked to rapid development of marine anoxia, is presented by He et al. (2020).
* A study on the causes of the negative organic carbon isotope excursion associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction, based on data from its type locality in the Bristol Channel Basin (United Kingdom), is published by Fox et al. (2020), who interpret this isotopic excursion as caused by an abrupt relative sea level drop rather than by massive inputs of exogenous light carbon into the atmosphere, and argue that the disappearance of marine biota at the type locality is the result of local environmental changes and does not mark the global extinction event, while the main extinction phase occurred slightly later in marine strata.
* Evidence of increasing atmospheric CO$_2$ concentration at the onset of the end-Triassic extinction event, based on data from fossil leaves of the seed fern Lepidopteris ottonis from southern Sweden, is presented by Slodownik, Vajda & Steinthorsdottir (2020).
* A review of the geology, paleoecology and taxonomic status of the fauna from the Cretaceous Kem Kem Beds of Morocco is published by Ibrahim et al. (2020).
* Klages et al. (2020) report evidence from the West Antarctic shelf indicating the occurrence of a temperate lowland rainforest environment at a palaeolatitude of about 82° S during the Late Cretaceous (Turonian–Santonian).
* A review and revision of the stratigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation is published by Fowler (2020).
* A study on the timing of a volcanic outgassing at the end of the Cretaceous, and on its implications for the knowledge of causes of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction, is published by Hull et al. (2020).
* A study on paleosols from the eastern edge of the Deccan Volcanic Province (central India), evaluating their implications for reconstructions of climate and terrestrial environments of India before and after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event and for the knowledge of causes of this extinction event, is published by Dzombak et al. (2020).
* A detailed record of molecular burn markers from the Chicxulub crater and in ocean sediments distant from the impact site is presented by Lyons et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating rapid heating after the impact and a fossil carbon source, and argue that soot from the target rock immediately contributed to global cooling and darkening after the impact at the end of the Cretaceous.
* A study on the origin, recovery, and development of microbial life in the Chicxulub crater after the impact at the end of the Cretaceous, and on the environmental conditions in the crater up to ~4 million years after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, is published by Schaefer et al. (2020).
* A study on Earth's climate throughout the Cenozoic era, based on a highly resolved and well-dated record of benthic carbon and oxygen isotopes from deep-sea foraminifera, is published by Westerhold et al. (2020).
* Van Couvering & Delson (2020) define 17 African land mammal ages covering the Cenozoic record of the Afro-Arabian continent.
* A study on the amount and makeup of the carbon added to the ocean during the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, based on geochemical data from planktic foraminifera, is published by Haynes & Hönisch (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that volcanic emissions were the main carbon source responsible for PETM warming.
* Evidence from Eocene plant fossils from the Bangong-Nujiang suture indicating that the Tibetan Plateau area hosted a diverse subtropical ecosystem approximately 47 million years ago and that this area was both low and humid at the time is presented by Su et al. (2020).
* A study on the climate evolution across the Oligocene, examining the relationship between global temperatures and continental-scale polar ice sheets following the establishment of ice sheets on Antarctica, is published by O'Brien et al. (2020).
* A study aiming to test the hypothesis that the emergence of the Southeast Asian islands played a significant role in driving the cooling of Earth's climate since the Miocene Climatic Optimum is published by Park et al. (2020).
* A study on the environment at Olduvai Gorge at the emergence of the Acheulean technology 1.7 million years ago, based on data from fossil lipid biomarkers, is published by Sistiaga et al. (2020).
* A study on freshwater fauna and flora found in a sediment sample from the Yuka mammoth carcass, evaluating its implications for reconstructions of the waterbody type where the mammoth was preserved and for the knowledge of the nature of the waterbodies that existed in Beringia during the MIS3 climatic optimum, is published by Neretina et al. (2020).
* A study on the Neogene paleobotanical record and climate in the northernmost part of the Central Andean Plateau, based on data from the Descanso Formation (Peru), is published by Martínez et al. (2020), who report the earliest evidence of a puna-like ecosystem in the Pliocene and a montane ecosystem without modern analogs in the Miocene, as well as evidence of wetter paleoclimatic conditions than previously estimated by regional climate model simulations.
* A study on environmental changes in Southeast Asia from the Early Pleistocene to the Holocene, based on stable isotope data from Southeast Asian mammals, and on their impact on the evolution of mammals (including hominins), is published by Louys & Roberts (2020).
* A study on the climate variability in the southwest Indian Ocean area throughout the past ~8000 years, evaluating its implications for the knowledge of possible causes of extinction of megafauna from Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, is published by Li et al. (2020).
* Van Neer et al. (2020) report faunal remains from the Takarkori rock shelter in the Acacus Mountains region (Libya), and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of the climate and hydrography of the Sahara throughout the Holocene.
* New Mesozoic and Paleogene amber occurrences, preserving diverse inclusions of arthropods, plants and fungi, are reported from Australia and New Zealand by Stilwell et al. (2020).