# 2012 in paleontology

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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 2012.
Note: In 2012, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature was amended, with new regulations allowing the publication of new names and nomenclatural acts in zoology after 2011, in works "produced in an edition containing simultaneously obtainable copies by a method that assures (...) widely accessible electronic copies with fixed content and layout", provided that the work is registered in ZooBank before it is published, the work itself states the date of publication with evidence that registration has occurred, and the ZooBank registration states both the name of an electronic archive intended to preserve the work and the ISSN or ISBN associated with the work. New scientific names appearing in electronic works are not required to be registered in ZooBank, only the works themselves are. Works containing descriptions of some of the taxa listed below were not printed on paper in 2012; however, the taxa that were described in works which were registered in ZooBank in 2012 are listed as valid.

## Arthropods

The following is a summary of the arthropods described in 2012
* 41 arachnids
* 105 crustaceans
* 362 insects
* 5 merostomatans
* 51 trilobites
* 9 other arthropods

## Bryozoans

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Acupipora | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Gorjunova & Weiss | Late Carboniferous | | Russia | A member of Fenestellida. The type species is "Polypora" subborealis Schulga-Nesterenko (1951). |
| Admirandopora | Nom. nov. | Valid | Ariunchimeg | Lower Carboniferous | | Mongolia | A replacement name for the genus Admiranda Ariunchimeg, 1996. |
| Antoniettella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Di Martino & Taylor | Early or middle Miocene | | Indonesia | A cribrimorph ascophoran. The type species is Antoniettella exigua. |
| Argentinodictya | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Carrera | Late Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Argentina | A cryptostome bryozoan, a member of Ptilodictyina. The type species is Argentinodictya lenticulata. |
| Bigeyina ibera | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Celleporina medoborensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Hara & Jasionowski | Miocene (early Sarmatian) | | Ukraine | A celleporid cheilostome bryozoan, a species of Celleporina. |
| Chasmatopora rossae | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Carrera | Late Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Argentina | A phyloporinine, a species of Chasmatopora. |
| Dissotrypa punctata | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Dissotrypa robusta | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Eosemicoscinium serratum | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Hemitrypa cantabrica | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Iberofenestella | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. Genus includes new species I. wolfae. |
| Lunostoma | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ernst, Taylor, Bohatý & Wyse Jackson | Middle Devonian | | Germany | A cryptostome bryozoan. The type species is Lunostoma pulchra. |
| Parvohallopora parvula | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Carrera | Late Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Argentina | A trepostome bryozoan, a species of Parvohallopora. |
| Paucipora akishinensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Gorjunova & Weiss | Late Carboniferous (Moscovian) | Domodedovo Formation | Russia | A member of Fenestellida. |
| Prolixicella ibera | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Prolixicella parva | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Ptilodictya intermedia | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Carrera | Late Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Argentina | A cryptostome bryozoan, a species of Ptilodictya. |
| Pyrisinella | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Di Martino & Taylor | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Peedee Formation Prairie Bluff Chalk Ripley Formation | United States | A member of Cheilostomata belonging to the family Pyrisinellidae. The type species is "Setosinella" meniscacantha Taylor & McKinney (2006). |
| Rectifenestella elegantula | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Rectifenestella villayandrensis | Sp. nov. | Valid | Ernst | Devonian | | Spain | A member of Fenestrata. |
| Rorypora | Gen. et comb. nov. | Valid | Taylor | Jurassic | | Switzerland | A new genus for "Diastopora" retiformis. |
| Setosinella perfluxa | Sp. nov | Valid | Di Martino & Taylor | Miocene (Langhian) | | Indonesia | A member of Cheilostomata belonging to the family Pyrisinellidae. |
| Spinisinella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Di Martino & Taylor | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | | Czech Republic  Germany | A member of Cheilostomata belonging to the family Pyrisinellidae. The type species is S. zagorseki. |
| Trigonodictya parvula | Sp. nov | Valid | Ernst & Carrera | Late Ordovician (Sandbian) | | Argentina | A cryptostome bryozoan, a species of Trigonodictya. |

## Brachiopods

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Amydroptychus markowitzi | sp nov | Valid | Feldman et al. | Callovian | Mughanniyya Formation | Jordan | A tetrarhynchiid rhynchonellide, a species of Amydroptychus. |
| Anisopleurella tricostata | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the group Plectambonitoidea and the family Sowerbyellidae. |
| Bolilaspirifer riccardii | Sp. nov | Valid | Manceñido in Damborenea & Manceñido | Late Triassic | | Argentina | A lepismatinid brachiopod, a species of Bolilaspirifer. |
| Burrirhynchia angustisinuata | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Burrirhynchia latimarginata | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Burrirhynchia oweni | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Burrirhynchia subgrasiana | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Callositella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Orthida belonging to the group Enteletoidea and the family Saukrodictyidae. The type species is C. cheeneetnukensis. |
| Christiania aseptata | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Christianiidae. |
| Cincinnetina | Gen, sp. et comb. nov | Valid | Jin | Late Ordovician | | United States | A dalmanellid brachiopod, with C. multisecta, C. meeki, C. minnesotensis |
| Craspedelia potterella | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the group Plectambonitoidea and the family Bimuriidae. |
| Crurithyris tazawai | sp nov | Valid | He et al.. | Late Permian (Changhsingian) | | China | An ambocoeliid brachiopod, a species of Crurithyris. |
| Cyclothyris aliformis | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Cyclothyris alikentica | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Cyclothyris burgemakensis | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Cyclothyris dagestanica | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Cyclothyris tenuicostata | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Cyclothyris zudakharica | sp nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Burrirhynchia. |
| Daghanirhynchia susanae | Species | Valid | Feldman et al. | Callovian | Mughanniyya Formation | Jordan | A tetrarhynchiid rhynchonellide, a species of Daghanirhynchia. |
| Duolobella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Orthida belonging to the group Orthoidea and the family Orthidae. The type species is D. sandiae. |
| Eodmitria anauris | sp nov | Valid | Oleneva | Late Devonian (middle Frasnian) | | Russia | A cyrtospiriferid spiriferid, a species of Eodmitria. |
| Gatosella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Benedetto | Middle Ordovician (early Darriwilian) | San Juan Formation | Argentina | A plectambonitoid brachiopod. The type species is Gatosella muricata. |
| Gelidorthis perisiberiaensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Orthida belonging to the group Plectorthoidea and the family Plectorthidae. |
| Gracianella (Sublepida) paulula | sp nov | Valid | Baliński | Early Devonian | Khudykivtsi Beds | Ukraine | An atrypinid brachiopod, a species of Gracianella. |
| Kentronetes giae | Sp. nov | Valid | Racheboeuf in Racheboeuf et al. | Devonian (Lochkovian) | Uncía Formation | Bolivia | A chonetoid brachiopod belonging to the family Strophochonetidae. |
| Kuangshanotreta | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Wang et al. | Early Cambrian | Heilinpu Formation | China | An acrotretoid, a member of Lingulata. The type species is Kuangshanotreta malungensis. |
| Kudrjavzevina | Gen. et 3 sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide. Genus contains 3 species: K. ulluchaensis, K. regularis and K. fragilis. |
| Lamellaerhynchia latiovalis | Sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A praecyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Lamellaerhynchia. |
| Leptaena (Septomena) alaskensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Rafinesquinidae. |
| Lobachevina | Gen. et 2 sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A cyclothyridid rhynchonellide. Genus contains 2 new species: L. angusteinis and L. vagus. |
| Lynnica | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Madison | Ordovician | | Russia | A member of Strophomenida. The type species is Lynnica fragilis. |
| Merglia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Franke | Devonian | | Germany  Luxembourg | A member of the family Craniidae. The type species is "Philhedra" schwerdi Drevermann (1902). |
| Orthothrix sudoi | Sp. nov | Valid | Tazawa | Permian (Changhsingian) | Toyoma Formation | Japan | A member of Productida belonging to the suborder Strophalosiidina and the family Strophalosiidae. |
| Oanduporella kuskokwimensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Orthida belonging to the group Enteletoidea and the family Draboviidae. |
| Palaeowingella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Orthida belonging to the group Orthoidea and the family Orthidae. The type species is P. farewellensis. |
| Petrocrania fabisziskyi | Sp. nov | Valid | Franke | Devonian | | Germany  Luxembourg | A member of the family Craniidae. |
| Petrocrania krautscheidensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Franke | Devonian | | Germany  Luxembourg | A member of the family Craniidae. |
| Plectodonta mariae pantherae | Subsp nov | Valid | Baliński | Early Devonian | Khudykivtsi Beds | Ukraine | A sowerbyellid brachiopod, a subspecies of Plectodonta mariae. |
| Ptychoglyptus alaensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the group Plectambonitoidea and the family Sowerbyellidae. |
| Rotutaspirifer | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Oleneva | Late Devonian (middle Frasnian) | | Russia | A cyrtospiriferid spiriferid. The type species is Rotutaspirifer rotutus. |
| Sanjuanetes glemareci | Sp. nov | Valid | Racheboeuf in Racheboeuf et al. | Silurian (Přídolí) | Muruhuta Shale Member | Bolivia | A chonetoid brachiopod belonging to the family Strophochonetidae. |
| Sharovaella | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pakhnevich | Late Devonian (Famennian) | | Russia | A punctate rhynchonellide brachiopod. The type species is Sharovaella mirabilis. |
| Skenidioides tatyanae | sp nov | Valid | Baliński | Early Devonian | Khudykivtsi Beds | Ukraine | A skenidiid brachiopod, a species of Skenidioides. |
| Sowerbyella (Rugosowerbyella) praecursor | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the group Plectambonitoidea and the family Sowerbyellidae. |
| Sowerbyella (Sowerbyella) rectangularis | Sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Late Ordovician | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the group Plectambonitoidea and the family Sowerbyellidae. |
| Strophatrypa | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Boucot, Blodgett & Rohr | Late Silurian | | United States | A member of Atrypida belonging to the family Atrypidae. The type species is S. skaflestadi. |
| Sulcirhynchia insolitus | Sp. nov | Valid | Smirnova | Early Cretaceous | | Russia | A praecyclothyridid rhynchonellide, a species of Sulcirhynchia. |
| Terrakea nabekoshiyamensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Tazawa | Permian (Changhsingian) | Toyoma Formation | Japan | A member of Productida belonging to the suborder Productidina and the family Linoproductidae. |
| Transridgeia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rasmussen, Harper & Blodgett | Ordovician (late Darriwilian–early Sandbian) | Farewell Terrane | United States | A member of Strophomenida belonging to the family Strophomenidae. The type species is T. costata. |

## Molluscs

The following is a summary of the Molluscs described in 2012
* 54 ammonites
* 14 other cephalopods
* 52 gastropods
* 15 other molluscs

## Echinoderms

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Anatifopsis fillmorensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Sumrall et al. | Early Ordovician | | United States | A mitrate, a species of Anatifopsis. |
| Anatifopsis ninemilensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Sumrall et al. | Early Ordovician | McKelligon Canyon Formation Ninemile Shale | United States | A mitrate, a species of Anatifopsis. |
| Andymetra | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A comatulid crinoid. The type species is Andymetra galei. |
| Aorocrinus meyeri | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich & Roeser | Late Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A camerate crinoid, a species of Aorocrinus. |
| Aphelecrinus gracilis | Sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid, a species of Aphelecrinus. |
| Apiocrinites negevensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich & Wilson | Middle Jurassic (Callovian) | Matmor Formation | Israel | An apiocrinitid crinoid, a species of Apiocrinites. |
| Aryballocrinus martini | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich & Roeser | Late Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A camerate crinoid, a species of Aryballocrinus. |
| Atelestocrinus meszarosi | Sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid, a species of Atelestocrinus. |
| Brissopsis (Kleinia) riccardii | Sp. nov | Valid | Parma | Eocene to Oligocene or early Miocene | | Argentina | A brissopsid echinoid, a species of Brissopsis. |
| Calceocrinus balticensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich, Wilson & Vinn | Silurian (Llandovery) | | Estonia | A disparid crinoid belonging to the group Calceocrinida. |
| Ctenoimbricata | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zamora, Rahman & Smith | Cambrian | | Spain | A stem group echinoderm. The type species is Ctenoimbricata spinosa. |
| Cuyahogacrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid. The type species is Cuyahogacrinus lodiensis. |
| Cyathocrinites simplex | Sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid, a species of Cyathocrinites. |
| Cyrtocrinus praenutans | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A cyrtocrinid crinoid, a species of Cyrtocrinus. |
| Desmidocrinus laevigatus | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich, Wilson & Vinn | Silurian (Pridoli) | Kaugatuma Formation | Estonia | A camerate crinoid belonging to the group Monobathrida. |
| Diploblastus fadigai | Sp. nov | Valid | Atwood & Sumrall | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | Glen Dean Formation | United States | A blastoid, a species of Diploblastus. |
| Drepanocystis | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sumrall et al. | Early Ordovician | Wah Wah Limestone | USA | A possible solute. The type species is Drepanocystis dubius. |
| Eucalyptocrinites tumidus | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich, Wilson & Vinn | Silurian (Pridoli) | Kaugatuma Formation | Estonia | A camerate crinoid belonging to the group Monobathrida. |
| Faorina maullui | Sp. nov | Valid | Stara & Borghi | Early Miocene | | Italy | A pericosmid sea urchin, a species of Faorina. |
| Gastrocrinus leunisseni | Sp. nov | Valid | Franke | Devonian | | Germany | A cladid crinoid belonging to the family Botryocrinidae. |
| Goniocrinus sceletus | Sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid, a species of Goniocrinus. |
| Heckerocrinus | Nom nov. | Valid | Doweld | Ordovician | | | A replacement name for the crinoid genus Bockia Hecker 1940. |
| Leadagmara | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Thuy et al. | Late Triassic (early Carnian) | | Japan | An ophiacanthid brittle star. The type species is Leadagmara gracilispina. |
| Lebetocrinus ohioensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Kammer & Roeser | Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A cladid crinoid, a species of Lebetocrinus. |
| Neotaxocrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mirantsev | Late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) | | Russia | A taxocrinid crinoid. The type species is Neotaxocrinus arendti. |
| Palaeocomaster messingi | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A comatulid crinoid, a species of Palaeocomaster. |
| Paradiabolocrinus teres | Sp. nov | Valid | Hearn & Deline | Late Ordovician | Lexington Limestone | United States | A camerate crinoid belonging to the group Diplobathra and the family Rhodocrinitidae. |
| Pentacrinites ausichi | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Late Bajocian or early Bathonian | | France | A species of Pentacrinites. |
| Pentremites fredericki | Sp. nov | Valid | Atwood & Sumrall | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | Glen Dean Formation | United States | A blastoid, a species of Pentremites. |
| Pentremites meganae | Sp. nov | Valid | Atwood & Sumrall | Carboniferous (Mississippian) | Glen Dean Formation | United States | A blastoid, a species of Pentremites. |
| Phyllocrinus voultensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A cyrtocrinid crinoid, a species of Phyllocrinus. |
| Phymosoma ravni | Sp nov. | Valid | Schlüter et al. | Late Cretaceous | | Western Europe and Middle East | A phymosomatoid sea urchin, a species of Phymosoma. |
| Platycrinites burkei | Sp. nov | Valid | Ausich & Roeser | Late Kinderhookian | Cuyahoga Formation | United States | A camerate crinoid, a species of Platycrinites sensu lato. |
| Praetetracrinus bathonicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A cyrtocrinid crinoid, a species of Praetetracrinus. |
| Propoteriocrinus hosingeni | Sp. nov | Valid | Franke | Devonian | | Germany  Luxembourg | A cladid crinoid belonging to the family Glossocrinidae. |
| Pygolampas | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Saucède, Dudicourt & Courville | Early Cretaceous (Early Hauterivian) | | France | A sea urchin. The type species is Pygolampas edita. |
| Saaremaacrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ausich, Wilson & Vinn | Silurian (Pridoli) | Kaugatuma Formation | Estonia | A camerate crinoid belonging to the group Monobathrida. The type species is S. estoniensis. |
| Salvaster | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Saucède, Dudicourt & Courville | Early Cretaceous (Early Hauterivian) | | France | A sea urchin. The type species is Salvaster roberti. |
| Scutellacrinus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Late Bajocian or early Bathonian | | France | A cyrtocrinid crinoid. The type species is Scutellacrinus tenuis. |
| Segmentocolumnus (col.) hanshessi | Sp. nov | Valid | Donovan et al. | Middle Ordovician (latest Darriwilian) | | China | Probably a stem-group cladid crinoid, possibly a dendrocrinid; a species of Segmentocolumnus. |
| Singillatimetra | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A comatulid crinoid. The type species is Singillatimetra inordinata. |
| Solanocrinites voultensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Hess | Early Bathonian | | France | A comatulid crinoid, a species of Solanocrinites. |
| Thylechinus (Thylechinus) sinaiensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Abdelhamid & Azab | Turonian | | Egypt | A phymosomatid echinoid, a species of Thylechinus. |
| Toxaster dakhlensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Abdelhamid & Azab | Turonian | | Egypt | A toxasterid echinoid, a species of Thylechinus. |
| Tripatagus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zachos | Oligocene (Rupelian) | Marianna Limestone | United States | A heart urchin belonging to the group Micrasterina. The type species is T. pittsi. |
| Yanjiahella | Gen. et 3 sp. nov | Valid | Guo et al. | Early Cambrian | Yanjiahe Formation | China | An animal of uncertain phylogenetic position, a possible relative of echinoderms. Genus contains Yanjiahella ancarpa (the type species), Y. monocarpa and Y. biscarpa. |

## Ascidians

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Burykhia | Gen. et sp. | Valid | Fedonkin et al. | Vendian | Verkhovka Formation or Ust-Pinega Formation | Russia | An ausiid, a possible ascidian, Its type species is Burykhia hunti. |

## Conodonts

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Carnepigondolella angulata | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Cau & Rigo | Late Triassic | | Canada  Italy | Originally described as a species of Carnepigondolella; Orchard (2014) transferred this species to the genus Quadralella. |
| Carnepigondolella gulloae | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Rigo & Gullo | Late Triassic | Scillato Formation | Italy | A species of Carnepigondolella. |
| Carnepigondolella tuvalica | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Rigo & Gullo | Late Triassic | Scillato Formation | Italy | A species of Carnepigondolella. |
| Caudicriodus schoenlaubi | Sp nov | Valid | Drygant & Szaniawski | Early Devonian (middle to late Lochkovian) | Chortkiv Formation | Ukraine | An icriodontid, a species of Caudicriodus. |
| Epigondolella heinzi | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Cau & Rigo | Late Triassic | | Italy | A species of Epigondolella. |
| Epigondolella miettoi | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Cau & Rigo | Late Triassic | | Italy | A species of Epigondolella. |
| Idiognathodus espinamaenis | Sp. nov | Valid | Méndez | Carboniferous (Moscovian) | | Spain | |
| Idiognathodus mendezi | Sp. nov | Valid | Méndez | Carboniferous (Moscovian) | | Spain | |
| Meiognathus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Shen et al. | Permian (Kungurian) | | Japan | A member of Ozarkodinida belonging to the family Sweetognathidae. The type species is Meiognathus pustulus. |
| Muellerina | Gen. et sp. nov | Junior homonym | Bardashev & Bardasheva | Middle Devonian (Givetian) | | Tajikistan | The type species is Muellerina idrisovi. The generic name turned out to be preoccupied by Muellerina Bassiouni (1965); Bardashev & Bardasheva (2013) subsequently renamed the conodont genus Muellerilepis. |
| Nealeodus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Stouge | Middle Ordovician | | Canada | A new genus for "Lenodus" martinpointensis (Johnston and Barnes, 2000). |
| Norigondolella trinacriae | Sp nov | Valid | Mazza, Cau & Rigo | Late Triassic | | Italy | Originally described as a species of Norigondolella; Karádi, Kozur & Görögt (2013) considered it more likely to be a species of Paragondolella. |
| Pandorinellina? parva | Sp nov | Valid | Drygant & Szaniawski | Early Devonian (late Lochkovian or Pragian) | Ivanye Formation | Ukraine | A spathognathodontid, possibly a species of Pandorinellina. |
| Periodon hankensis | Sp nov | Valid | Stouge | Middle Ordovician | | Canada | A species of Periodon. |
| Polygnathus chongqingensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Wang in Gong et al. | Devonian | | China | |
| Pseudopolygnathus inordinatus | Nom. nov | Valid | Tragelehn & Hartenfels | Devonian (Famennian) | | Germany | A replacement name for Pseudopolygnathus irregularis Tragelehn & Hartenfels (2011) (preoccupied by Pseudopolygnathus irregularis Branson, 1934). |
| Spinodus wardi | Sp nov | Valid | Stouge | Middle Ordovician | | Canada | A species of Spinodus. |

## Fishes

During 2012, 81 new species of fish were described.

## Amphibians
### Research

* A study of the braincase of Eocaecilia micropodia and a phylogenetic analysis of non-amniote tetrapods is published by Hillary C. Maddin, Farish A. Jenkins Jr and Jason S. Anderson (2012).
* A study of anatomy and relationships of Solenodonsaurus janenschi is published by Marylène Danto, Florian Witzmann and Johannes Müller (2012).
* A study of limb joint mobility of Ichthyostega is published by Stephanie E. Pierce, Jennifer A. Clack and John R. Hutchinson (2012).

### New taxa
#### Newly named basal tetrapods

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Ymeria | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Clack, Ahlberg, Blom & Finney | Famennian | Celsius Bjerg Group | Greenland | A stem tetrapod closely related to Ichthyostega. | |

#### Newly named temnospondyls

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Arachana | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Piñeiro, Ramos & Marsicano | ? Late Permian | Buena Vista Formation | Uruguay | A rhinesuchid-like stereospondyl. | |
| Benthosuchus gusevae | Sp. nov | Valid | Novikov | Early Triassic | Kamennyi Yar Formation | Russia | A trematosauroid. | |
| Cacops woehri | Sp. nov | Valid | Fröbisch & Reisz | Leonardian | | USA | A dissorophid. | |
| Microposaurus averyi | Sp nov | Valid | Warren | Anisian | Rouse Hill Siltstone | Australia | A trematosaurine stereospondyl, a species of Microposaurus. | Microposaurus averyi. |
| Nyranerpeton | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Werneburg | Late Carboniferous | | Czech Republic | A micromelerpetontid. The type species is Nyranerpeton amilneri. | |
| Platyrhinops fritschi | Sp. nov | Valid | Werneburg | Late Carboniferous | | Czech Republic | An amphibamiform. Originally described as a species of Platyrhinops, but subsequently made the type species of a separate genus Anthracobamus. | |
| Qantas | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Novikov | Early Triassic | Kamennyi Yar Formation | Russia | A trematosauroid temnospondyl. The type species is Qantas samarensis. | |
| Sclerocephalus stambergi | Sp nov | Valid | Klembara & Steyer | Early Permian | Boskovice Basin | Czech Republic | A stereospondylomorph, a species of Sclerocephalus. | |
| Trematosuchoides | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Novikov | Triassic | Cynognathus Assemblage Zone | South Africa | A trematosaurid temnospondyl. The type species is Trematosuchoides africanus. | |

#### Newly named lepospondyls

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Altenglanerpeton | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Glienke | Gzhelian or Asselian | Altenglan Formation | Germany | A microsaur with an elongated body. | |

#### Newly named lissamphibians

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Albionbatrachus oligocenicus | Sp. nov | Valid | Venczel, Codrea & Fărcaş | Early Oligocene | | Romania | A palaeobatrachid frog, a species of Albionbatrachus. |
| Bakonybatrachus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Szentesi & Venczel | Santonian | Csehbánya Formation | Hungary | A discoglossine discoglossid. |
| Beiyanerpeton | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Gao & Shubin | Oxfordian | Tiaojishan Formation | China | A salamandroid. The type species is Beiyanerpeton jianpingensis. |
| Calyptocephalella satan | Sp. nov | Valid | Agnolin | Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) | Allen Formation | Argentina | A member of Calyptocephalellidae, a relative of the helmeted water toad. |
| Gigantobatrachus casamiquelai | Sp. nov | Valid | Agnolin | Paleocene | | Argentina | A member of Calyptocephalellidae, a species of Gigantobatrachus. |
| Piceoerpeton naylori | Sp. nov. | Valid | Gardner | Latest Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian), possibly also early Paleocene | | United States | A scapherpetontid salamander, a species of Piceoerpeton. |
| Rana auscitana | Nom. nov | Valid | Martín, Alonso-Zarazaga & Sanchiz | Middle Miocene | | France | A replacement name for Rana pygmaea Lartet (1851). |
| Rana cadurcorum | Nom. nov | Junior synonym | Martín, Alonso-Zarazaga & Sanchiz | Eocene | Quercy Phosphorites | France | A replacement name for Rana plicata Filhol (1877). Reinterpreted as a junior synonym of Thaumastosaurus gezei by Laloy et al. (2013). |
| Rana sendoa | Nom. nov | Valid | Martín, Alonso-Zarazaga & Sanchiz | Late Pleistocene | | Germany | A replacement name for Rana robusta Brunner (1956). |
| Seminobatrachus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Skutschas & Gubin | late Paleocene - early Eocene | | Ukraine | A urodelan salamander |
| Uberabatrachus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Báez et al. | Maastrichtian | Marília Formation | Brazil | A neobatrachian, a possible member of Nobleobatrachia. The type species is Uberabatrachus carvalhoi. |

## Parareptiles
### Newly named parareptiles

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Feeserpeton | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Macdougall & Reisz | Early Permian | | United States | A lanthanosuchoid. The type species is Feeserpeton oklahomensis. | |
| Lasasaurus | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Falconnet et al. | Lower Triassic | Middle Sakamena Formation | Madagascar | A procolophonid. The type species is Lasasaurus beltanae. | |

## Ichthyopterygians
### Newly named ichthyosaurs

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Acamptonectes | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Fischer et al.. | Hauterivian–Cenomanian | Cambridge Greensand Formation | United Kingdom | An ophthalmosaurid. Type species is Acamptonectes densus. | Skull roof of Acamptonectes densus. |
| Cryopterygius | Gen. et sp. nov | Disputed | Druckenmiller et al. | Late Jurassic | Agardhfjellet Formation | Norway | An ophthalmosaurid. The type species is Cryopterygius kristiansenae. Zverkov & Efimov (2019) considered this species to be synonymous with Undorosaurus gorodischensis, while Delsett et al. (2019) considered it to be a distinct species, albeit possibly belonging to the genus Undorosaurus. | |
| Palvennia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Druckenmiller et al. | Late Jurassic | Agardhfjellet Formation | Norway | An ophthalmosaurid. The type species is Palvennia hoybergeti. Zverkov & Prilepskaya (2019) considered Palvennia to be a junior synonym of the genus Arthropterygius, though the authors maintained P. hoybergeti as a distinct species within the latter genus; Delsett et al. (2019) rejected this synonymy. | |
| Stenopterygius aaleniensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Maxwell, Fernández & Schoch | Aalenian | | Germany | A species of Stenopterygius. | The holotype of Stenopterygius aaleniensis. |
| Temnodontosaurus azerguensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Martin et al. | Middle Toarcian | | France | A species of Temnodontosaurus. | |

## Lepidosauromorphs
### Newly named saurosphargids

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Largocephalosaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cheng, Chen, Zeng & Cai | Middle Triassic | Guanling Formation | China | Initially thought to be an eosauropterygian sauropterygian and a relative of Wumengosaurus, pachypleurosaurs and nothosauroids, but subsequently reinterpreted as member of Saurosphargidae (a non-sauropterygian diapsid, though related to sauropterygians), closely related to Saurosphargis and Sinosaurosphargis. The type species is Largocephalosaurus polycarpon. | |

### Newly named sauropterygians

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Albertonectes | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Kubo, Mitchell & Henderson | Upper Campanian | Bearpaw Formation | Canada | An elasmosaurid. The type species is Albertonectes vanderveldei. | Albertonectes vanderveldei. |
| Anningasaura | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Vincent & Benson | Early Jurassic | | United Kingdom | A basal member of Plesiosauria. The type species is Anningasaura lymense. | |
| Avalonnectes | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Benson, Evans & Druckenmiller | Early Jurassic, most likely earliest Hettangian. | Blue Lias Formation | United Kingdom | A rhomaleosaurid. The type species is Avalonnectes arturi. | Avalonnectes. |
| Djupedalia | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Knutsen, Druckenmiller & Hurum | Late Jurassic | Agardhfjellet Formation | Norway | A long-necked plesiosaurian. The type species is Djupedalia engeri. | |
| Dolichorhynchops tropicensis | Sp. nov. | Valid | McKean | Early Turonian | Tropic Shale | United States | Originally described as a third species of Dolichorhynchops, Clark, O'Keefe & Slack (2023) later moved it to the distinct genus Scalamagnus. | |
| Eoplesiosaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Benson, Evans & Druckenmiller | Early Jurassic, most likely earliest Hettangian. | | United Kingdom | A basal plesiosauroid. The type species is Eoplesiosaurus antiquior. | Eoplesiosaurus. |
| Hastanectes | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Benson et al. | Early Cretaceous | | United Kingdom | A new genus for "Cimoliasaurus" valdensis | |
| Lusonectes | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Smith, Araújo & Mateus | Toarcian | São Gião Formation | Portugal | A plesiosaurid plesiosaur. | |
| Pliosaurus funkei | Sp. nov | Valid | Knutsen, Druckenmiller & Hurum | Late Jurassic | Agardhfjellet Formation | Norway | A species of Pliosaurus. | |
| Qianxisaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cheng et al. | Middle Triassic (Ladinian) | Falang Formation | China | An eosauropterygian, a relative of pachypleurosaurs and nothosauroids. The type species is Qianxisaurus chajiangensis. | |
| Spitrasaurus | Gen. et 2 sp. nov. | Valid | Knutsen, Druckenmiller & Hurum | Late Jurassic | Agardhfjellet Formation | Norway | A long-necked plesiosaurian. Genus contains two species: Spitrasaurus wensaasi and S. larseni. | |
| Stratesaurus | Gen. et sp. | Valid | Benson, Evans & Druckenmiller | Early Jurassic, most likely earliest Hettangian. | Blue Lias Formation | United Kingdom | A rhomaleosaurid. The type species is Stratesaurus taylori | Stratesaurus. |
| Vectocleidus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Benson et al. | Early Cretaceous (late Barremian) | Vectis Formation | United Kingdom | A leptocleidid. The type species is Vectocleidus pastorum. | |

### Newly named rhynchocephalians

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Oenosaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Rauhut et al. | Late Jurassic (early Tithonian) | Mörnsheim Formation | Germany | A sphenodontid rhynchocephalian. The type species is Oenosaurus muehlheimensis. | |
| Sphenocondor | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Apesteguía, Gómez & Rougier | Middle Jurassic | | Argentina | A rhynchocephalian lepidosaur. The type species is Sphenocondor gracilis. | |

### Squamates
#### Research

* A large phylogenetic analysis of living and fossil squamates is published by Jacques A. Gauthier et al. (2012).
* A study of squamate diversity in North America during the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) and the impact of Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event on the diversity of the group is published by Nicholas R. Longrich, Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar and Jacques A. Gauthier (2012).

#### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Chianghsia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mo, Xu & Evans | Late Cretaceous | Nanxiong Formation | China | A platynotan lizard, probably a monstersaurian. The type species is Chianghsia nankangensis. |
| Dornosaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Eocene | | Mongolia | An arretosaurid iguanian. The type species is Dornosaurus gobiensis. |
| Eremiasaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Leblanc, Caldwell & Bardet | Maastrichtian | | Morocco | A mosasaur. |
| Ergiliinsaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Oligocene | Ergiliin Zoo Formation | Mongolia | An arretosaurid iguanian. The type species is Ergiliinsaurus postumus. |
| Jucaraseps | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Bolet & Evans | Early Cretaceous | | Spain | A lizard related to scleroglossan lizards. The type species is Jucaraseps grandipes. |
| Khaichinguana | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Eocene | Khaychin Formation | Mongolia | An arretosaurid iguanian. The type species is Khaichinguana eocaenica. |
| Louisamphisbaena | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Augé | Eocene (Bartonian) | | France | An amphisbaenian lizard, possibly a member of Blanidae. The type species is Louisamphisbaena ferox. |
| Pannoniasaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Makádi, Caldwell & Ősi | Late Cretaceous (Santonian) | Ajka Coal Formation Csehbánya Formation | Hungary | A tethysaurine mosasauroid closely related to Tethysaurus, Russellosaurus and Yaguarasaurus. The type species is Pannoniasaurus inexpectatus. |
| ?Placosaurus ragei | Sp. nov. | Valid | Sullivan et al. | Earliest Eocene | | Belgium | A glyptosaurine anguid lizard. Originally described as a possible species of Placosaurus; Čerňanský et al. (2024) transferred it to the genus Gaultia. |
| Pseudomimeosaurus | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Late Cretaceous | Djadochta Formation | Mongolia | A pleurodontagamid iguanian lizard; a new genus for "Mimeosaurus" tugrikinensis Alifanov (1989). |
| Pseudopus ahnikoviensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Klembara | Early Miocene | | Czech Republic | An anguid, a species of Pseudopus. |
| Purbicella | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Evans, Jones & Matsumoto | Early Cretaceous | Purbeck Limestone Group | United Kingdom | A member of Lacertoidea. The type species isPurbicella ragei. |
| Ragesaurus | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Bailon & Auge | Early Pleistocene | | Spain | An anguid lizard. The type species is Ragesaurus medasensis. |
| Sphaerodactylus ciguapa | Sp. nov | Valid | Daza & Bauer | Late Early Miocene or early Middle Miocene (20 to 15 MYA) | | Dominican Republic | A sphaerodactylid gecko found in Dominican amber, a species of Sphaerodactylus. |
| Telmasaurus bialynickae | Sp. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Late Cretaceous | Barun Goyot Formation | Mongolia | A varanoid lizard, a species of Telmasaurus. |
| Uquiasaurus | Gen. et sp. nov | Disputed | Daza et al. | Late Pliocene | Uquía Formation | Argentina | An iguanian lizard. The type species is Uquiasaurus heptanodonta. Scanferla & Díaz-Fernández (2023) reinterpreted the type series of this species as a fossil bone assemblage composed by more than one species of Liolaemus. |
| Varanus (Varaneades) amnhophilis | Subgen. et sp. nov | Disputed | Conrad, Balcarcel & Mehling | Miocene (Turolian) | Mytilini Formation | Greece | A monitor lizard. Villa et al. (2018) considered this species to be likely junior synonym of Varanus marathonensis. |

## Turtles
### Research

* A large phylogenetic analysis of basal turtles is published by Jérémy Anquetin (2012).

### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Allopleuron qazaqstanense | Sp. nov | Valid | Karl, Gröning & Brauckmann | Eocene (Lutetian) | | Kazakhstan | A member of Cheloniidae, a species of Allopleuron. |
| Axestemys cerevisia | sp nov | Valid | Vitek | Eocene | Bridger Formation | United States | A trionychid, a species of Axestemys. |
| Axestemys montinsana | sp nov | Valid | Vitek | Paleocene | Denver Formation Fort Union Formation Melville Formation | United States | A trionychid, a species of Axestemys. |
| Ballerstedtia | Gen. et comb. et sp. nov | Valid | Karl et al. | Early Cretaceous | | Germany  United Kingdom | A member of Paracryptodira, a new genus for "Pleurosternon" typocardium Seeley (1869). Genus also contains a new species Ballerstedtia bueckebergensis. |
| Bashuchelys | Gen. et comb. et sp. nov | Valid | Tong, Danilov, Ye, Ouyang & Peng | Middle Jurassic | Xiashaximiao Formation | China | A bashuchelyid cryptodiran, a new genus for "Chengyuchelys" zigongensis (Ye, 1982). Genus also contains a new species Bashuchelys youngi. |
| Berruchelus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García | Upper Paleocene | | France | A paracryptodiran closely related to Compsemys. The type species is Berruchelus russelli. |
| Carbonemys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cadena et al. | Late Palaeocene | Cerrejón Formation | Colombia | A podocnemidid turtle. The type species is Carbonemys cofrinii. |
| Chuannanchelys | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Tong, Danilov, Ye, Ouyang & Peng | Middle Jurassic | Xiashaximiao Formation | China | A bashuchelyid cryptodiran, a new genus for "Chengyuchelys" dashanpuensis (Fang, 1987). |
| Foxemys trabanti | sp nov | Valid | Rabi, Tong & Botfalvai | Santonian | Csehbánya Formation | Hungary | A bothremydid, a species of Foxemys. |
| Galvechelone | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García & Murelaga | Early Cretaceous | | Spain | A cryptodiran turtle. The type species is Galvechelone lopezmartinezae. |
| Guangdongemys | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Claude et al. | Late Eocene | | China | A geoemydid turtle. The type species is Guangdongemys pingi. |
| Hoyasemys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García, Fuente & Ortega | Late Barremian | Calizas de La Huérguina Formation | Spain | A basal eucryptodiran. |
| Iberoccitanemys | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Pérez-García, Ortega & Murelaga | Late Campanian to Maastrichtian | | France  Spain | A bothremydid, a new genus for "Elochelys" convenarum (Laurent et al. 2002). Pérez-García, Ortega & Murelaga (2021) considered I. convenarum to be a junior synonym of "Polysternon" atlanticum, resulting in a new combination Iberoccitanemys atlanticum. |
| Kinosternon pojoaque | Species | Valid | Bourque | Middle Miocene | | United States | A species of Kinosternon. |
| Kinosternon skullridgescens | Species | Valid | Bourque | Early middle Miocene | Tesuque Formation | United States | A species of Kinosternon. |
| Larachelus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García & Murelaga | Early Cretaceous (late Hauterivian–early Barremian) | Pinilla de los Moros Formation | Spain | A basal member of Pan-Cryptodira (the clade containing living cryptodirans and all extinct turtles that were more closely related to them than to pleurodirans). The type species is Larachelus morla. |
| Oertelia | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Karl, Biermann & Tichy | Early Cretaceous (early Aptian) | | Germany | A toxochelyid sea turtle, a new genus for "Toxochelys" gigantea Oertel (1914). |
| Peligrochelys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sterli & de la Fuente | Palaeocene | Salamanca Formation | Argentina | A relative of meiolaniids. The type species is Peligrochelys walshae. |
| Polysternon isonae | Species | Valid | Marmi et al.. | Late Maastrichtian | | Spain | A bothremydid, a species of Polysternon. |
| Protoxinjiangchelys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Tong, Danilov, Ye, Ouyang & Peng | Middle Jurassic | Xiashaximiao Formation | China | A xinjiangchelyid cryptodiran. |
| Puentemys | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Cadena, Bloch & Jaramillo | Paleocene | Cerrejón Formation | Colombia | A bothremydid turtle. The type species is Puentemys mushaisaensis. |
| Rhinoclemmys panamaensis | Sp nov | Valid | Cadena et al. | Miocene | Cucaracha Formation | Panama | A geoemydid turtle, a species of Rhinoclemmys. |
| Staurotypus moschus | Sp nov | Valid | Cadena et al. | Miocene | Cucaracha Formation | Panama | A kinosternid turtle, a species of Staurotypus. |
| Tasbacka danica | Sp. nov | Valid | Karl & Madsen | Early Eocene | Fur Formation | Denmark | A member of Cheloniidae, a species of Tasbacka. |
| Terrapene parornata | Sp nov | Valid | Joyce et al.. | Miocene/Pliocene boundary | | United States | A box turtle. |
| Yuchelys | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Tong et al. | Late Cretaceous | Gaogou Formation | China | A nanhsiungchelyid cryptodiran. The type species is Yuchelys nanyangensis. |

## Archosauromorphs
### Newly named basal archosauromorphs

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Chanaresuchus ischigualastensis | sp nov | Valid | Trotteyn, Martínez & Alcober | Late Triassic | Ischigualasto Formation | Argentina | A proterochampsian archosauriform. Originally described as a species of Chanaresuchus; subsequently made the type species of a separate genus Pseudochampsa by Trotteyn & Ezcurra (2014). | |
| Diandongosuchus | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Li et al. | Middle Triassic (Ladinian) | Falang Formation | China | A member of Archosauriformes of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally classified as a poposauroid pseudosuchian, but subsequently argued to be a phytosaur. The type species is Diandongosuchus fuyuanensis. | Diandongosuchus fuyuanensis. |
| Doswellia sixmilensis | sp nov | Valid | Heckert, Lucas & Spielmann | Late Triassic | Bluewater Creek Formation | United States | A doswelliid archosauromorph. Originally described as a species of Doswellia; Wynd et al. (2020) transferred it to the separate genus Rugarhynchos. | |
| Protome | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Stocker | Late Triassic | Chinle Formation | USA | A phytosaur. The type species is Protome batalaria. | |

### Archosaurs

The following is a summary of the archosaurs described in 2012
* 8 pseudosuchians
* 1 basal dinosauriform
* 40 non-avian dinosaurs
* 64 birds
* 9 pterosaurs
* 1 archosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement

## Synapsids
### Non-mammalian synapsids
#### Research

* A phylogenetic analysis of basal synapsids is published by Roger B. J. Benson (2012).

#### New taxa

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Fortunodon | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Kurkin | Upper Permian | | Russia | A dicynodont, a new genus for "Dicynodon" trautscholdi (Amalitzky, 1922) (considered to be a senior synonym of Vivaxosaurus permirus and assigned to the genus Vivaxosaurus by Kammerer et al., 2011). "Dicynodon" amalitzkii (Sushkin, 1926) is considered by Kurkin (2012) to be a second species of Fortunodon (Kammerer et al., 2011 classify it as the type species of the genus Peramodon.) |
| Novocynodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ivakhnenko | Middle Permian | | Russia | A thrinaxodontid cynodont. The type species is Novocynodon kutorgai. |
| Pampaphoneus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cisneros, Abdala, et al. | Guadalupian (Middle Permian) | Rio do Rasto Formation | Brazil | An anteosaurid dinocephalian. |
| Panchetocynodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Das & Gupta | Early Triassic | Panchet Formation | India | A cynodont. The type species is Panchetocynodon damodarensis. |
| Purbeckodon | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Butler, Sigogneau-Russell, & Ensom | Early Cretaceous | Purbeck Limestone Group | United Kingdom | A possible morganucodontan. |
| Sludica | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Ivakhnenko | Upper Permian | | Russia | A procynosuchid cynodont. The type species is Sludica bulanovi. |

### Mammals

The following is a summary of the mammals described in 2012
* 9 non-eutherian Mammals
* 24 eutherian Mammals

## Other animals

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Aggerscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is A. murchisoni. |
| Belebey augustodunensis | Sp. nov. | Valid | Falconnet | Latest Carboniferous (Gzhelian) or earliest Permian (Asselian) | | France | An amniote of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally classified as a bolosaurid and a species of Belebey; Spindler, Voigt & Fischer (2019) considered it to be a possible edaphosaurid synapsid instead. |
| Bullascolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is B. inserere. |
| Carbotubulus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Haug et al. | Carboniferous | Carbondale Formation | United States | A long-legged lobopodian. The type species is C. waloszeki. |
| Circotheca smetanai | Sp. nov | Valid | Valent et al. | Middle Cambrian | Buchava Formation | Czech Republic | A member of Hyolitha (a group of animals of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly molluscs), a species of Circotheca. |
| Coronacollina | Gen. et sp. nov. | Valid | Clites, Droser & Gehling | Ediacaran | | Australia | An animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Coronacollina acula. |
| Crenulipora kuwanoi | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko | Devonian | Fukuji Formation | Japan | A tabulate coral belonging to the group Favositida and the family Favositidae. |
| Dispinoscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Duan, Dong & Donoghue | Cambrian (Paibian) | Bitiao Formation | China | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is D. decorus. |
| Favia maitreyiae | Sp. nov | Valid | López-Pérez | Pliocene | Carmen Formation | Mexico | A stony coral, a species of Favia. |
| Favia tulsidasi | Sp. nov | Valid | López-Pérez | Pliocene | San Marcos Formation | Mexico | A stony coral, a species of Favia. |
| Heydenius arachnius | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Eocene to Miocene | Dominican amber | Dominican Republic | A nematode belonging to the family Mermithidae. |
| Heydenius phasmatophilus | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Eocene | Baltic amber | Russia ( Kaliningrad Oblast) | A nematode belonging to the family Mermithidae. |
| Heydenius podenasae | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Eocene | Baltic amber | Russia ( Kaliningrad Oblast) | A nematode belonging to the family Mermithidae. |
| Heydenius trichorosus | Sp. nov | Valid | Poinar | Eocene | Baltic amber | Russia ( Kaliningrad Oblast) | A nematode belonging to the family Mermithidae. |
| Loriciscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is L. cuspidus. |
| Parastriatopora boliviana | Sp. nov | Valid | Plusquellec, Tourneur & Fernández-Martínez in Racheboeuf et al. | Devonian (Emsian or Eifelian) | Belén Formation | Bolivia | A tabulate coral belonging to the superfamily Pachyporoidea and the family Parastriatoporidae. |
| Placosmilia? aliciae | Sp. nov | Valid | López-Pérez | Pliocene | San Marcos Formation San Nicolas Formation | Mexico | A stony coral belonging to the family Montlivaltiidae. |
| Pluoscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is P. linearis. |
| Probactrotheca | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Valent et al. | Middle Cambrian | Buchava Formation | Czech Republic | A member of Hyolitha. The type species is Probactrotheca briketa. |
| Protomichelinia foveata | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko, Haikawa & Fujikawa | Permian | Akiyoshi Limestone Group | Japan | A tabulate coral. |
| Pseudoromingeria muratai | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko, Haikawa & Fujikawa | Permian | Akiyoshi Limestone Group | Japan | A tabulate coral. |
| Radnorscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is R. bwlchi. |
| Redondagnathus | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Spielmann & Lucas | Late Triassic | | United States | A vertebrate of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Described on the basis of three postcanine teeth, considered to be teeth of a trirachodontid cynodont by Lucas et al. (1999) and Spielmann and Lucas (2012). On the other hand, Abdala, Neveling and Welman (2006) and Sidor and Hopson (2018) did not consider it likely that Redondagnathus was a member of Trirachodontidae, and Abdala, Neveling and Welman (2006) weren't even sure whether it was a cynodont. The type species is Redondagnathus hunti. |
| Schistoscolex hunanensis | Sp. nov | Valid | Duan, Dong & Donoghue | Cambrian (Paibian) | Bitiao Formation | China | A palaeoscolecid. |
| Siderastrea annae | Sp. nov | Valid | López-Pérez | Pliocene | San Marcos Formation | Mexico | A stony coral, a species of Siderastrea. |
| Sinopathes | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Baliński, Sun & Dzik | Early Ordovician | Fenxiang Formation | China | A black coral. The type species is S. reptans. |
| Siphusauctum | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | O'Brien & Caron | Middle Cambrian | Burgess Shale | Canada | A stem-bilaterian of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a stalked filter feeder. The type species is S. gregarium. |
| Syringopora konishii | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Ibaraki | Carboniferous (Viséan) | Kotaki Formation | Japan | A tabulate coral belonging to the group Auloporida. |
| Thecia ichikawai | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko & Adachi | Silurian | Gionyama Formation | Japan | A tabulate coral belonging to the group Favositida and the family Theciidae. |
| Trachypsammia konbo | Sp. nov | Valid | Niko | Early Carboniferous | Akiyoshi Limestone Group | Japan | A tabulate coral. |
| Ulexiscolex | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is U. ormrodi. |
| Wernia | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | Ordovician | | United Kingdom | A palaeoscolecid. The type species is W. eximia. |

## Other organisms

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Hydrolithon braganum | Sp. nov | Valid | Woelkerling, Bassi & Iryu | Quaternary | | Reef terraces around Tahiti, French Polynesia | A red alga belonging to the family Corallinaceae, a species of Hydrolithon. | |
| Jimwhitea | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Krings & Taylor in Krings et al. | Middle Triassic | Fremouw Formation | Antarctica | A fungus belonging to the group Endogonales. The type species is Jimwhitea circumtecta. | |