# 1839 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 1839.

## Arthropods
### Crustaceans

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes |
| Aeger | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | An aegerid, type species is A. spinipes. |
| Antrimpos | Valid | Jr synonym | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, type species is A. speciosus. |
| Aura | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is A. desmarestii, now a junior synonym of Eryma. |
| Blaculla | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is B. nikoides. |
| Bolina | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Jr synonym | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is B. pustulosa, now a junior synonym of Pseudastacus pustulosus. The species B. angusta was also assigned, and is now a junior synonym of Stenochirus angustus. |
| Bombur | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, type species is B. complicatus. |
| Brisa | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Jr synonym | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is B. lucida, now a junior synonym of Glyphea pseudoscyllarus. |
| Brome | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | An indeterminate decapod, type species is B. ventrosa. |
| Bylgia | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, type species is B. hexadon. |
| Cancrinos | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A cancrinid, type species is C. claviger. |
| Drobna | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, type species is D. deformis. |
| Dusa | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, type species is D. monocera. |
| Elder | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is E. ungulatus. |
| Hefriga | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is H. serrata. |
| Kolga | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Jr synonym | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is K. quindens, now a junior synonym of Antrimpos. |
| Magila | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Jurassic | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | An axiid, type species is M. latimana. |
| Orphnea | Gen. et. comb. nov. | Jr synonym | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is O. pseudoscyllarus, now assigned to Glyphea. |
| Palinurina | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | An palinurid, type species is P. longipes. |
| Rauna | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | A penaeid, includes the species R. angusta. |
| Udora | Gen. et. sp. nov. | Valid | Münster | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Solnhofen Limestone | Germany | Type species is U. brevispina. |

## Archosaurs
### Newly named pseudosuchians

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.
| Name | Status | Authors | Authors | Notes |
| Ephoenosaurus | Nomen nudum | Anonymous | | In addition to never being formally described, it may be a subjective synonym of the crocodilian Machimosaurus |

### Pterosaurs

* Graf Munster received a complete skeleton of "Pterodactylus" munsteri which revealed the presence of a long bony tail in this species.

## Paleontologists

* Birth of Harry Govier Seeley, the paleontologist who invented the Saurischian/Ornithischian dinosaur dichotomy.