# 1977 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 1977.

## Plants
### Ferns

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymized taxa | Notes | Images |
| Anemia gunni | Sp nov | Valid | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An anemiaceous fern | Anemia gunni |
| Lygodium larsoni | Sp nov | jr synonym | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A Lygodium species fern. Synonymized with Lygodium kaulfussi. | |
| Cyathea inequilateralis | Comb nov | valid | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | Cyathea pinnata (1952) Hemitelia pinnata (1941) | A Cyathea species tree fern. Moved from Pteris inequilateralis (1936) | Cyathea inequilateralis |
| Dryopteris alaskana | Comb nov | valid | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A Dryopteris species fern. Moved in part from Asplenium alaskanum (1936) Possibly actually belonging to Thelypteridaceae. | Dryopteris alaskana |

### Conifers

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Synonymized taxa | Notes | Images |
| Pinus peregrinus | Sp nov | Valid | Hickey | Clarkforkian | Golden Valley Formation Bear Den Member | USA North Dakota | | | |

### Angiosperms

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Synonymized taxa | Notes | Images |
| Alangium bergensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A dogwood relative. | |
| Alangium oregonensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Eocene | Bridge Creek Flora | USA Oregon | | A dogwood relative. | |
| Allophylus duktothensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A soap berry relative. | |
| Alnus martini | Sp nov | Valid | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An alder species. | Alnus martini |
| Anamirta milleri | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A moon seed relative. | Anamirta milleri |
| Calkinsia dilleri | Comb nov | | (Knowlton) Wolfe | Eocene | | USA Oregon | | A moon seed relative. Moved from Calkinsia dilleri (1968) | |
| Calkinsia plafkeri | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A moon seed relative. | Calkinsia plafkeri |
| Camelia oregona | Comb nov | | (Chaney & Sanborn) Wolfe | Eocene Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Goshen flora" | USA Oregon | | A theaceous relative. Moved from Ilex oregona (1933) | |
| Cinnamomophyllum bendirei | Comb nov | | (Knowlton) Wolfe | Eocene | Bridge Creek Flora | USA Oregon | | A lauraceous relative. Moved from Sassafras bendirei (1940) | |
| Cinnamomophyllum eocernua | Comb nov | | (Chaney & Sanborn) Wolfe | Eocene Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Goshen flora" | USA Oregon | | A lauraceous relative. Moved from Octoea eocernua (1933) | |
| Cinnamomophyllum kushtakensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A lauraceous relative. | |
| Cinnamomophyllum latum | Comb nov | | (MacGinitie) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Ione Formation | USA California | | A lauraceous relative. Moved from Litsea lata (1952) First named Neolitsea lata (1941) | Cinnamomophyllum latum |
| Dicotylophyllum carbonensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A "dicot" of unknown affinity. | |
| Dicotylophyllum kummerensis | Comb nov | jr synonym | (Wolfe) Wolfe | Late Eocene "Upper Ravenian" | Puget Group "below Cashman bed" Loc 9731 | USA Washington | | A dicot of uncertain affinity. Moved from Artocarpoides kummerensis 1968. Moved to Republica kummerensis (1987) | |
| Doona? chaneyi | Comb nov | valid | (Potbury) Wolfe | Latest Eocene-Earliest Oligocene | La Porte Tuff | USA California | | A Shorea (syn "Doona") species. Moved from Rhamnidium chaneyi (1935) | |
| Dracontomelon sanbornae | Sp nov | valid | Wolfe | Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Comstock flora" | USA Oregon | | An anacardiaceous species. | |
| Euodia alaskana | Sp nov | Valid | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A Euodia species. | |
| Euptelea orientalis | Comb nov | valid | (Sanborn) Wolfe | Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Comstock flora" | USA Oregon | | A eupteleaceous species. Moved from Diospyros orientalis (1935) | |
| Fagopsis groenlandica | Comb nov | Jr synonym | (Heer) Wolfe | Eocene | | Greenland | | A fagaceous relative. Moved from Quercophyllum groenlandicus (1963) | |
| Fagus oregona | Comb nov | Jr synonym | (Chaney & Sanborn) Wolfe | Eocene | | USA Oregon | | A fagaceous relative. Moved from Tetracera oregona (1933) | |
| Fortunearia weedi | Comb nov | valid | (Sanborn) Wolfe | Middle Eocene | Yellowstone Formation | USA Wyoming | | A hamamelidaceous species. Moved from Quercus weedii (1899) | |
| Goweria alaskana | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An icacinaceous species. | |
| Heteromeles cuprovallis | Comb nov | | (Axelrod) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Copper Basin Flora | USA | | An toyon species. Moved from Salix cuprovallis (1966) | |
| Ilex carbonensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A holly species. | |
| Kandelia wangi | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A mangrove species. | |
| Limacia stenophylla | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A moon seed relative. | Limacia stenophylla |
| Litseaphyllum | Gen et Sp et comb nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A lauraceous morphogenus. The genus includes L. carbonensis, L. katallaensis L. schorni New combinations moved from Cryptocarya presamarensis (1935), Laurus similis (1900), Magnolia californica (1935), Nectandra presanguinea (1933), Persea praelingue (1935) | |
| Luvunga spatioea | Comb nov | valid | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A citrus relative. Moved from Persea spatiosa (1936) | |
| Mastixia irregularis | Comb nov | | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A tuplo relative. Moved from Cornus irregularis (1936) | |
| Melanorrhoea alaskana | Comb nov | Jr synonym | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An anacardioid relative. Moved from Semecarpus alaskana (1936) Recombined as Gluta alaskana. | |
| Meliosma duktothensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A sabiaceous species. | |
| Miquelia californica | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Ione Formation | USA California | | An icacinaceous species. | |
| Nelumbo aureavallis | Sp nov | Valid | Hickey | Ypresian | Golden Valley Formation Camels Butte Member | USA North Dakota | | A water lilly | |
| Palaeophytocrene elytraeformis | Comb nov | | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An icacinaceous species. Moved from Carpolithes elytraeformis (1936) | |
| Parashorea cashmanensis | Comb nov | | (Wolfe) Wolfe | Late Eocene "Upper Ravenian" | Puget Group "below Cashman bed" Loc 9731 | USA Washington | | A Parashorea dipterocarpaceous species. Moved from Rhamnites cashmanensis (1968). | |
| Paratinomiscium | Gen et comb nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A moon seed relative. The type species is Hampea conditionalis (1936) | Paratinomiscium conditionalis |
| Peltandra primaeva | Sp nov | Valid | Hickey | Ypresian | Golden Valley Formation Camels Butte Member loc. 14048 | USA North Dakota | | An arrow arum species. | |
| Phytocrene acutissima | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An icacinaceous species. | |
| Plafkeria | Nom et comb nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Renton Formation | USA Washington | | A tiliaceous genus. A replacement genus name for "Willisia" Wolfe (1968) The type species is "W." rentonensis. Also includes P. obliquifolia (1925) | |
| Platanus comstocki | Comb nov | valid | (Sanborn) Wolfe | Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Comstock flora" | USA Oregon | | A plane tree species. Moved from Mallotus comstocki (1935) | |
| Platanus macginitiei | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Middle Eocene | Fisher Formation "Goshen flora" | USA Oregon | | A plane tree species. New species for "Platanus aceroides" (Chaney & Sanborn 1933) | |
| Platycarya pseudobrauni | Comb nov | valid | (Hollick) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | Fraxinus lateralis (1936) Planera aquaticiformis (1936) | A Platycarya species. Moved from Ulmus pseudobraunii (1936) | Platycarya pseudobrauni |
| Porosia | Gen et comb nov | | Hickey | Ypresian | Golden Valley Formation Bear Den Member loc. 14056a | USA North Dakota | | A bur-reed. A new genus for Carpites verrucosa (1878) | |
| Prunus axelrodi | Comb et nom nov | | (Axelrod) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Copper Basin Flora | USA | | A cherry/plum species. Moved from Euonymus nevadensis (1966) new specific name given as Prunus nevadensis preoccupied. | |
| Rubus eolaciniata | Comb nov | | (MacGinitie) Tanai & Wolfe | Early - early Middle Miocene | Weaverville Formation | USA California | | A blackberry leaf morphospecies. First named as Ulmus eolaciniate (1937) | |
| Pterocarya orientalis | Comb nov | | (MacGinitie) Wolfe | Late Oligocene | | USA Oregon | | A wing nut species. Moved from Juglans orientalis (1937) | |
| Sageretia laurinea | Comb nov | | (Lesquereux) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | An icacinaceous species. Moved from Phyllites laurinea (1941) | |
| Salix carbonensis | Sp nov | Valid | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A willow species. | |
| Salix coatsi | Comb nov | | (Axelrod) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Copper Basin Flora | USA | | A willow species. Moved from Lithocarpus coatsi (1966) | |
| Sorbus carbonensis | Sp nov | Valid | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A mountain ash species. | |
| Sparganium parvum | Sp nov | | Hickey | Ypresian | Golden Valley Formation Bear Den Member loc. 14056a | USA North Dakota | | A bur-reed | |
| Stemonurus alaskanus | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A stemonuraceous species. | |
| Tetracentron piperoides | Comb nov | Valid? | (Lesquereux) Wolfe | Late Eocene | Ione Formation | USA California | synonymy Ceanothus idahoensis (1935) Cercidiphyllum elongatum (1939) Populus smilacifolia (1920) Populus zaddachi (1878) Trochodendroides zaddacki (1935) Zizyphus californica (1919) Zizyphus microphyUus (Lesquereux) (1878) | A Tetracentron species. Moved from Cercidiphyllum piperoides (1952) | Tetracentron piperoides |
| Tilia carbonensis | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A tiliaceous species. | |
| Ulmus chaneyi | Sp nov | valid | Tanai & Wolfe | Eocene Rupelian | John Day Formation Bridge Creek Flora | USA Oregon | | An Elm leaf morphospecies. | |
| Ulmus knowltoni | Sp nov | valid | Tanai & Wolfe | Miocene | "Collawash Flora" | USA Oregon | | An Elm leaf morphospecies. | |
| Zelkova browni | Sp nov | valid | Tanai & Wolfe | Miocene | "Collawash Flora" | USA Oregon | synonymy Zelkova oregoniana non (Knowlton) Brown nec Brown, 1937 Zelkova ungeri non Kovats nec Becker, 1969 Fagopsis longifolia non (Lesquereux) Hollick nec Berry, 1929 Quercus mccanni non Berry nec Axelrod, 1964 ?Ulmus fernquisti 1926 ?Zelkova nevadensis 1956 | An Elm leaf morphospecies. | |
| Zizyphus alaskanus | Sp nov | | Wolfe | Late Eocene | Kulthieth Formation | USA Alaska | | A buckthorn relative. | |

## Invertebrates
### Mollusks

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
| Fordilla sibirica | sp nov | jr synonym | Krasilova | Early Cambrian | Tyuser Formation | Russia | An early bivalve species. Synonym of Fordilla troyensis. | |

## Conodonts

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
| Vjalovognathus | Nom et comb nov | valid | Kozur | | | | |

## Fish

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
| Amyzon aggregatum | Sp nov | Valid | Wilson | Eocene Ypresian | Okanagan Highlands Horsefly Shales | Canada British Columbia | An Amyzon species catostomid | |
| Eosalmo | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Wilson | Eocene Ypresian | Okanagan Highlands Driftwood Shales | Canada British Columbia | A basal salmonid relative. The type species is E. driftwoodensis | Eosalmo driftwoodensis |
| Libotonius | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Wilson | Eocene Ypresian | Okanagan Highlands Allenby Formation | Canada British Columbia | A libotoniid sand roller relative. The type species is L. blakeburnensis | |
| Priscacara aquilonia | Sp nov | Valid | Wilson | Eocene Ypresian | Okanagan Highlands Horsefly Shales | Canada British Columbia | A Priscacara species temperate bass. | |

## Archosauriformes
### Non-avian dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
| Fulengia | Gen et sp nov | Nomen dubium | Carroll & Galton | Early Jurassic | Lufeng Formation | China | Possible synonym of Lufengosaurus. | |
| Opisthocoelicaudia | Gen et sp Nov | Valid | Borsuk-Bialynicka | Late Cretaceous Maastrichtian | Nemegt Formation | Mongolia | A saltasaurid Titanosaur. | Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii |
| Othnielia | Gen et comb nov | jr synonym | Galton | Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian - Tithonian) | Morrison Formation | USA ( Colorado) | JR synonym of Nanosaurus agilis. | Nanosaurus agilis |
| Piveteausaurus | Gen et comb nov | Valid | Taquet & Welles | Middle Jurassic (Callovian) | Marnes de Dives Formation | France | A Megalosaur. Moved from Eustreptospondylus divesensis (1964) | Piveteausaurus divesensis |
| Saichania | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Maryańska | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Barun Goyot Formation | Mongolia | An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid | Saichania chulsanensis |
| "Shanshanosaurus" | Gen et sp nov | Jr synonym | Zhiming | Late Cretaceous (Campanian - Maastrichtian | Subashi Formation | China | A theropod. The type species is S. huoyanshanensis. Junior synonym of Tarbosaurus bataar. | Tarbosaurus bataar |
| Tarchia | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Maryańska | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Barun Goyot Formation | Mongolia | An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid | Tarchia kielanae |
| Tuojiangosaurus | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Dong et al | Late jurassic Oxfordian - Kimmeridgian | Shangshaximiao Formation | China | A Chinese Stegosaur. | Tuojiangosaurus multispinus |
| Valdosaurus | Gen et comb nov | Valid | Galton | Early Cretaceous (Berriasian - Barremian) | Wessex Formation | UK Isle of Wight | A Dryosaur. moved from Dryosaurus canaliculatus (1975) | Valdosaurus canaliculatus |
| Wannanosaurus | | Valid taxon | Hou | | | China | A Primitive Pachycephalosaur | Wannanosaurus |
| "Yezosaurus" | not formally described | Nomen nudum. | Obata & Muramoto | | | | A Non-dinosaurian marine reptile. Type species "Y." mikasaensis | Taniwhasaurus |

### Birds

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| Argillipes | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described as a phasianid. The type species is A. aurorum & includes A. paralectoris Considered Aves Incertae Sedis by Mlíkovský (2002) | |
| Buthierax | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Kretzoi | Middle Pleistocene | | Greece | An Incertae Sedis Accipitridae The type species is B. pouliani | |
| Cepphus storeri | Sp. nov. | Valid | Harrison | Late Pliocene | | UK | An Alcidae guillemot. | |
| Ciconia sarmatica | Sp. nov. | Valid | Grigorescu & Kessler | Early Miocene Sarmatian | | Romania | A Ciconiidae. | |
| Cinclodes major | Sp. nov. | Valid | Tonni | Middle Pleistocene | | Argentina | A Furnariidae. | |
| Coturnipes | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described as a phasianid The type species is C. cooperi Considered "Aves Incertae Sedis" by Olson, 1999 | |
| Gallus beremendensis | Sp. nov. | Valid | Jánossy | Late Pliocene | | Hungary | A Phasianidae. | |
| Limnofregata | Subfam, gen et sp nov. | Valid | Olson | Early Eocene | Green River Formation Fossil Butte Member | USA ( Wyoming) | A Limnofregatinae frigatebird. The type species L. azygosternon | Limnofregata azygosternon |
| Malacorhynchus scarletti | Sp. nov. | Valid | Olson | Holocene | | New Zealand | An Anatidae. | |
| Marinavis | Fam, gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described as a marinavid procelariiforme The type species is M. longirostris | |
| Microena | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described in the Columbidae The type species is M. goodwini. Considered as "Aves Inceretae Sedis" by Mlíkovský 2002, Possibly a "Coraciiformes" or "Caprimulgiformes"/Apodiformes, per Mayr, 2009. | |
| Neptuniavis | Gen et sp. nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A possible Procellariidae The type species is N. miranda and includes N. minor Possibly a synonym of Dasornis. | |
| Oxyura zapatanima | Sp. nov. | Valid | Alvarez | Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene | Jocotopec sand and gravel Quarry | Mexico | An Anatidae. | |
| Parvicuculus | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A Parvicuculidae THe type species is P. minor | |
| Parvigyps | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described as a Accipitridae The type species is P. praecox Considered "Aves Incertae Sedis" by Mlíkovský (2002) | |
| Percolinus | Gen et sp nov. | jr synonym | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | Described as a Phasianidae The type species is P. venablesi a jr synonym of Gypsornis (2002), | |
| Phalacrocorax chapalensis | Sp. nov. | Valid | Alvarez | Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene | Jocotopec sand and gravel quarry | Mexico | A Phalacrocoracidae. | |
| Pinguinus alfrednewtoni | Sp. nov. | Valid | Olson | Early Pliocene | Chesapeake Group | USA ( Maryland) | An Alcidae. | Pinguinus alfrednewtoni |
| Precursor | Sp. nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A glareolid The type species is P. parvus Other species are P. litorum and P. magnus. | |
| Primodroma | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A Hydrobatidae The type species is P. bournei. | |
| Primoscens | Fam, gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A "Primoscenidae" passeriform, The type species is P. minutus Moved to Zygodactylidae (2008), | |
| Procuculus | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Harrison & Walker | Early Eocene | | UK | A Parvicuculidae The type species is P. minutus Olson (1985) & Mayr, (2009) suggest possible synonymy with Primapus lacki. | |
| Quipollornis | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Vickers Rich & McEvey | Early to Middle Miocene | Chalk Mountain Diatomite | Australia | An Aegothelidae The type species is Q. koniberi. | |
| Rallus richmondi | Nom. nov. | Valid | Olson | Late Miocene | | Italy | A rail a new name for Rallus dubius Portis (1887), junior homonym of Rallus dubius Piller & Mitterpacher (1783). | |
| Sarmatosula | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Grigorescu & Kessler | Middle Miocene Sarmatian | | Romania | A Sulidae The type species is S. dobrogensis | |
| Shandongornis | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Yeh | Middle Miocene | Shanwang Series | China | A Phasianidae The type species is S. shanwanensis. | Shandongornis |
| Xenicibis | Gen et sp nov. | Valid | Olson & Steadman | Quaternary | Cave deposits | Jamaica | A Threskiornithidae The type species is X. xympithecus. | |

### Pterodactyls

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Location | Notes | Images |
| Araripedactylus | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Wellnhofer | late Aptian/early Albian | Santana Formation | Brazil | A pterodactyloid of uncertain affinities. The type species is A. dehmi | |

## Expeditions, field work, and fossil discoveries

* Trexler found hadrosaur remains west of Choteau, Montana in strata of the Two Medicine Formation.

## Popular culture
### Literature

* The Year of the Dinosaur Edwin H. Colbert and illustrated by his wife, Margaret was published. This story describes a year in the life of a "brontosaur" and was an attempt to educate the reader about prehistory through a fictional portrayal of it.