2016 in paleontology

Flora

Plants

Fungi

Cnidarians

Research

* '' Yunnanoascus haikouensis'', previously thought to be a member of Ctenophora, is reinterpreted as a crown-group medusozoan by Han ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the fossil corals from the Late Triassic (Norian) outcrops in Antalya Province (Turkey), indicating that the corals lived in symbiosis with photosynthesizing dinoflagellate algae, is published by Frankowiak ''et al.'' (2016).

New taxa

Arthropods

Bryozoans

Brachiopods

Molluscs

Echinoderms

Conodonts

Fishes

Amphibians

Research

* A study on the histology and growth histories of the humeri of the specimens of ''Acanthostega'' recovered from the mass-death deposit of Stensiö Bjerg (Greenland) is published by Sanchez ''et al.'' (2016), who argue that even the largest individuals from this deposit are juveniles.
* Fossils of a tetrapod resembling '' Ichthyostega'' and a probable whatcheeriid-grade tetrapod are described from two Devonian (Famennian) localities from Belgium by Olive ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the functional significance of the interpterygoid vacuities (holes in the palate) in temnospondyls is published by Lautenschlager, Witzmann & Werneburg (2016).
* A study on the stress distribution in the skulls of ''Edingerella madagascariensis'' and '' Stanocephalosaurus birdi'' during the bite, with implications for establishing the ecological niches occupied by these temnospondyls, is published by Fortuny ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the anatomy, ecological niche and life history of members the population of ''Eocyclotosaurus appetolatus'' known from the Tecolotito bonebed (Moenkopi Formation; New Mexico, United States) is published by Rinehart & Lucas (2016).
* A study on the morphology of the skull and braincase of ''Brachydectes newberryi'' is published by Pardo & Anderson (2016).
* A study on the locomotor capabilities of ''Triadobatrachus massinoti'' is published by Lires, Soto & Gómez (2016).
* A revised description of the holotype of ''Triadobatrachus massinoti'' based on X-ray micro-tomography data is published by Ascarrunz ''et al.'' (2016).
* The first unambiguous frog fossil from the Jurassic of Asia (an atlantal centrum of a possible member of the genus '' Eodiscoglossus'') is described from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Itat Formation (Russia) by Skutschas, Martin & Krasnolutskii (2016).

New taxa

Temnospondyls

Lissamphibians

Others

Lepidosaurs

Lizards

Research

* Twelve specimens of lizards (including stem-gekkotans, crown-agamids, a lacertid, a putative stem- chamaeleonid and squamates of uncertain phylogenetic placement, probably stem-squamates) are described from the Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian boundary) amber from Myanmar by Daza ''et al.'' (2016); however, the supposed stem-chamaeleonid is subsequently reinterpreted as an albanerpetontid amphibian by Matsumoto & Evans (2018).
* A study of almost 30 specimens of ''Polyglyphanodon sternbergi'', including almost complete skeletons, is published by Simões ''et al.'' (2016), who report the discovery of previously unrecognized ontogenetic series, sexual dimorphism and a complete lower temporal bar in the skull of members of this species.
* New anatomical data on the Late Cretaceous lizard '' Slavoia darevskii'' is published by Tałanda (2016), who interprets it as a stem- amphisbaenian.
* A study on the skull anatomy of the Eocene amphisbaenian '' Spathorhynchus fossorium'' is published by Müller, Hipsley & Maisano (2016).
* A study on mosasaur tooth implantation and its phylogenetic implications is published by Liu ''et al.'' (2016).
* A redescription of the mosasaur ''Hainosaurus bernardi'' Dollo (1885) is published by Jimenez-Huidobro & Caldwell (2016), who transfer this species to the genus ''Tylosaurus'' and synonymize genera ''Tylosaurus'' and ''Hainosaurus''.
* A revision of the species assigned to the mosasaur genus ''Tylosaurus'' is published by Jiménez-Huidobro, Simões & Caldwell (2016); their conclusion that ''T. kansasensis'' is a junior synonym of ''T. nepaeolicus'' is subsequently rejected by Stewart & Mallon (2018).
* Early Miocene chamaeleonid fossils, including a specimen tentatively attributed to the species ''Chamaeleo'' cf. ''andrusovi'' Čerňanský (2010), previously known only from the early Miocene of the Czech Republic, are described from the Aliveri locality (Euboea, Greece) by Georgalis, Villa & Delfino (2016).
* Lizard fossils which might be the oldest known chameleon fossils from India are described from the Miocene Nagri Formation by Sankhyan & Čerňanský (2016).

New taxa

Snakes

Research

* Lee ''et al.'' (2016) examine the limb anatomy of ''Tetrapodophis amplectus'', which according to the authors is suggestive of aquatic habits.
* A redescription of the Cenomanian snake '' Simoliophis rochebrunei'' on the basis of new fossil material from France is published by Rage, Vullo & Néraudeau (2016).
* Smith & Scanferla (2016) describe a juvenile specimen of '' Palaeopython fischeri'' from the Eocene Messel pit with preserved stomach contents, including a specimen of the stem-basilisk species '' Geiseltaliellus maarius'', which in turn preserves an unidentified insect in its stomach.
* McNamara ''et al.'' (2016) describe pigment cells responsible for coloration and patterning preserved in a fossil skin of a colubrid snake from the Late Miocene Libros Lagerstätte (Teruel, Spain).
* New fossil material of the viperid '' Laophis crotaloides'' is described from Greece by Georgalis ''et al.'' (2016).

New taxa

Ichthyosauromorphs

Research

* A study of taxonomic richness, disparity and evolutionary rates of ichthyosaurs throughout the Cretaceous period is published by Fischer ''et al.'' (2016).
* A restudy of ''"Platypterygius" campylodon'' is published by Fischer (2016), who transfers this species to the genus ''Pervushovisaurus''.
* A revision of the ichthyosaur material of the British Middle and Late Jurassic referable to ''Ophthalmosaurus icenicus'' is published by Moon & Kirton (2016).

New taxa

Sauropterygians

Research

* A study of the histology and microanatomy of the humeri of members of the genus ''Nothosaurus'' is published by Klein ''et al.'' (2016).
* A reassessment of fossils attributed to the genus ''Polyptychodon'' is published by Madzia (2016), who considers the type species of this genus, ''P. interruptus'', to be '' nomen dubium'', and the genus ''Polyptychodon'' to be a wastebasket taxon.
* O'Gorman (2016) provides a new diagnosis for '' Fresnosaurus drescheri'' and describes additional plesiosaur material from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moreno Formation (California, USA), which he interprets as representing the first aristonectine plesiosaur reported from the Northern Hemisphere.
* A redescription of the holotype specimen of ''Brancasaurus brancai'' and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Sachs, Hornung & Kear (2016), who consider the species '' Gronausaurus wegneri'' to be a junior synonym of ''B. brancai''.

New taxa

Turtles

Research

* A study on the latitudinal gradients in species diversity of Mesozoic non-marine turtles is published by Nicholson ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the morphological diversity of the skulls of the fossil and recent turtles through time is published by Foth & Joyce (2016).
* A study of the bone shell histology of ''Condorchelys antiqua'' and its implications for the lifestyle of the species is published by Cerda, Sterli & Scheyer (2016).
* A study of the bone histology of shell elements of the Late Cretaceous—Paleocene chelid '' Yaminuechelys'' is published by Jannello, Cerda & de la Fuente (2016).
* A review of the fossil record, taxonomy and diagnostic features of the fossil species belonging to the genus '' Chelus'' is published by Ferreira ''et al.'' (2016).
* Fossils of ''Plesiochelys etalloni'' and '' Tropidemys langii'', otherwise known from the Kimmeridgian of the Swiss and French Jura Mountains, are described from the British Kimmeridge Clay by Anquetin & Chapman (2016).
* An emended diagnosis of '' Testudo catalaunica'' and a study of phylogeny of extinct members of the genus '' Testudo'' is published by Luján ''et al.'' (2016).
* Giant tortoise fossils collected from the late Miocene-early Pliocene Mehrten Formation (California, USA) are identified as belonging to members of the species ''Hesperotestudo orthopygia'' by Biewer ''et al.'' (2016).

New taxa

Archosauriformes

Other reptiles

Research

* A skull of a juvenile specimen of ''Delorhynchus cifellii'' is described from the Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States) by Haridy ''et al.'' (2016).
* A revision of the systematics of the Chinese pareiasaurs is published by Benton (2016).
* A study of evolution of body size of the carnivorous and herbivorous members of Captorhinidae is published by Brocklehurst (2016).
* Surmik ''et al.'' (2016) describe nothosaurid and tanystropheid bones from the Triassic of Poland preserving blood-vessel-like structures enclosing organic molecules.
* Two new specimens of ''Atopodentatus unicus'' are described by Chun ''et al.'' (2016), providing new information on the skull anatomy of this species and indicating that its rostrum, rather than being downturned as originally assumed, developed a hammerhead-like shape.
* Description of new material of '' Hemilopas mentzeli'' from the Middle Triassic of Silesia (Poland) and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Surmik (2016).
* Description of the anatomy of partially articulated forelimbs and isolated forelimb bones of ''Drepanosaurus'' recovered from the Late Triassic (Norian) Hayden Quarry ( Chinle Formation) of New Mexico, USA is published by Pritchard ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the femoral and tibial histology of the rhynchosaur ''Stenaulorhynchus stockleyi'' is published by Werning & Nesbitt (2016).
* A study on the maximum body size and distribution of the reptile species known to have gone extinct during the last 50,000 years, as well as the role played by these factors in recent reptile extinction events, is published by Slavenko ''et al.'' (2016).

New taxa

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids

Research

* A study on the respiratory system and paleobiology of caseids is published by Lambertz ''et al.'' (2016), who argue that at least some caseids might have been predominantly aquatic and that a homologue of the mammalian diaphragm might have been present in caseids.
* A redescription of the sphenacodontian taxa ''Palaeohatteria'' and ''Pantelosaurus'' is published by Spindler (2016), who assigns both these taxa to the clade Palaeohatteriidae, but considers it likely that they represent distinct valid taxa.
* A study on the paleoneurology of non-mammaliaform therapsids is published by Benoit, Manger & Rubidge (2016), who argue that whiskers, body hair coverage and mammary glands might have been present in some non-mammaliaform therapsids.
* A study on the occurrence and size of the parietal foramen (an opening in which the pineal eye is located) in non-mammaliaform therapsids (especially non-mammaliaform eutheriodonts) known from the Karoo Supergroup of South Africa is published by Benoit ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study of life histories and growth patterns as indicated by bone tissue microstructure and body size in members of three synapsid groups that survived Permian–Triassic extinction event (dicynodonts, therocephalians and cynodonts) and one that didn't (gorgonopsians) is published by Botha-Brink ''et al.'' (2016).
* A revision of the systematics of the gorgonopsian subfamily Rubidgeinae is published by Kammerer (2016).
* A study on the anatomy and potential function of the cranial outgrowths of ''Choerosaurus dejageri'' is published by Benoit ''et al.'' (2016).
* Benoit & Jasinoski (2016) present a digital reconstruction of the lost holotype specimen of the cynodont species ''Scalopocynodon gracilis'' (a junior synonym of ''Procynosuchus delaharpeae'').
* A study on the microstructure of the postcanine teeth of the trirachodontid cynodont ''Cricodon metabolus'' is published by Hendrickx, Abdala & Choiniere (2016).
* A description of a new specimen of '' Massetognathus ochagaviae'' collected at the Middle Triassic ''Dinodontosaurus'' Assemblage Zone (Brazil) is published by Pavanatto ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study comparing the growth patterns of the tritylodontid cynodont ''Oligokyphus'' and the basal mammaliaform '' Morganucodon'' is published by O'Meara & Asher (2016).
* Hair-like structures found in a coprolite recovered from the Late Permian Vyazniki site (Russia), which might represent the oldest evidence of hair in the stem group of mammals, are described by Bajdek ''et al.'' (2016).

New taxa

Mammals

Other animals

Research

* Traces of a wriggling, mucus-secreting animal are described from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (China) by Wang ''et al.'' (2016), who name a new ichnotaxon '' Linbotulitaenia globulus''.
* New fossils of ''Ernietta plateauensis'' are described from the Ediacaran site in southern Namibia by Elliott ''et al.'' (2016).
* Embryo-like fossils are described from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (China) by Yin ''et al.'' (2016), who argue that at least some of these fossils represent crown-animal embryos.
* New fossil material of ''Oesia disjuncta'' is described by Nanglu ''et al.'' (2016), who interpret this species as a primitive acorn worm that inhabited the tubes previously identified as the alga ''Margaretia''.
* A redescription of '' Helenodora inopinata'' and a study of its phylogenetic relationships is published by Murdock, Gabbott & Purnell (2016).
* Description of the anatomy of the fossil velvet worm '' Cretoperipatus burmiticus'' and a study on its phylogenetic relationships is published by de Sena Oliveira ''et al.'' (2016).
* A study on the anatomy of the mouth apparatus of the lobopodian ''Pambdelurion whittingtoni'' is published by Vinther ''et al.'' (2016), who show that its mouth apparatus was identical to the fossilized feeding apparatus described under the name ''Omnidens''.

New taxa

Other organisms

New taxa

Research

* Probable stromatolites are described from the 3,700-Myr-old rocks from the Isua supracrustal belt (Greenland) by Nutman ''et al.'' (2016); however, Allwood ''et al.'' (2018) subsequently argue that these putative stromatolites as more likely to be structures of non-biological origin.
* Exceptionally large, organic, smooth-walled, coccoidal microfossils are described from the 2.52 Ga Gamohaan Formation (South Africa) by Czaja, Beukes & Osterhout (2016), who interpret them as fossils of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria similar to members of the modern genus ''Thiomargarita''.
* Macroscopic fossils up to 30 cm long and nearly 8 cm wide are described from the 1,56-billion-year-old Gaoyuzhuang Formation (Yanshan area, North China) by Zhu ''et al.'' (2016), who interpret them as probable fossils of benthic multicellular eukaryotes of size that is unprecedentedly large for eukaryotes older than the Ediacaran Period.
* Organic-walled microfossils (at least some of which are eukaryote fossils) with holes in the walls similar to those formed by predatory protists in the walls of their prey to consume the contents inside are described from the 780–740 million-year-old Chuar Group (Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA) by Porter (2016).
* Tubular microfossils showing similarities to modern coenocytic green and yellow-green algae are described from the ~2.8 to 2.7 Ga lacustrine deposits in South Africa by Kaźmierczak ''et al.'' (2016).
* Soft-bodied discoidal specimens resembling '' Aspidella'' are described from the Ediacaran Cerro Negro Formation (Argentina) by Arrouy ''et al.'' (2016).

References

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2010s in paleontology
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