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Paleontology or palaeontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") 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 2002.
Contents
Conodont paleozoology
Willi Ziegler IA Bardashev and K Weddige described the conodont genus Eolinguipolygnathus.
Archosauromorphs
Dinosaurs
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.
Newly named birds
Plesiosaurs
New taxa
Pterosaurs
In October, a partial Mesadacylus wing was discovered in the Kingsview Quarry of Colorado. This find marks the first time that a Morrison pterosaur has been found at more than one site in the formation.