1817 in paleontology

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.^[1] 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 1817.

Pterosaurs

• Soemmering reported the discovery of a second pterosaur specimen. This second specimen was smaller than the first, with a 25 cm wingspan, and possessed a shorter snout. These traits mislead Soemmering into greater confidence in his interpretation of pterosaurs as bats. This specimen reminded him of the parti-colored bat. He named this fossil Ornithocephalus brevirostris.^[2][3]

New taxa

Taxon	Novelty	Status	Author(s)	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Ornithocephalus brevirostris[2]	Sp. nov.	Questionable	von Sömmerring	Tithonian	Solnhofen limestone	Germany	Juvenile possibly referrable to Ctenochasma