2020 in paleontology

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
List of years in paleontology (
table
)
In paleobotany
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In arthropod paleontology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In paleoentomology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In paleomalacology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In paleoichthyology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In reptile paleontology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In archosaur paleontology
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
In paleomammalogy
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

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 2020.

Plants

Sponges

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Endostoma stellata[2] Sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae.

Eoghanospongia[3]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Botting et al.

Silurian (Telychian)

 United Kingdom

A hexactinellid sponge. Genus includes new species E. carlinslowpensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.

Eudea maxima[2] Sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae.
Iniquispongia[2] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. The type species is I. iranica.
Polyendostoma? irregularis[2] Sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae.
Polyendostoma? regularis[2] Sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae.
Preperonidella tabasensis[2] Sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Qale-Dokhtar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae.
Seriespongia[2] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Senowbari-Daryan, Fürsich & Rashidi Middle Jurassic (Callovian) Esfandiar Limestone Formation  Iran A calcareous sponge belonging the family Endostomatidae. The type species is S. iranica.

Shouzhispongia[4]

Gen. et 2 sp. nov

In press

Botting et al.

Ordovician (Hirnantian)

 China

A rossellid sponge. Genus includes S. coronata and S. prodigia.

Spongia mantelli[5]

Nom. nov

Valid

Van Soest, Hooper & Butler

Cretaceous

 United Kingdom

A replacement name for Spongia ramosa Mantell (1822).

Cnidarians

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Actinoseris riyadhensis[6] Sp. nov Valid Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Aruma  Saudi Arabia A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Alichurastrea[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species A. major. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Alveopora kumadai[8] Sp. nov Valid Niko & Suzuki Miocene (Langhian) Katsuta Group  Japan A species of Alveopora.
Amplexus gennarenensis[9] Sp. nov Valid Liao, Liang & Luo Carboniferous (Tournaisian)  China A rugose coral.
Anthracomedusa? hoferhauseri[10] Sp. nov Valid Szente Early Triassic Werfen Formation  Austria A box jellyfish.
Asteroseris arabica[6] Sp. nov Valid Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Aruma  Saudi Arabia A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Bowanophyllum ramosum[11] Sp. nov Valid Wang, Percival & Zhen Ordovician (Katian) Malachis Hill  Australia A rugose coral.
Carinthiaphyllum ramovsi[12] Sp. nov Valid Kossovaya, Novak & Weyer Permian (Asselian)  Slovenia A rugose coral belonging to the family Geyerophyllidae.
Colligophyllum[13] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Fedorowski Carboniferous (Bashkirian)  Ukraine A rugose coral. The type species is "Lytvophyllum" dobroljubovae Vassilyuk (1960). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Cunnolites (Plesiocunnolites) riyadhensis[6] Sp. nov Valid Gameil, El-Sorogy & Al-Kahtany Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Aruma  Saudi Arabia A solitary coral. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Eohydnophora baingoinensis[14] Sp. nov Valid Wang et al. Early Cretaceous  China A stony coral.
Eomicrophyllia[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species E. nalivkini. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Galliconularia[15] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Van Iten & Lefebvre Ordovician (Tremadocian) Saint-Chinian  France A member of Conulariida. The type species is "Conularia" azaisi Thoral (1935).
Guembelastreomorpha[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species G. vinogradovi. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Gurumdynia[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species G. gracilis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Hanagyroia[16] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Wang et al. Early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu  China A medusozoan of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly representing an intermediate morphological type between scyphozoans and cubozoans. Genus includes new species H. orientalis.
Hemiagetiolites longiseptatus[11] Sp. nov Valid Wang, Percival & Zhen Ordovician (Katian) Malachis Hill  Australia A tabulate coral.
Heteroamphiastrea[17] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kołodziej Early Cretaceous (Aptian)  Tanzania A stony coral belonging to the superfamily Heterocoenioidea and the family Carolastraeidae. Genus includes new species H. loeseri.
Heterostrotion huaqiaoense[18] Sp. nov Valid Denayer et al. Early Carboniferous  China A rugose coral
Krynkaphyllum[13] Gen. et 2 sp. nov Valid Fedorowski Carboniferous (Bashkirian)  Ukraine A rugose coral. The type species is K. multiplexum; genus also includes K. validum. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Martsaphyton[19] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Tinn, Vinn & Ainsaar Ordovician (Darriwilian)  Estonia A member of Medusozoa of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is M. moxi.
Michelinia flugeli[20] Sp. nov Valid Niko & Badpa Carboniferous (Bashkirian) Sardar Formation  Iran A tabulate coral belonging to the order Favositida and the family Micheliniidae.
Nancygyra[21] Gen. et sp. nov In press Bosellini & Stolarski in Bosellini et al. Eocene (Ypresian)  Italy A member of the family Euphylliidae. The type species is N. dissepimentata.
Neosyringaxon michelini[22] Sp. nov Valid Weyer & Rohart Devonian (Frasnian)  France A rugose coral belonging to the family Petraiidae
Paramixogonaria wangyouensis[23] Sp. nov Valid Liao & Liang Devonian (Givetian) Wenglai  China A rugose coral.
Pinacomorpha[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species P. apimelos. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Placophyllia baingoinensis[14] Sp. nov Valid Wang et al. Early Cretaceous  China A stony coral. Originally described as a species of Placophyllia, but subsequently transferred to the genus Sonoraphyllia.[24]
Placophyllia amnica[7] Sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A placophylliid coral. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Protokionophyllum feninoense[13] Sp. nov Valid Fedorowski Carboniferous (Bashkirian)  Ukraine A rugose coral. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Protostephanastrea[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan An actinastraeid coral. Genus includes new species P. leveni. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Psenophyllia[7] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. The type species is "Cylindrosmilia" longa Melnikova (1989). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Rotiphyllum xinjiangense[9] Sp. nov Valid Liao, Liang & Luo Carboniferous (Tournaisian)  China A rugose coral.
Sanidophyllum dubium[25] Sp. nov Valid Yu et al. Devonian (Emsian) Mia Le  Vietnam A rugose coral belonging to the family Breviphyllidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Sedekastrea[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A coral. Genus includes new species S. djalilovi. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Siphonophyllia khenifrense[26] Sp. nov Rodríguez, Said & Somerville in Rodríguez et al. Carboniferous (Viséan) Azrou-Khenifra  Morocco A rugose coral belonging to the family Cyathopsidae
Stylimorpha[7] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Melnikova & Roniewicz Early Jurassic (probably Pliensbachian)  Tajikistan A placophylliid coral. Genus includes new species S. kardjilgensis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Stylina namcoensis[14] Sp. nov Valid Wang et al. Early Cretaceous  China A stony coral.
Stylostrotion houi[18] Sp. nov Valid Denayer et al. Carboniferous (Viséan)  China A rugose coral
Syringopora iranica[20] Sp. nov Valid Niko & Badpa Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) Sardar Formation  Iran A tabulate coral belonging to the order Auloporida and the family Syringoporidae.

Research

  • Revision of tabulate-like fossils from before the latest Middle Ordovician is published by Elias, Lee & Pratt (2020), who reject the interpretation of these fossils as true tabulate corals.[27]
  • Drake, Whitelegge & Jacobs (2020) report the first recovery, sequencing, and identification of fossil biomineral proteins from a Pleistocene fossil invertebrate (the stony coral Orbicella annularis).[28]

Arthropods

Bryozoans

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Anastomopora blankenheimensis[29] Sp. nov Valid Ernst Devonian  Germany
Anastomopora minor[29] Sp. nov Valid Ernst Devonian  Germany
Anomalotoechus parvus[30] Sp. nov Valid Ernst, Bahrami & Parast Devonian (Famennian) Bahram  Iran A member of
Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Atactotoechidae
.
Asperopora sinensis[31] Sp. nov Valid Ernst et al. Silurian (Telychian) Hanchiatien  China A trepostome bryozoan.

Biforicula collinsi[32]

Sp. nov

Valid

Taylor

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Gault

 United Kingdom

Cheethamia volgaensis[33] Sp. nov Valid Koromyslova & Seltser Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)  Russia
( Saratov Oblast)
A member of
Cheilostomata
Cribrilaria profunda[34] Sp. nov Valid Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky Pleistocene  Italy A member of the family Cribrilinidae.
Dianulites altaicus[35] Sp. nov Valid Koromyslova & Sennikov Ordovician (Sandbian)  Russia
( Altai Republic)
A member of Esthonioporata.
Dyscritella kalmardensis[36] Sp. nov Valid Ernst & Gorgij Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) Siliciclastic Imagh  Iran A member of
Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Dyscritellidae
. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Dyscritella multiporata[36] Sp. nov Valid Ernst & Gorgij Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) Siliciclastic Imagh  Iran A member of Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Dyscritellidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Figularia spectabilis[34] Sp. nov Valid Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky Pleistocene  Italy A member of the family Cribrilinidae.
Filites bakharevi[37] Sp. nov Valid Mesentseva in Mesentseva & Udodov Devonian (Emsian)  Russia
Filites fragilis[37] Sp. nov Valid Udodov in Mesentseva & Udodov Devonian (Emsian)  Russia
Filites regularis[37] Sp. nov Valid Mesentseva in Mesentseva & Udodov Devonian (Emsian)  Russia
Filites vulgaris[37] Sp. nov Valid Udodov in Mesentseva & Udodov Devonian (Emsian)  Russia
Glabrilaria transversocarinata[34] Sp. nov Valid Rosso, Di Martino & Ostrovsky Pleistocene  Italy A member of the family Cribrilinidae.
Hemiphragma insolitum[38] Sp. nov Valid Koromyslova & Fedorov Ordovician (Dapingian)  Russia A trepostome bryozoan.
Microporella tanyae[39] Sp. nov Valid Di Martino, Taylor & Gordon Pliocene Yorktown  United States
( Virginia)
A member of the family Microporellidae.
Moorephylloporina parvula[31] Sp. nov Valid Ernst et al. Silurian (Telychian) Hanchiatien  China A fenestrate bryozoan.
Parastenodiscus sinaiensis[40] Sp. nov In press Ernst et al. Carboniferous (Mississippian)  Egypt A member of
Trepostomata
Planopora[38] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Koromyslova & Fedorov Ordovician (Dapingian)  Russia A bifoliate
cystoporate
. Genus includes new species P. volkhovensis.
Rhombopora aryani[36] Sp. nov Valid Ernst & Gorgij Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) Siliciclastic Imagh  Iran A member of Cryptostomata belonging to the group Rhabdomesina and to the family Rhomboporidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Taylorus patagonicus[41] Sp. nov Valid Pérez et al. Early Miocene  Argentina A member of the family Escharinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Trematopora jiebeiensis[31] Sp. nov Valid Ernst et al. Silurian (Telychian) Hanchiatien  China A trepostome bryozoan.
Trematopora tenuis[31] Sp. nov Valid Ernst et al. Silurian (Telychian) Hanchiatien  China A trepostome bryozoan.
Zefrehopora[30] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Ernst, Bahrami & Parast Devonian (Famennian) Bahram  Iran A member of
Trepostomata belonging to the group Amplexoporina and to the family Eridotrypellidae
. The type species is Z. asynithis.

Brachiopods

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Altiplanotoechia[42] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Colmenar in Colmenar & Hodgin Ordovician Umachiri  Peru A polytoechioid brachiopod. Genus includes new species A. hodgini.
Beaussetithyris[43] Gen. et sp. nov Gaspard & Charbonnier Late Cretaceous (Santonian)  France A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. The type species is B. asymmetrica.
Biconvexiella saopauloensis[44] Sp. nov In press Simões et al. Late Paleozoic Taciba  Brazil
Bockeliena[45] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Baarli Silurian (Rhuddanian)  United Kingdom A member of the family Atrypinidae; a new genus for "Atrypa" flexuosa Marr & Nicholson (1888).
Brevilamnulella minuta[46] Sp. nov Valid Jin & Blodgett Late Ordovician  United States
( Alaska)
Chilcatreta lariojana[47] Sp. nov Valid Lavié & Benedetto Ordovician Suri  Argentina A siphonotretid brachiopod. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Chinellirostra[48] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett Devonian (Givetian)  China A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Genus includes new species C. rara. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Contortithyris[43] Gen. et sp. nov Gaspard & Charbonnier Late Cretaceous (Santonian) Micraster  France A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. The type species is C. thermae.
Cyclothyris cardiatelia[49] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero, Barroso-Barcenilla & Joral Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Rhynchonellida
Cyclothyris grimargina[43] Sp. nov Gaspard & Charbonnier Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Micraster  France A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae
Cyclothyris nekvasilovae[50] Sp. nov Valid Berrocal-Casero, Joral & Barroso-Barcenilla Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)  Czech Republic A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the family Cyclothyrididae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Cyclothyris segurai[49] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero, Barroso-Barcenilla & Joral Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Rhynchonellida
Dihelictera engerensis[45] Sp. nov Valid Baarli Ordovician/Silurian boundary Solvik  Norway A member of the family Atrypidae.
Dogdoa talyndzhensis[51] Sp. nov Valid Baranov Early Devonian  Russia A member of Rhynchonellida.
Elliptoglossa kononovae[52] Sp. nov Valid Smirnova & Zhegallo Devonian (Famennian)  Russia A member of Lingulida.
Enriquetoechia[42] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Colmenar & Hodgin Ordovician Umachiri  Peru A polytoechioid brachiopod. Genus includes new species E. umachiriensis.
Eoobolus incipiens[53] Sp. nov In press Zhang, Popov, Holmer & Zhang in Zhang et al. Cambrian Ajax Limestone
Dengying Formation
Mernmerna Formation
Wilkawillina Limestone
 Australia
 China
A member of Linguloidea.
Euroatrypa? sigridi[45] Sp. nov Valid Baarli Ordovician/Silurian boundary Solvik  Norway A member of the family Atrypinidae.
Famatinobolus[47] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Lavié & Benedetto Ordovician Suri  Argentina An obolid brachiopod. Genus includes new species F. cancellatum. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Germanoplatidia[54] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Dulai & Von der Hocht Oligocene (Chattian)  Germany A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Platidiidae; a new genus for "Terebratula" pusilla Philippi (1843).
Gotatrypa vettrensis[45] Sp. nov Valid Baarli Ordovician/Silurian boundary Solvik  Norway A member of the family Atrypidae.
Hassanispirifer[55] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani Devonian (Givetian) Taboumakhlouf  Morocco A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Xenomartiniidae. The type species is H. africanus.
Holynetes? mzerrebiensis[55] Sp. nov Valid Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani Devonian (Givetian) Ahrerouch  Morocco A member of Chonetidina belonging to the family Anopliidae.
Imbriea[56] Nom. nov Valid Reily Devonian  United States A member of Orthotetida belonging to the family Areostrophiidae; a replacement name for Orthopleura Imbrie (1959).
Kafirnigania jorali[57] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Terebratulida.
Kafirnigania massiliensis[57] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  France
 Spain
A member of Terebratulida.
Kirkidium canberrense[58] Sp. nov Valid Strusz
Wenlock
)
Canberra  Australia A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Pentameridae.
Lambdarina winklerprinsi[59] Sp. nov Valid Voldman et al. Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) San Emiliano  Spain
Levitusia elongata[60] Sp. nov Valid Tazawa Carboniferous (Viséan)  Japan A member of Productidina belonging to the family Leioproductidae.
Lingulellotreta yuanshanensis[61]
Sp. nov Valid Zhang et al. Cambrian  China
Linnaeocaninella[62] Nom. nov Valid Hernández Middle Permian Lengwu  China A replacement name for Caninella Liang (1990)
Linnarssonia sapushanensis[63] Sp. nov Valid Duan et al. Cambrian Stage 4 Wulongqing  China An acrotretoid brachiopod.
Lithobolus limbatum[47] Sp. nov Valid Lavié & Benedetto Ordovician Suri  Argentina An obolid brachiopod. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Mishninia[51] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Baranov Early Devonian  Russia The type species is M. nodosa
Neobolus wulongqingensis[64] Sp. nov Valid Zhang, Strotz, Topper & Brock in Zhang et al. Cambrian Stage 4 Wulongqing  China A member of Lingulida belonging to the family Neobolidae. Many specimens had tubeworm-like kleptoparasites attached to their shells.
Neochonetes (Sommeriella) longa[65] Sp. nov Valid Wu et al. Permian (Changhsingian) Luokeng  China
Neochonetes (Sommeriella) transversa [65] Sp. nov Valid Wu et al. Permian (Changhsingian) Luokeng  China
Nucleatina anotia[57] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain
 France?
A member of Terebratulida.
Nucleatina arcana[57] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Terebratulida.
Nucleatina barrosoi[57] Sp. nov In press Berrocal-Casero Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Terebratulida.
Orbiculoidea katzeri[66] Sp. nov In press Corrêa & Ramos Devonian (Lochkovian) Manacapuru  Brazil
Orbiculoidea xinguensis[66] Sp. nov In press Corrêa & Ramos Devonian (Lochkovian) Manacapuru  Brazil
Palaeotreta[67] Gen. et sp. et comb. nov Valid Zhang et al. Cambrian Series 2 Shuijingtuo  China A member of the family Acrotretidae. The type species is P. shannanensis; genus also includes "Eohadrotreta" zhujiahensis Li & Holmer (2004).
Paragilledia[68] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Shi, Waterhouse & Lee Early Permian Pebbley Beach  Australia A member of Terebratulida belonging to the family Gillediidae. Genus includes new species P. kioloaensis.
Paramickwitzia[69] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Pan et al. Cambrian Series 2 Xinji  China A
Mickwitziidae
. Genus includes new species P. boreussinaensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Plectatrypa rindi[45] Sp. nov Valid Baarli Ordovician/Silurian boundary Solvik  Norway A member of the family Atrypinidae.
Plicarmus[70] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Claybourn et al. Cambrian Stage 4 Byrd Group Antarctica A member of Lingulata. Genus includes new species P. wildi.
Pomatotrema laubacheri[42] Sp. nov Valid Colmenar & Hodgin Ordovician Umachiri  Peru
Rhinatrypa[45] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Baarli Ordovician/Silurian boundary Solvik  Norway A member of the family Atrypidae. The type species is "Plectatrypa" henningsmoeni Boucot & Johnson (1967).
Rhipidium oepiki[58] Sp. nov Valid Strusz Silurian (Wenlock) Canberra  Australia A member of Pentamerida belonging to the family Pentameridae.
Spinocarinifera qilinzhaiensis[71] Sp. nov Valid Nie et al. Carboniferous (Tournaisian) Tangbagou Formation  China
Stringocephalus sinensis[48] Sp. nov Valid Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett Devonian (Givetian)  China A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Tabellina laseroni[68] Sp. nov Valid Shi, Waterhouse & Lee Early Permian Pebbley Beach  Australia An ingelarelloidean brachiopod belonging to the family Notospiriferidae.
Tapuritreta gribovensis[72] Sp. nov Valid Holmer et al. Cambrian (Guzhangian) Karpinsk Formation  Russia
( Arkhangelsk Oblast)
A member of the family Acrotretidae.
Tcherskidium tenuicostatus[46] Sp. nov Valid Jin & Blodgett Late Ordovician  United States
( Alaska)
Thomasaria bultyncki[55] Sp. nov Valid Garcia-Alcalde & El Hassani Devonian (Givetian) Ahrerouch  Morocco A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Thomasariidae.
Vagrania naanchanensis[51] Sp. nov Valid Baranov Early Devonian  Russia A member of Atrypida.
Verchojania abramovi[73] Sp. nov Valid Makoshin Late Carboniferous  Russia A member of Productida
Wahwahlingula? pankovensis[72] Sp. nov Valid Holmer et al. Cambrian (Guzhangian) Karpinsk Formation  Russia
( Arkhangelsk Oblast)
A member of Linguloidea belonging to the family Zhanatellidae.
Woodwardirhynchia pontemdiaboli[49] Sp. nov In press Berrocal Casero, Barroso Barcenilla & Joral Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)  Spain A member of Rhynchonellida
Yangirostra[48] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Baranov, Qiao & Blodgett Devonian (Givetian)  China A member of the family Stringocephalidae. Genus includes new species Y. asiatica. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.

Research

  • A study on the mode of life of Paleozoic strophomenatans is published by Stanley (2020), who argues that nearly all strophomenatans lived infaunally.[74]
  • A study on the paleobiogeography of Early−Middle Devonian (Pragian−Eifelian) brachiopods from West Gondwana, aiming to determine any potential controls that may have driven bioregionalization, is published by Penn-Clarke & Harper (2020).[75]
  • A study on the phylogenetic relationships and ecomorphologic diversification of Mesozoic spiriferinids is published by Guo, Chen & Harper (2020).[76]

Molluscs

Echinoderms

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Abertella carlsoni[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Miocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Abludoglyptocrinus steinheimerae[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A monobathrid crinoid.
Aenigmaticumcrinus[79] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Scheffler Devonian Belén  Bolivia A crinoid belonging to the group Dimerocrinitacea. Genus includes new species A. rochacamposi.
Aerliceaster[80] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Blake, Gahn & Guensburg Ordovician (Floian) Garden City  United States
( Idaho)
A starfish. Genus includes new species A. nexosus.
Alkaidia megaungula[81] Sp. nov Valid Ewin & Gale Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Taba  Morocco A starfish belonging to the family Terminasteridae.
Arceoaster[82] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Blake & Sprinkle Silurian
Hunton Group
 United States
( Oklahoma)
A starfish belonging to the family Hudsonasteridae. Genus includes new species A. hintei.
Aszulcicrinus[83] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Hagdorn Middle Triassic (Anisian) Gogolin  Poland A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Dadocrinidae. The type species is A. pentebrachiatus.
Brissopsis hoffmani[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Miocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Bronthaster[84] Gen. et sp. nov In press Jell & Cook Carboniferous (Namurian) Yagon Siltstone  Australia A brittle star belonging to the family Protasteridae. Genus includes new species B. retus.
Calclyra bifida[85] Sp. nov Valid Pabst & Herbig Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) Genicera  Spain A brittle star belonging to the group Oegophiurida and the family Calclyridae.
Clypeaster petersonorum[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Miocene  United States
( Florida)
A species of Clypeaster.
Comptonia bretoni[86] Sp. nov Valid Gale Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
Atherfield
 United Kingdom A starfish
Coulonia caseyi[86] Sp. nov Valid Gale Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
Atherfield
 United Kingdom An astropectinid starfish
Cyclogrupera[87] Gen. et sp. nov Torres-Martínez, Villanueva-Olea & Sour-Tovar Permian (AsselianSakmarian) Grupera  Mexico A crinoid belonging to the family Cyclomischidae. The type species is C. minor.
Discocrinus africanus[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Aït Lamine  Morocco A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae.
Discometra luberonensis[89] Sp. nov Valid Eléaume, Roux & Philippe Miocene (Burdigalian)  France A feather star belonging to the family Himerometridae.
Drepanocrinus wardorum[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 Morocco
 Tunisia

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Durhamicystis[90] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Zamora, Sprinkle & Sumrall Ordovician (Sandbian) Chambersburg  United States
( Maryland)
A member of Eocrinoidea belonging to the family Rhipidocystidae. The type species is D. americana.
Encrinaster alsbachensis[91] Sp. nov Valid Müller & Hahn Early Devonian  Germany A brittle star.
Enodicalix[92] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Paul & Gutiérrez-Marco Ordovician  Spain A member of Diploporita belonging to the family Aristocystitidae. The type species is "Calix" inornatus Meléndez (1958).
Eoastropecten[93] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Gale Late Triassic (Carnian)  China A starfish belonging to the family Astropectinidae. Genus includes new species E. sechuanensis.
Euglyphocrinus cristagalli[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 Morocco
 United States
( Texas)

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Euglyphocrinus jacobsae[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 Morocco
 Tunisia

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Euglyphocrinus truncatus[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 Morocco
 Tunisia

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Euglyphocrinus worthensis[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 Morocco
 United States
( Texas)

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Euptychocrinus longipinnulus[94] Sp. nov Valid Fearnhead et al. Silurian (Telychian) Pysgotwr Grits  United Kingdom A camerate crinoid
Eutaxocrinus ariunai[95] Sp. nov Valid Waters et al. Devonian (Famennian) Samnuuruul Formation  Mongolia A crinoid. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Eutaxocrinus sersmaai[95] Sp. nov Valid Waters et al. Devonian (Famennian) Samnuuruul Formation  Mongolia A crinoid. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Fenestracrinus[88] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Aït Lamine  Morocco A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae. The type species is F. oculifer.
Fernandezaster whisleri[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Pliocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Floricyclocion[87] Gen. et sp. nov Torres-Martínez, Villanueva-Olea & Sour-Tovar Permian (Asselian‒Sakmarian) Grupera  Mexico A crinoid belonging to the family Floricyclidae. The type species is F. heteromorpha.
Gagaria hunterae[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Miocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Genocidaris oyeni[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Pliocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Heterobrissus lubellii[96] Sp. nov Valid Borghi & Stara Late Oligocene-early Miocene  Italy A heart urchin.
Holocrinus qingyanensis[97] Sp. nov Valid Stiller Middle Triassic (Anisian)  China A crinoid belonging to the family Holocrinidae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) covuncoensis[98] Sp. nov Valid Lazo et al. Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) Agrio  Argentina A crinoid.
Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) pehuenchensis[98] Sp. nov Valid Lazo et al. Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) Agrio  Argentina A crinoid.
Kolataster[80] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Blake, Gahn & Guensburg Ordovician (Sandian) Mifflin  United States
( Illinois)
A starfish. Genus includes new species K. perplexus.
Lebenharticrinus quinvigintensis[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Aït Lamine  Morocco A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Lebenharticrinus zitti[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Aït Lamine  Morocco A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Linguaserra heidii[85] Sp. nov Valid Pabst & Herbig Carboniferous (Tournaisian to Serpukhovian) Genicera
Heiligenhaus
 Germany
 Spain
A member of Ophiocistioidea belonging to the family Linguaserridae.
Lovenia kerneri[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Pliocene  United States
( Florida)
A species of Lovenia.
Maestratina[99] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Forner i Valls & Saura Vilar Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Forcall Formation  Spain A
Arbaciidae
. The type species is "Cotteaudia" royoi Lambert (1928).
Magnasterella[100] Gen. et comb. nov In press Fraga & Vega Devonian (Frasnian) Ponta Grossa  Brazil A starfish belonging to the group Euaxosida; a new genus for "Echinasterella" darwini Clarke (1913).
Marginix notatus[100] Sp. nov In press Fraga & Vega Devonian (Frasnian) Ponta Grossa  Brazil A brittle star
Meperocrinus[79] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Scheffler Devonian Icla  Bolivia A crinoid belonging to the family Emperocrinidae. Genus includes new species M. angelina.
Mongoliacrinus[95] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Waters et al. Devonian (Famennian) Samnuuruul Formation  Mongolia A crinoid belonging to the family Acrocrinidae. Genus includes new species M. minjini. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.
Odontaster tabaensis[81] Sp. nov Valid Ewin & Gale Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Taba  Morocco A starfish, a species of Odontaster.
Ophiacantha oceani[101] Sp. nov Valid Numberger-Thuy & Thuy Pliocene to Pleistocene (Piacenzian to Gelasian)  Italy A brittle star belonging to the family Ophiacanthidae.
Ophiomitrella floorae[102] Sp. nov Valid Thuy, Numberger-Thuy & Gale Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Maastricht  Netherlands An ophiacanthid brittle star.
Paragonaster felli[103] Sp. nov Valid Stevens Early Cretaceous  New Zealand A starfish.
Paranaster[100] Gen. et comb. nov In press Fraga & Vega Devonian (Emsian) Ponta Grossa  Brazil A starfish belonging to the group Euaxosida. Genus includes new species P. crucis.
Pararchaeocrinus kiddi[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A diplobathrid crinoid.
Peckicrinus[104] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Duck Creek  United States
( Oklahoma
 Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. The type species is "Poecilocrinus" porcatus Peck (1943). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Pegoasterella[105] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Blake & Koniecki Late Ordovician Bromide
Guttenberg
 United States
( Illinois
 Oklahoma)
A starfish belonging to the family Urasterellidae. Genus includes new species P. pompom.
Periglyptocrinus astricus[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A monobathrid crinoid.
Periglyptocrinus kevinbretti[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A monobathrid crinoid.
Periglyptocrinus mcdonaldi[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A monobathrid crinoid.
Periglyptocrinus silvosus[78] Sp. nov Valid Cole et al. Ordovician (Katian) Brechin Lagerstätte
Bobcaygeon & Verulam
 Canada
( Ontario)
A monobathrid crinoid.
Plotocrinus molineuxae[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Goodland  United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Plotocrinus rashallae[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Goodland  France
 United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Plotocrinus reidi[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Kiamichi  United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Psammaster[106] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Fau et al. Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Grès des Oies  France A starfish belonging to the group Forcipulatida. The type species is "Ophidiaster" davidsoni de Loriol & Pellat (1874).
Rhyncholampas meansi[77] Sp. nov Valid Osborn, Portell & Mooi Pleistocene  United States
( Florida)
A sea urchin.
Roveacrinus gladius[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 Morocco
 Tunisia

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Roveacrinus morganae[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian)
Pawpaw
 United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Roveacrinus proteus[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Pawpaw  United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Roveacrinus solisoccasum[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Early Cretaceous (Albian)

 Morocco
 United States
( Texas)

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Schoenaster carterensis[107] Sp. nov Valid Harris, Ettensohn & Carnahan-Jarvis
Chesterian
)
Slade  United States
( Kentucky)
A brittle star
Seifenia[108] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Müller & Hahn Early Devonian Seifen  Germany A member of Edrioasteroidea. The type species is S. ostara.
Spiracarneyella[109] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Sumrall & Phelps Ordovician (Katian) Point Pleasant  United States
( Kentucky
 Ohio)
A carneyellid edrioasteroid. Genus includes new species S. florencei.
Streptoiocrinus[110] Gen. nov Valid Rozhnov Ordovician  Estonia
 Russia
( Leningrad Oblast)
A crinoid belonging to the group Disparida.
Styracocrinus rimafera[88] Sp. nov Valid Gale Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

 Morocco
 Tunisia

A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae
Styracocrinus thomasae[104] Sp. nov Valid Gale in Gale et al. Early Cretaceous (Albian) Goodland  United States
( Texas)
A crinoid belonging to the family Roveacrinidae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Tallinnicrinus[111] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Cole, Ausich & Wilson Ordovician (Hirnantian)  Estonia An anthracocrinid diplobathrid crinoid. Genus includes new species T. toomae.
Tollmannicrinus leidapoensis[97] Sp. nov Valid Stiller Middle Triassic (Anisian)  China A crinoid. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Tuberocrinus[79] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Scheffler Devonian Belén  Bolivia A crinoid belonging to the group Dimerocrinitacea. Genus includes new species T. lapazensis.
Vaquerosella perrillatae[112] Sp. nov Valid Martínez Melo & Alvarado Ortega Miocene San Ignacio  Mexico A sand dollar belonging to the family Echinarachniidae

Research

  • A study on morphological diversification of echinoderms and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the establishment of echinoderm body plans during the early Paleozoic is published by Deline et al. (2020).[113]
  • A study on the locomotion of cornute stylophorans, based on data from a specimen of Phyllocystis crassimarginata from the Ordovician (Tremadocian) Saint-Chinian Formation (France), is published by Clark et al. (2020).[114]
  • A study on the speciation and dispersal of the diploporan blastozoans through the Ordovician period is published by Lam, Sheffield & Matzke (2020).[115]
  • A study on the evolutionary history of eublastoid blastozoans is published by Bauer (2020).[116]
  • A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Eumorphocystis is published by Guensburg et al. (2020), who consider this taxon to be a blastozoan far removed from crinoids, contrary to the results of the study of Sheffield & Sumrall (2019).[117][118]
  • A study on the phylogeny of the crown group of Echinoidea, based on both phylogenomic and paleontological data, is published by Koch & Thompson (2020).[119]
  • A study on the structure of the arms and on probable locomotion strategies of Devonian brittle stars from the Hunsrück Slate (Germany) is published by Clark, Hutchinson & Briggs (2020).[120]

Conodonts

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Ancyrognathus minjini[121] Sp. nov Valid Suttner et al. Late Devonian Baruunhuurai  Mongolia Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Baltoniodus norrlandicus denticulatus[122] Subsp. nov Valid Dzik Ordovician (Darriwilian)  Poland Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Belodina watsoni[123] Sp. nov Valid Zhen Ordovician (Darriwilian)  Australia
Bipennatus hemilevigatus[124] Sp. nov Valid Lu & Königshof Devonian (Eifelian) Beiliu  China Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Bipennatus planus[124] Sp. nov Valid Lu & Königshof Devonian (Eifelian) Beiliu  China Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Diplognathodus benderi[125] Sp. nov Valid Hu et al. Carboniferous (BashkirianMoscovian boundary)  China
Erraticodon neopatu[126] Sp. nov Valid Zhen in Zhen et al. Ordovician Willara  Australia Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Gladigondolella laii[127] Sp. nov In press Chen in Chen et al. Early Triassic  Oman
Idiognathodus fengtingensis[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (KasimovianGzhelian boundary)  China
Idiognathodus luodianensis[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary)  China
Idiognathodus naqingensis[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary)  China
Idiognathodus naraoensis[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary)  China
Latericriodus guangnanensis[129] Sp. nov In press Lu & Valenzuela-Ríos in Lu et al. Devonian (Emsian) Daliantang  China A member of Prioniodontida belonging to the family Icriodontidae.
Misikella kolarae[130] Sp. nov Valid Karádi et al. Late Triassic  Hungary Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Pachycladina rendona[131] Sp. nov In press Wu & Ji in Wu et al. Early Triassic  China An ellisonid conodont.
Palmatolepis subperlobata tatarica[132] Nom. nov Valid Ovnatanova & Gatovsky Devonian (Famennian) Prikazanskaya Formation  Russia
( Tatarstan)
A replacement name for Palmatolepis subperlobata helmsi Ovnatanova (1976). The subspecies was subsequently raised to the rank of a separate species by Ovnatanova & Kononova (2023).[133]
Paullella omanensis[127] Sp. nov In press Chen in Chen et al. Early Triassic  Croatia
 Oman
Polygnathus nalaiensis[124] Sp. nov Valid Lu & Königshof Devonian (Eifelian) Beiliu  China Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Rossodus? boothiaensis[134] Sp. nov Valid Zhang Turner Cliffs  Canada
( Nunavut)
Scalpellodus percivali[123] Sp. nov Valid Zhen Ordovician (Darriwilian)  Australia
Scythogondolella dolosa[135] Sp. nov Valid Bondarenko & Popov Early Triassic  Russia
( Primorsky Krai)
Siphonodella leiosa[136] Sp. nov In press Souquet, Corradini & Girard Carboniferous (Tournaisian)  France
Streptognathodus nemyrovskae[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (Gzhelian)  China
Streptognathodus zhihaoi[128] Sp. nov Valid Qi et al. Carboniferous (Gzhelian)  China
Tortodus dodoensis[137] Sp. nov Valid Gouwy, Uyeno & McCracken Devonian (Givetian)  Canada Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Trapezognathus pectinatus[122] Sp. nov Valid Dzik Ordovician (Darriwilian)  Poland Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Zieglerodina petrea[138] Sp. nov Valid Hušková & Slavík Silurian/Devonian boundary Prague Synform  Czech Republic Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.

Research

Fishes

Amphibians

Reptiles

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Agudotherium[141] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Stefanello et al. Late Triassic Candelária  Brazil A non-
cynodont
. Genus includes new species A. gassenae.
Bohemiclavulus[142] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Spindler, Voigt & Fischer Carboniferous (Gzhelian) Slaný  Czech Republic A member of the family
Naosaurus
" mirabilis Fritsch (1895). Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.

Caodeyao[143] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Liu & Abdala Late Permian Naobaogou  China A therocephalian. Genus includes new species C. liuyufengi.
Chiniquodon omaruruensis[144] Sp. nov Valid Mocke, Gaetano & Abdala Triassic Omingonde  Namibia
Dendromaia[145] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Maddin, Mann & Hebert Carboniferous  Canada
( Nova Scotia)
A member of Varanopidae. Genus includes new species D. unamakiensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Etjoia[146] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Hendrickx et al. Triassic (Ladinian/Carnian) Omingonde  Namibia A
cynodont
. Genus includes new species E. dentitransitus.
Hypselohaptodus[147] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Spindler Permian (Cisuralian) Kenilworth  United Kingdom An early member of Sphenacodontia; a new genus for "Haptodus" grandis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Inditherium[148] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Bhat, Ray & Datta Late Triassic Tiki  India A dromatheriid cynodont. Genus includes new species I. floris.
Kalaallitkigun[149] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Sulej et al. Late Triassic (Norian) Fleming Fjord  Greenland An early member of Mammaliaformes, possibly a member of Haramiyida. Genus includes new species K. jenkinsi.
Kataigidodon[150] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kligman et al. Late Triassic Chinle  United States
( Arizona)
A non-mammalian eucynodont. Genus includes new species K. venetus.
Kenomagnathus[151] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Spindler Carboniferous (late Pennsylvanian) Rock Lake Shale Mb, Stanton  United States
( Kansas)
An early member of Sphenacodontia. The type species is K. scottae.

Martensius[152] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Berman et al. Permian (Artinskian) Tambach  Germany A member of Caseidae. The type species is M. bromackerensis.
Nshimbodon[153] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Huttenlocker & Sidor Late Permian Madumabisa Mudstone  Zambia A
cynodont, probably a member of the family Charassognathidae
. Genus includes new species N. muchingaensis.
Polonodon[154] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Sulej et al. Late Triassic (Carnian)  Poland A non-mammaliaform eucynodont. Genus includes new species P. woznikiensis. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Remigiomontanus[142] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Spindler, Voigt & Fischer CarboniferousPermian transition Saar–Nahe  Germany A member of the family Edaphosauridae. Genus includes new species R. robustus. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Rewaconodon indicus[148] Sp. nov Valid Bhat, Ray & Datta Late Triassic Tiki  India A dromatheriid cynodont.
Taoheodon[155] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Liu
Late Permian
Sunjiagou Formation  China A
dicynodont
. Genus includes new species T. baizhijuni.
Theroteinus jenkinsi[156] Sp. nov Valid Whiteside & Duffin Late Triassic (Rhaetian)  United Kingdom A haramiyidan mammaliaform. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Tikiodon[148] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Bhat, Ray & Datta Late Triassic Tiki  India A mammaliamorph cynodont. Genus includes new species T. cromptoni.

Research

  • A study on the evolution of the well-defined morphological regions of the vertebral column and of vertebral functional diversity in synapsids is published by Jones et al. (2020).[157]
  • A study aiming to determine the resting metabolic rates and the thermometabolic regimes (endothermy or ectothermy) in eight non-mammalian synapsids is published by Faure-Brac & Cubo (2020).[158]
  • A study on the shoulder musculature in extant Argentine black and white tegu and Virginia opossum, evaluating its implications for reconstructions of the shoulder musculature in non-mammalian synapsids, is published by Fahn-Lai, Biewener & Pierce (2020).[159]
  • A study aiming to determine whether a
    vicariance pattern can explain early synapsid evolution is published by Brikiatis (2020).[160]
  • Mann et al. (2020) reinterpret Carboniferous taxon Asaphestera platyris Steen (1934) from the Joggins locality (Nova Scotia, Canada) as the earliest unambiguous synapsid in the fossil record reported so far.[161]
  • A study on the long bone histology of varanopids from the lower Permian Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States), evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the paleobiology of early synapsids, is published by Huttenlocker & Shelton (2020).[162]
  • Mann & Reisz (2020) report a new hyper-elongated neural spine of Echinerpeton intermedium from the Pennsylvanian-aged Sydney Mines Formation (Nova Scotia, Canada), indicating a wider distribution of hyper-elongation of vertebral neural spines in early synapsids than previously known.[163]
  • A study on the histology of vertebral centra of Edaphosaurus and Dimetrodon is published by Agliano, Sander & Wintrich (2020).[164]
  • A study on the anatomy of the holotype skull of Tetraceratops insignis and on the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon is published by Spindler (2020).[165]
  • A study comparing the oxygen and carbon stable isotope compositions of tooth and bone apatite of Endothiodon and Tropidostoma, and aiming to determine the ecology and diet of Endothiodon, is published by Rey et al. (2020).[166]
  • Whitney & Sidor (2020) compare the frequency and patterns of growth marks in tusks of Lystrosaurus from polar Antarctica and from the non-polar Karoo Basin of South Africa living ~250 Mya, and report evidence of prolonged stress interpreted as indicative of torpor in polar specimens. This could be the oldest evidence of a hibernation-like state in a vertebrate animal and indicates that torpor arose in vertebrates before mammals and dinosaurs evolved.[167][168][169]
  • A study on the skull length and growth patterns of the four South African Lystrosaurus species (L. maccaigi, L. curvatus, L. murrayi and L. declivis), aiming to determine whether the end-Permian mass extinction caused the Lilliput effect in Lystrosaurus species from the Karoo Basin and to infer their lifestyle, is published by Botha (2020).[170]
  • A study aiming to examine the basis for claims that the genus Lystrosaurus is a
    disaster taxon is published by Modesto (2020).[171]
  • A study on tooth serrations in a Permian gorgonopsian from Zambia, identifying the occurrence of denticles and interdental folds forming the cutting edges in the teeth which were previously thought to be unique to theropod dinosaurs and some other archosaurs, is published by Whitney et al. (2020).[172]
  • Redescription of the skull of Lycosuchus vanderrieti, providing new information on the endocranial anatomy of this taxon, is published by Pusch et al. (2020).[173]
  • A review of the fossil record of Triassic non-
    cynodonts from western Gondwana and its importance for the knowledge of the origin of mammals, focusing on taxa known from Argentina, is published by Abdala et al. (2020).[174]
  • A study on the tooth replacement in Galesaurus planiceps is published by Norton et al. (2020).[175]
  • The third specimen of Prozostrodon brasiliensis, providing novel information on the anatomy of this taxon, is described by Kerber et al. (2020).[176]

Mammals

Other animals

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Aladraco kirchhainensis[177] Sp. nov Valid Geyer & Malinky Cambrian (Miaolingian) Delitzsch–Torgau–Doberlug  Germany A member of Hyolitha. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Armilimax[178] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kimmig & Selden Cambrian (Wuliuan) Spence Shale  United States
( Utah)
A shell-bearing animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species A. pauljamisoni. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Avitograptus akidomorphus[179] Sp. nov Valid Muir et al. Ordovician (Hirnantian) Wenchang  China A
graptolite
.
Bizeticyathus[180] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes B. carmen (Carmen & Carmen, 1937).
Canadiella[181] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Skovsted et al. Cambrian Mural
Rosella
 Canada A tommotiid belonging to the family Kennardiidae. The type species is "Lapworthella" filigrana Conway Morris & Fritz (1984).
Collinsovermis[182] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Caron & Aria Cambrian (Wuliuan) Burgess Shale  Canada
( British Columbia)
A luolishaniid lobopodian. Genus includes new species C. monstruosus.
Cordaticaris[183] Gen. et sp. nov In press Sun, Zeng & Zhao Cambrian (Drumian) Zhangxia  China A member of Radiodonta belonging to the family Hurdiidae. Genus includes new species C. striatus.
Cornulites baranovi[184] Sp. nov Valid Vinn & Toom
Přidoli
)
Ohesaare  Estonia A member of Cornulitida.
Dahescolex[185] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Shao et al. Cambrian (Fortunian) Kuanchuanpu  China An animal which might be a stem-lineage derivative of Scalidophora. Genus includes new species D. kuanchuanpuensis. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Dakorhachis[186] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Conway Morris et al. Cambrian (Guzhangian) Weeks  United States
( Utah)
An animal of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a stem-group member of the Gnathifera. Genus includes new species D. thambus.
Dannychaeta[187] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Chen et al. Early Cambrian Canglangpu  China A crown annelid, probably a relative of the families Magelonidae and Oweniidae. Genus includes new species D. tucolus.
Degeletticyathus dailyi[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
"Dictyonema" khadijae[188] Sp. nov In press Gutiérrez Marco, Muir & Mitchell Late Ordovician  Morocco A
graptolite
"Dictyonema" villasi[188] Sp. nov In press Gutiérrez Marco, Muir & Mitchell Late Ordovician  Morocco A
graptolite
Gyaltsenglossus[189] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Nanglu, Caron & Cameron Cambrian Stephen  Canada
( British Columbia)
A member of the stem group of Hemichordata. The type species is G. senis.
Herpetogaster haiyanensis[190] Sp. nov Yang et al. Cambrian Stage 3
Chiungchussu
 China
Hillaecyathus[180] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes H. contractus (Hill, 1965).
Ikaria[191] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Evans et al. Ediacaran  Australia An early bilaterian. Genus includes new species I. wariootia.
Korenograptus selectus[192] Sp. nov In press Chen in Chen et al. Late Ordovician  Myanmar A
graptolite
Kylinxia[193] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Zeng, Zhao & Huang in Zeng et al. Early Cambrian  China A transitional euarthropod that bridges radiodonts and true arthropods. Genus includes new species K. zhangi.
Lenzograptus[194] Nom. nov In press Loydell
Ludlow
)
 Canada
( Yukon)
A graptolite; a replacement name for Lenzia Rickards & Wright (1999).
Longxiantheca[195] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Li in Li et al. Cambrian Stages 34 Xinji  China A member of Hyolitha belonging to the group Orthothecida. The type species is L. mira.
Maxdebrennius[180] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species M. mimus.
Microconchus cravenensis[196] Sp. nov Valid Zatoń & Mundy Carboniferous (Mississippian) Cracoe Limestone
Malham
 United Kingdom A member of Microconchida.
Microconchus maya[197] Sp. nov Valid Heredia-Jiménez et al. Permian (Roadian) Paso Hondo  Mexico A member of Microconchida.
Monograptus hamulus[198] Sp. nov Valid Saparin et al.
Llandovery
)
Co To  Vietnam A
graptolite
Neodiplograptus mandalayensis[192] Sp. nov In press Chen in Chen et al. Late Ordovician  Myanmar A
graptolite
Nochoroicyathus ordinarius[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
Nochoroicyathus sublimus[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
Paranacyathus arboreus[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
Pontagrossia[199] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Chahud & Fairchild Devonian (Emsian) Ponta Grossa  Brazil An invertebrate of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is P. reticulata.
Porocoscinus eurys[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
Pristiograptus paradoxus[200] Sp. nov In press Loydell & Walasek Silurian (Telychian)  Sweden A
graptolite
Stictocyathus[180] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species S. cavus.
Subtumulocyathellus satus[180] Sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha.
Torquigraptus loveridgei[200] Sp. nov In press Loydell & Walasek Silurian (Telychian)  Sweden A
graptolite
Torquigraptus wilsoni[201] Sp. nov Valid Loydell Silurian (Telychian)  United Kingdom A
graptolite
Toscanisoma[202] Gen. et 2 sp. nov Valid Wendt Late Triassic (Carnian) San Cassiano  Italy A member of Ascidiacea. The type species is T. multipartitum; genus also includes T. triplicatum.
Utahscolex[203] Gen. et comb. nov Valid Whitaker et al. Cambrian (Wuliuan) Spence  United States
( Utah)
A palaeoscolecid; a new genus for "Palaeoscolex" ratcliffei Robison (1969)

Vermilituus[204]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Li et al.

Cambrian Stage 3

Chiungchussu

 China

A small, encrusting tubular

protostomian, preserved attached to a mobile host (Vetulicola
). The type species is V. gregarius.

Wronacyathus[180] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Kruse & Debrenne Cambrian  Australia A member of Archaeocyatha. Genus includes new species W. ayuzhui.
Zhongpingscolex[205] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Shao et al. Cambrian (Fortunian) Kuanchuanpu  China A scalidophoran, probably a stem-group kinorhynch. Genus includes new species Z. qinensis.
Zuunia[206] Gen. et sp. nov Yang et al. Late Ediacaran Zuun-Arts  Mongolia A cloudinid. The type species is Z. chimidtsereni.

Research

Foraminifera

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images

Carseyella[221]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Schlagintweit

Early Cretaceous (Aptian and Albian)

 Algeria
 Mexico
 United States
 Venezuela

A new genus for "Orbitolina" walnutensis Carsey (1926) and "Dictyoconus" algerianus Cherchi & Schroeder (1982). Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.

Other organisms

New taxa

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images
Annularidens[222] Gen. et sp. nov In press Ouyang et al. Ediacaran Doushantuo  China An acritarch. Genus includes new species A. inconditus.
Anqiutrichoides[223] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A multicellular organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a eukaryotic alga. Genus includes new species A. constrictus.
Aphralysia anfracta[224] Sp. nov Valid Kopaska-Merkel, Haywick & Keyes Carboniferous (Serpukhovian)  United States
( Alabama)
A tubular calcitic microfossil of uncertain affinities
Arborea denticulata[225] Sp. nov Valid Wang et al. Ediacaran Dengying  China A frondose fossil of uncertain affinities.
Archaeosporites[226] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Harper et al. Early Devonian Rhynie chert  United Kingdom A fungus belonging to the group Archaeosporaceae. Genus includes new species A. rhyniensis.
Asteridium tubulus[227] Sp. nov Valid Yin et al. Cambrian Stage 4  China An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Attenborites[228] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Droser et al. Ediacaran Rawnsley  Australia An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, described on the basis of a well-defined irregular oval to circular fossil. Genus includes new species A. janeae. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Bispinosphaera vacua[222] Sp. nov In press Ouyang et al. Ediacaran Doushantuo  China An acritarch.
Brijax[229] Gen. et sp. nov In press Krings & Harper Devonian Rhynie chert  United Kingdom A probable chytrid fungus. Genus includes new species B. amictus.
Convolutubus[230] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Vaziri et al. Ediacaran  Iran An organic-walled tubular organism. Genus includes new species C. dargazinensis.
Corrugasphaera perfecta[227] Sp. nov Valid Yin et al. Cambrian Stage 4  China An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Crassimembrana[222] Gen. et 2 sp. nov In press Ouyang et al. Ediacaran Doushantuo  China An acritarch. Genus includes new species C. crispans and C. multitunica.
Cyanosarcinopsis[231] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Calça & Fairchild Permian Assistência  Brazil A chroococcacean. Genus includes new species C. hachiroi.
Cyathochitina brussai[232] Sp. nov In press De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari Ordovician (Hirnantian) and Silurian (Rhuddanian) Brutia
Clemville
Salar del Rincón
Soom Shale
 Argentina
 Belgium
 Canada
 Chad
 Mauritania
 South Africa
 Iran?
 Jordan?
 Libya?
A chitinozoan.
Cyathochitina lariensis[232] Sp. nov In press De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian Salar del Rincón  Argentina A chitinozoan.
Cyathochitina punaensis[232] Sp. nov In press De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian Salar del Rincón  Argentina A chitinozoan.
Cymatiosphaera spina[227] Sp. nov Valid Yin et al. Cambrian Stage 4  China An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Dichothallus[233] Gen. et sp. nov In press Naugolnykh Permian (early Kungurian) Philippovian  Russia A brown alga of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species D. divaricatus.
Dictyocyrillium[234] Gen. et sp. nov In press Martí Mus, Moczydłowska & Knoll Tonian Elbobreen  Norway A vase-shaped microfossil. Genus includes new species D. erythron.
Distosphaera jinguadunensis[222] Sp. nov In press Ouyang et al. Ediacaran Doushantuo  China An acritarch.
Dongyesphaera[235] Gen. et sp. nov In press Yin et al. Paleoproterozoic Tianpengnao  China An acritarch. Genus includes new species D. tenuispina.
Eoentophysalis hutuoensis[235] Sp. nov In press Yin et al. Paleoproterozoic Hebiancun  China A cyanobacterium belonging to the family Entophysalidaceae
Eosolena magna[223] Sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A multicellular, eukaryotic alga.
Flabellophyton obesum[236] Sp. nov Valid Wan et al. Ediacaran  China An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an alga.
Flabellophyton stupendum[237] Sp. nov In press Xiao et al. Ediacaran Rawnsley Quartzite  Australia Probably a benthic macroalga.
Flabellophyton typicum[236] Sp. nov Valid Wan et al. Ediacaran  China An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly an alga.
Liulingjitaenia irregularis[237] Sp. nov In press Xiao et al. Ediacaran Rawnsley Quartzite  Australia Probably a benthic macroalga.
Mengeosphaera matryoshkaformis[222] Sp. nov In press Ouyang et al. Ediacaran Doushantuo  China An acritarch.
Nepia[238] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Golubkova in Golubkova & Kochnev Ediacaran  Russia An oscillatorian cyanobacteria. Genus includes new species N. calicina.
Noffkarkys[239] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Retallack & Broz Ediacaran and Cambrian Arumbera
Flathead
Grant Bluff
Jodhpur
Synalds
 Australia
 India
 United Kingdom
 United States
( Montana)
An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a member of the family Charniidae. Genus includes new species N. storaaslii. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Obamus[240] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Dzaugis et al. Ediacaran Rawnsley  Australia A torus-shaped organism, similar in gross morphology to some poriferans and benthic cnidarians. Genus includes new species O. coronatus. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Ophiocordyceps dominicanus[241] Sp. nov Valid Poinar & Vega Eocene or Miocene Dominican amber  Dominican Republic A fungus, a species of Ophiocordyceps. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Palaeomycus[242] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Poinar Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Burmese amber  Myanmar A fungus described on the basis of pycnidia. Genus includes new species P. epallelus. Announced in 2018; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Pararenicola gejiazhuangensis[223] Sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A coenocytic alga.
Patagonifilum[243] Gen. et sp. nov In press Massini et al. Late Jurassic La Matilde  Argentina A cyanobacterium. Genus includes new species P. jurassicum.
Plagasphaera[227] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Yin et al. Cambrian Stage 4  China An organic-walled microfossil. Genus includes new species P. balangensis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Polycephalomyces baltica[241] Sp. nov Valid Poinar & Vega Eocene Baltic amber  Russia
( Kaliningrad Oblast)
A fungus belonging to the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.
Proaulopora ordosia[244] Sp. nov In press Liu et al. Ordovician Ordos Basin  China A member of Nostocales.
Protoarenicola baishicunensis[223] Sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A coenocytic alga.
Protoarenicola shijiacunensis[223] Sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A coenocytic alga.
Protographum[245] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Le Renard et al. Early Cretaceous Potomac  United States
( Virginia)
A fungus belonging or related to the family Aulographaceae. Genus includes new species P. luttrellii.
Pterospermella vinctusa[227] Sp. nov Valid Yin et al. Cambrian Stage 4  China An organic-walled microfossil. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Ramochitina deynouxi[232] Sp. nov In press De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian Salar del Rincón  Argentina
 Mauritania
A chitinozoan.
Sinosabellidites huangshanensis[223] Sp. nov Valid Li et al. Tonian Shiwangzhuang  China A coenocytic alga.
Spinachitina titae[232] Sp. nov In press De la Puente, Paris & Vaccari Latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian Salar del Rincón  Argentina A chitinozoan.
Spiroplasma burmanica[246] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Poinar Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) Burmese amber  Myanmar A bacterium belonging to the group Mollicutes, a species of Spiroplasma.
Stomiopeltites shangcunicus[247] Sp. nov Valid Maslova & Tobias in Maslova et al. Oligocene Shangcun  China A fungus belonging to the family Micropeltidaceae. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Triskelia[248] Gen. et sp. nov Valid Strullu-Derrien et al. Devonian
Rhynie Chert
 United Kingdom An organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a green alga[248] or a fungus.[249] Genus includes new species T. scotlandica. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.
Windipila wimmervoecksii[250] Sp. nov Valid Krings & Harper Early Devonian Windyfield  United Kingdom A fungal reproductive unit. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.

Research

  • A study on fossilized biopolymers in 3.5–3.3 Ga microbial mats from the Barberton Greenstone Belt (South Africa) is published by Hickman-Lewis, Westall & Cavalazzi (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that Bacteria and Archaea flourished together in Earth's earliest ecosystems.[251]
  • Putative ciliate fossils from the Cryogenian Taishir Formation (Tsagaan Olom Group, Zavkhan Terrane, Mongolia) are reinterpreted as more likely to be algal reproductive structures by Cohen, Vizcaíno & Anderson (2020), who also report the first occurrence of these fossils in the earliest Ediacaran Ol Formation.[252]
  • The discovery of fungal fossils in an 810 to 715 million year old dolomitic shale from the Mbuji-Mayi Supergroup (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is reported by Bonneville et al. (2020), representing the oldest, molecularly identified remains of Fungi reported so far.[253]
  • Specimens of Palaeopascichnus linearis living before the Gaskiers glaciation are described from marine strata within the Rocky Harbour Formation by Liu & Tindal (2020), representing the oldest documented macrofossils from the Ediacaran successions of Newfoundland reported so far.[254]
  • A study on the developmental biology and phylogenetic relationships of Helicoforamina wenganica is published by Yin et al. (2020).[255]
  • A study on the morphology and affinities of a putative early sponge Namapoikia rietoogensis is published by Mehra et al. (2020), who argue that Namapoikia lacked the physical characteristics expected of an animal.[256]
  • A study on the morphology and inner ultrastructure of exceptionally preserved chitinozoan specimens from the Ordovician of Estonia, the United States and Russia is published by Liang et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence of a protist affinity of chitinozoans.[257]

Trace fossils

History of life in general

  • Bobrovskiy et al. (2020) and van Maldegem et al. (2020) argue that putative sponge biomarkers can be generated from algal sterols, and interpret their findings as undermining the interpretation of biomarkers found in Precambrian rocks posited as evidence of existence of animals before the latest Ediacaran.[277][278]
  • Liu & Dunn (2020), describe filamentous organic structures preserved among
    Newfoundland (Canada), including filaments that appear to directly connect individual specimens of one rangeomorph taxon, and interpret this finding as possible evidence that Ediacaran frondose taxa were clonal.[279]
  • A study on the age of the Ediacaran biota from the Conception and St. John's Groups at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve (Newfoundland, Canada) is published by Matthews et al. (2020).[280]
  • Approximately 563-million-year-old Ediacaran biota is reported from the Itajaí Basin (Brazil) by Becker-Kerber et al. (2020), representing the first record of Ediacaran macrofossils from Gondwana in deposits of similar age to the Avalon biota.[281]
  • An Ediacaran
    phosphatized animal-like eggs, embryos, acritarchs and cyanobacteria is reported from the Portfjeld Formation (Peary Land, Greenland) by Willman et al. (2020), representing the first record of a Doushantuo type preservation of fossils (with diagenetic phosphate replacement of originally organic material) from Laurentia reported so far.[282]
  • A study on biomarkers from Ediacaran sediments in the White Sea area is published by Bobrovskiy et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that eukaryotic algae were abundant among the food sources available for the Ediacaran biota.[283]
  • A study aiming to quantify changes of regional-scale diversity in marine fossils across time and space throughout the Phanerozoic is published by Close et al. (2020).[284]
  • A study on the structure of the Phanerozoic fossil record, aiming to determine relative impacts of extinctions and evolutionary radiations on the co-occurrence of species throughout the Phanerozoic, is published by Hoyal Cuthill, Guttenberg & Budd (2020), who argue that their findings refute any direct causal relationship between the proportionally most comparable mass radiations and extinctions.[285]
  • A study on the timing of known diversification and extinction events from Cambrian to Triassic, based on data from 11,000 marine fossil species, is published by Fan et al. (2020).[286]
  • The discovery of a new, exceptionally-preserved Cambrian biota, with fossils belonging to multiple phyla, is reported from the Guzhangian Longha Formation (Yunnan, China) by Peng et al. (2020).[287]
  • A study on changes in body size in skeletal animals from the Siberian Platform through the early Cambrian is published by Zhuravlev & Wood (2020).[288]
  • A study on the relationship between body size and extinction risk in the marine fossil record across the past 485 million years is published by Payne & Heim (2020).[289]
  • A study on the diversification rates of Ordovician animals living on hard substrates, aiming to determine when they experienced their greatest origination rates, is published by Franeck & Liow (2020).[290]
  • New information on the biotic composition of the Silurian Waukesha Lagerstätte (Wisconsin, United States) is presented by Wendruff et al. (2020), who report a biodiversity far richer than previously reported, and explore the taphonomic history of the fossils of this biota.[291]
  • A study on the diversity dynamics of the marine brachiopods, bivalves and gastropods throughout the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age is published by Seuss, Roden & Kocsis (2020).[292]
  • A study comparing the chemistry of fossil soft tissues of invertebrates and vertebrates from the Carboniferous Mazon Creek fossil beds (Illinois, United States) is published by McCoy et al. (2020), who report Tullimonstrum gregarium as grouping with vertebrates in their analysis.[293]
  • A study on the ages of known early–middle Permian tetrapod-bearing geological formations, as indicated by Bayesian tip dating methods, is published by Brocklehurst (2020), who interprets his findings as supporting the occurrence of the Olson's Extinction.[294]
  • A study on global infaunal response to the Permian–Triassic extinction event, as indicated by data from trace fossils, is published by Luo et al. (2020).[295]
  • A study on changes of marine
    latitudinal diversity gradient caused by the Permian–Triassic mass extinction is published by Song et al. (2020).[296]
  • A study on the latitudinal variation in Late Triassic tetrapod diversity, aiming to determine the relationship between latitudinal species richness and palaeoclimatic conditions, is published by Dunne et al. (2020).[297]
  • Description of new fossil material of Late Triassic tetrapods from the Hoyada del Cerro Las Lajas site (Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina), and a study on the age of tetrapod fossils from this site (including fossils of Pisanosaurus mertii) and their implications for the knowledge of the Late Triassic tetrapod evolution, is published by Desojo et al. (2020).[298]
  • A review of the evidence of a major change in ecological community structure during the
    Carnian Pluvial Event and on the role of volcanic eruptions and associated climate change as a possible trigger, is published by Dal Corso et al. (2020).[299]
  • An assemblage of fossilized vomits and coprolites is described from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) Reingraben Shales in Polzberg (Austria) by Lukeneder et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of these bromalites for the knowledge of pelagic invertebrates-vertebrates trophic chain of the Late Triassic Polzberg biota, and interpret their finding as evidence indicating that the Mesozoic marine revolution has already started in the early Mesozoic.[300]
  • A study on the dynamics of the Adamanian/Revueltian faunal turnover, based on fossil data from the Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, United States), is published by Hayes et al. (2020).[301]
  • A study on the palynological record from the Carnian–Norian transition in the western Barents Sea region is published by Klausen, Paterson & Benton (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that major sea-level changes across the vast delta plains situated in the northern Pangaea might have triggered terrestrial turnovers during the Carnian–Norian transition and facilitated the gradual rise of the dinosaurs to ecosystem dominance.[302]
  • Wignall & Atkinson (2020) argue that the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event can be resolved into two distinct, short-lived extinction pulses separated by a several hundred-thousand-year interlude phase.[303]
  • A study on changes in shell size of marine bivalves and brachiopods from the Iberian Basin (Spain) across the Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, aiming to determine the role of temperature for changes in body size of bivalves and brachiopods, is published by Piazza, Ullmann & Aberhan (2020).[304]
  • A study on the impact of warming and disturbance of the carbon cycle during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event on marine benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages from the Iberian Basin is published by Piazza, Ullmann & Aberhan (2020).[305]
  • A study on the persistence and abundance of an association of serpulids and hydroids during the Middle and Late Jurassic is published by Słowiński et al. (2020).[306]
  • Foster, Pagnac & Hunt-Foster (2020) describe the Late Jurassic biota from the Little Houston Quarry in the Black Hills of Wyoming, including the vertebrate fauna which is the second-most diverse in the entire Morrison Formation and the most diverse north of Como Bluff.[307]
  • A study on the age of the Huajiying Formation (China) and its implications for the knowledge of the timing of appearance and duration of the Jehol Biota is published by Yang et al. (2020).[308]
  • A study on the age of the biota from the Cretaceous Burmese amber from Hkamti is published by Xing & Qiu (2020).[309]
  • A study on extinction patterns of marine vertebrates during the last 20 million years of the Late Cretaceous, as indicated by fossils from northern Gulf of Mexico, is published by Ikejiri, Lu & Zhang (2020), who report evidence of two separate extinction events: one in the Campanian, and one at the end of the Maastrichtian.[310]
  • Rodríguez-Tovar et al. (2020) present evidence from trace fossils from the Chicxulub crater indicating that full recovery of the macrobenthic biota from this area was rapid, with the establishment of a well-developed tiered community within ~700 thousand years.[311]
  • A study on the impact of the early Cenozoic hyperthermal events on shallow marine benthic communities, based on data from fossils from the Gulf Coastal Plain, is published by Foster et al. (2020).[312]
  • A study on the geology and fauna (including hominins) of the new Mille-Logya site (Afar, Ethiopia) dated to between 2.914 and 2.443 Ma is published by Zeresenay Alemseged et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this site for the knowledge of how hominins and other fauna responded to environmental changes during this period.[313]
  • Studies on the magnitude and likely causes of megafaunal extinctions in the Indian subcontinent during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene are published by Jukar et al. (2020)[314] and Turvey et al. (2020).[315]
  • A new, diverse megafauna assemblage that suffered extinction sometime after 40,100 (±1700) years ago is reported from the South Walker Creek fossil deposits (Queensland, Australia) by Hocknull et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this assemblage for prevailing megafauna extinction hypotheses for Sahul.[316]
  • A study on ancient DNA of vertebrates and plants recovered from fossils and sediment from Hall's Cave (Edwards Plateau, Texas, United States), evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the climatic fluctuations from the Pleistocene to the Holocene on the local ecosystem, is published by Seersholm et al. (2020).[317]
  • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of early amniotes, recovering Parareptilia and Varanopidae as nested within Diapsida, will be published by Ford & Benson (2020), who name a new clade Neoreptilia.[318]
  • Regional-scale diversity patterns for terrestrial tetrapods throughout their entire Phanerozoic evolutionary history are presented by Close et al. (2020), who attempt to determine how informative the fossil record is about true global paleodiversity.[319]
  • A study on the impact of the appearance and evolution of herbivorous tetrapods on the evolution of land plants from the Carboniferous to the Early Triassic is published by Brocklehurst, Kammerer & Benson (2020).[320]
  • A study the terrestrial and marine fossil record of Late Permian to Late Triassic tetrapods, comparing species-level tetrapod biodiversity across latitudinal bins, is published by Allen et al. (2020).[321]
  • In a study published by Chiarenza et al. (2020)[322][323] the two main hypotheses for the mass extinction (the Deccan Traps and the Chicxulub impact) were evaluated using Earth System and Ecologial modelling, confirming that the asteroid impact was the main driver of this extinction while the volcanism might have boosted the recovery instead.
  • Bishop, Cuff & Hutchinson (2020) outline a workflow for integrating paleontological data with biomechanical principles and modeling techniques in order to create musculoskeletal models and study locomotor biomechanics of extinct animals, using Coelophysis as a case study.[324]
  • Saitta et al. (2020) propose a framework for studying sexual dimorphism in non-avian dinosaurs and other extinct taxa, focusing on likely secondary sexual traits and testing against all alternate hypotheses for variation in the fossil record.[325]
  • A study evaluating the utility of rare earth element profiles as proxies for biomolecular preservation in fossil bones, based on data from a specimen of Edmontosaurus annectens from the Standing Rock Hadrosaur Site (Hell Creek Formation; South Dakota, United States), is published by Ullmann et al. (2020).[326]
  • A study on the diversity and evolution of skull and jaw functions in sabre-toothed carnivores during the last 265 million years is published by Lautenschlager et al. (2020).[327]

Other research

  • Evidence indicating that the Great Oxidation Event predated Paleoproterozoic glaciation in Russia and snowball Earth deposits in South Africa is presented by Warke et al. (2020), who argue that their findings preclude hypotheses of Earth's oxygenation in which global glaciation preceded or caused the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis.[328]
  • A study on the timing of the onset and termination of the Shuram carbon isotope excursion is published by Rooney et al. (2020), who argue that this excursion was divorced from the rise of the earliest preserved animal ecosystems.[329]
  • A study on the causes of the
    Late Ordovician mass extinction, based on data from the Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype (Dob's Linn, Scotland), is published by Bond & Grasby (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence that this extinction event was caused by volcanism, warming and anoxia.[330]
  • Evidence of wildfires at the FrasnianFamennian boundary is reported from Upper Devonian sections from western New York (United States) by Liu et al. (2020), who also provide an estimate of atmospheric O2 levels at this interval, and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of causes of the Late Devonian extinction.[331]
  • A study on the timing of the environmental changes associated with the Kellwasser events is published by Da Silva et al. (2020).[332]
  • Evidence of anomalously high mercury concentration in marine deposits encompassing the Hangenberg event from Carnic Alps (Italy and Austria) is presented by Rakociński et al. (2020), who argue that methylmercury poisoning in otherwise anoxic seas, caused by extensive volcanic activity, could be a direct kill mechanism of the end-Devonian Hangenberg extinction.[333]
  • A study on fossil plant spores with malformed sculpture and pigmented walls, recovered from terrestrial Devonian-Carboniferous boundary sections from East Greenland, is published by Marshall et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence that the terrestrial mass extinction at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary coincided with elevated UV-B radiation, indicative of ozone layer reduction.[334]
  • Fields et al. (2020) attempt to determine whether the dramatic drop in stratospheric ozone coinciding with the end-Devonian extinction events was caused by a nearby supernova explosion.[335]
  • A series of articles on the biostratigraphy of the Karoo Supergroup, providing a formal biozonation scheme for the Stormberg Group and dividing the Beaufort and Stormberg groups into nine tetrapod assemblage zones, is published in the June 2020 issue of the South African Journal of Geology.[336][337][338][339][340][341][342][343][344][345]
  • A study on the age of a pristine ash-fall deposit in the Karoo Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone (South Africa) is published by Gastaldo et al. (2020), who report that turnover from the Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone to Lystrosaurus AZ in this basin occurred over 300 ka before the end-Permian marine event, and interpret their findings as refuting the concurrentness of turnovers in terrestrial and marine ecosystems at the end of the Permian.[346]
  • A study evaluating the contribution of loss of ecosystems on land and consequent massive terrestrial biomass oxidation to atmosphere–ocean biogeochemistry at the Permian–Triassic boundary is published by Dal Corso et al. (2020).[347]
  • A study aiming to determine the mechanism that drove vast stretches of the ocean to an anoxic state during the Permian–Triassic extinction event is published by Schobben et al. (2020).[348]
  • Evidence indicating that the Permian–Triassic extinction event was linked with ocean acidification due to carbon degassing from the Siberian sill intrusions is presented by Jurikova et al. (2020).[349]
  • Evidence from paired coronene and mercury spikes in stratigraphic sections in south China and Italy, indicative of the occurrence of two pulsed volcanic eruption events coinciding with the initiation of the end-Permian terrestrial ecological disturbance and marine extinction, is presented by Kaiho et al. (2020).[350]
  • A study on variations of ~10-Myr scale monsoon dynamics during the early Mesozoic, and on their impact on climate and ecosystem dynamics (including the dispersal of early dinosaurs), is published by Ikeda, Ozaki & Legrand (2020).[351]
  • New geochronologic and paleoclimatic data from
    Carnian Pluvial Event interval in western Gondwana was warmer and more humid than periods before or after this interval, confirming that the CPE was a global event.[352]
  • A study on the age of the top of the Moenkopi Formation, the lower Blue Mesa Member, and the lower and upper Sonsela Member of the Chinle Formation is published by Rasmussen et al. (2020), who argue that the biotic turnover preserved in the mid-Sonsela Member at the Petrified Forest National Park was a mid-Norian event.[353]
  • A study on ocean temperatures during the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event is published by Petryshyn et al. (2020), who report no evidence for short-term cooling or initial warming across the 1-80,000 years of the extinction event.[354]
  • Evidence of low ocean sulfate levels at the end-Triassic mass extinction, linked to rapid development of marine anoxia, is presented by He et al. (2020).[355]
  • A study on the causes of the negative organic carbon isotope excursion associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction, based on data from its type locality in the Bristol Channel Basin (United Kingdom), is published by Fox et al. (2020), who interpret this isotopic excursion as caused by an abrupt relative sea level drop rather than by massive inputs of exogenous light carbon into the atmosphere, and argue that the disappearance of marine biota at the type locality is the result of local environmental changes and does not mark the global extinction event, while the main extinction phase occurred slightly later in marine strata.[356]
  • Evidence of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration at the onset of the end-Triassic extinction event, based on data from fossil leaves of the seed fern Lepidopteris ottonis from southern Sweden, is presented by Slodownik, Vajda & Steinthorsdottir (2020).[357]
  • A review of the geology, paleoecology and taxonomic status of the fauna from the Cretaceous
    Kem Kem Beds of Morocco is published by Ibrahim et al. (2020).[358]
  • Klages et al. (2020) report evidence from the West Antarctic shelf indicating the occurrence of a temperate lowland rainforest environment at a palaeolatitude of about 82° S during the Late Cretaceous (TuronianSantonian).[359]
  • A review and revision of the stratigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation is published by Fowler (2020).[360]
  • A study on the timing of a volcanic outgassing at the end of the Cretaceous, and on its implications for the knowledge of causes of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction, is published by Hull et al. (2020).[361]
  • A study on paleosols from the eastern edge of the Deccan Volcanic Province (central India), evaluating their implications for reconstructions of climate and terrestrial environments of India before and after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event and for the knowledge of causes of this extinction event, is published by Dzombak et al. (2020).[362]
  • A detailed record of molecular burn markers from the Chicxulub crater and in ocean sediments distant from the impact site is presented by Lyons et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating rapid heating after the impact and a fossil carbon source, and argue that soot from the target rock immediately contributed to global cooling and darkening after the impact at the end of the Cretaceous.[363]
  • A study on the origin, recovery, and development of microbial life in the Chicxulub crater after the impact at the end of the Cretaceous, and on the environmental conditions in the crater up to ~4 million years after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, is published by Schaefer et al. (2020).[364]
  • A study on Earth's climate throughout the Cenozoic era, based on a highly resolved and well-dated record of benthic carbon and oxygen isotopes from deep-sea foraminifera, is published by Westerhold et al. (2020).[365]
  • Van Couvering & Delson (2020) define 17 African land mammal ages covering the Cenozoic record of the Afro-Arabian continent.[366]
  • A study on the amount and makeup of the carbon added to the ocean during the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, based on geochemical data from planktic foraminifera, is published by Haynes & Hönisch (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that volcanic emissions were the main carbon source responsible for PETM warming.[367]
  • Evidence from Eocene plant fossils from the
    Bangong-Nujiang suture indicating that the Tibetan Plateau area hosted a diverse subtropical ecosystem approximately 47 million years ago and that this area was both low and humid at the time is presented by Su et al. (2020).[368]
  • A study on the climate evolution across the Oligocene, examining the relationship between global temperatures and continental-scale polar ice sheets following the establishment of ice sheets on Antarctica, is published by O'Brien et al. (2020).[369]
  • A study aiming to test the hypothesis that the emergence of the Southeast Asian islands played a significant role in driving the cooling of Earth's climate since the Miocene Climatic Optimum is published by Park et al. (2020).[370]
  • A study on the environment at Olduvai Gorge at the emergence of the Acheulean technology 1.7 million years ago, based on data from fossil lipid biomarkers, is published by Sistiaga et al. (2020).[371]
  • A study on freshwater fauna and flora found in a sediment sample from the
    MIS3 climatic optimum, is published by Neretina et al. (2020).[372]
  • A study on the Neogene paleobotanical record and climate in the northernmost part of the Central Andean Plateau, based on data from the Descanso Formation (Peru), is published by Martínez et al. (2020), who report the earliest evidence of a puna-like ecosystem in the Pliocene and a montane ecosystem without modern analogs in the Miocene, as well as evidence of wetter paleoclimatic conditions than previously estimated by regional climate model simulations.[373]
  • A study on environmental changes in Southeast Asia from the Early Pleistocene to the Holocene, based on stable isotope data from Southeast Asian mammals, and on their impact on the evolution of mammals (including hominins), is published by Louys & Roberts (2020).[374]
  • A study on the climate variability in the southwest Indian Ocean area throughout the past ~8000 years, evaluating its implications for the knowledge of possible causes of extinction of megafauna from Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, is published by Li et al. (2020).[375]
  • Van Neer et al. (2020) report faunal remains from the Takarkori rock shelter in the Acacus Mountains region (Libya), and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of the climate and hydrography of the Sahara throughout the Holocene.[376]
  • New Mesozoic and Paleogene amber occurrences, preserving diverse inclusions of arthropods, plants and fungi, are reported from Australia and New Zealand by Stilwell et al. (2020).[377]

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