French
Deutsch2020 in paleontology
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Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.[1] This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 2020.
Plants[edit]
Sponges[edit]
| 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. | |
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Botting et al. | 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. | |
| Gen. et 2 sp. nov | In press | Botting et al. | A rossellid sponge. Genus includes S. coronata and S. prodigia. | |||||
| Nom. nov | Valid | Van Soest, Hooper & Butler | A replacement name for Spongia ramosa Mantell (1822). |
Cnidarians[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
Bryozoans[edit]
| 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. | |
| Sp. nov | Valid | Taylor | ||||||
| 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[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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 | Silurian (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 stem-brachiopod belonging to the group 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
Echinoderms[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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 (Asselian‒Sakmarian) | 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) | 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) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae | |||
| Euglyphocrinus jacobsae[88] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae | |||
| Euglyphocrinus truncatus[88] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae | |||
| Euglyphocrinus worthensis[88] | Sp. nov | Valid | Gale | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | 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 sea urchin belonging to the group Arbacioida and the family 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) | 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) | A crinoid belonging to the group Articulata and the family Roveacrinidae | |||
| Schoenaster carterensis[107] | Sp. nov | Valid | Harris, Ettensohn & Carnahan-Jarvis | Carboniferous (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) | 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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 (Bashkirian–Moscovian 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 (Kasimovian–Gzhelian 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[edit]
- Evidence of variations in crystallography and microstructure due to both ontogeny and element type within the conodont feeding apparatus of Dapsilodus obliquicostatus is presented by Shohel et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of their findings for the knowledge of the integrity of conodont apatite as a recorder of seawater chemistry.[139]
- A study aiming to determine whether the repeated emergence of similar morphologies in the dental elements of Permian conodonts belonging to the genus Sweetognathus is an example of parallel evolution is published by Petryshen et al. (2020).[140]
Fishes[edit]
Amphibians[edit]
Reptiles[edit]
Synapsids[edit]
Non-mammalian synapsids[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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-mammaliaform prozostrodontian 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 Edaphosauridae; a new genus for "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 traversodontid 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 basal 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 | Carboniferous–Permian 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 dicynodontoid 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[edit]
- 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-mammaliaform 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[edit]
Other animals[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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 | Silurian (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. | .jpg) | |
| 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 | Silurian (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 3–4 | 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. | Silurian (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) | |
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Li et al. | 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[edit]
- A study on the taphonomy of three-dimensionally preserved specimens of Charnia from the White Sea, and on their implications for the knowledge of rangeomorph feeding and physiology, is published by Butterfield (2020).[207]
- A study on the morphology and likely mode of life of Beothukis mistakensis is published by McIlroy et al. (2020).[208]
- Evidence of preservation of internal anatomical structures in cloudinomorph fossils from the Ediacaran Wood Canyon Formation (Nevada, United States) is reported by Schiffbauer et al. (2020), who interpret these structures as probable digestive tracts, and evaluate their implications for the knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of cloudinomorphs.[209]
- Fossils of Dickinsonia identical with D. tenuis from the Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite in South Australia are reported from the late Ediacaran Maihar Sandstone of the Bhander Group (India; found in the roof of Auditorium Cave at Bhimbetka rock shelters) by Retallack et al. (2020), who interpret this finding as confirming the assembly of Gondwana by 550 Ma;[210] however, Meert et al. (2023) subsequently reinterpreted purported fossil material of Dickinsonia as an impression resulting from decay of a modern beehive.[211]
- New specimens of Mafangscolex, providing the first detailed information on the anatomy of a proboscis in palaeoscolecids, are described from the Cambrian Xiaoshiba Lagerstätte (Kunming, China) by Yang et al. (2020).[212]
- A study on the type material of a putative Ordovician annelid Haileyia adhaerens is published by Muir & Botting (2020) who find no evidence indicating that H. adhaerens is an annelid, or even a recognizable fossil.[213]
- New hyolithid specimens preserving helens and interior soft tissues, including muscle scars and digestive tracts, are described from the Guanshan Biota (Cambrian Stage 4; Yunnan, China) by Liu et al. (2020).[214]
- Redescription of Acosmia maotiania based on data from new and historic fossil material is published by Howard et al. (2020), who interpret this animal as a stem group ecdysozoan.[215]
- Two types of microscopic reticulate cuticular patterns are described in Cambrian stem-group scalidophorans from the Kuanchuanpu Formation (China) by Wang et al. (2020), who argue that these cuticular networks replicate the cell boundaries of the epidermis.[216]
- A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Facivermis yunnanicus, based on data from the holotype and new specimens, is published by Howard et al. (2020), who consider this species to be a luolishaniid lobopodian.[217]
- New type of a compound eye is identified in specimens of "Anomalocaris" briggsi from the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale (Australia) by Paterson, Edgecombe & García-Bellido (2020), who interpret the eye morphology of "A." briggsi as suggestive of this animal being a mesopelagic species, capable of inhabiting depths of several hundred meters, and likely using its acute, light-sensitive eyes to detect plankton in dim down-welling light.[218]
- An isolated frontal appendage of a miniature hurdiid radiodont (less than half the size of the next smallest radiodont frontal appendage discovered so far) is described from the Ordovician (Tremadocian) Dol-cyn-Afon Formation (Wales, United Kingdom) by Pates et al. (2020), representing the first radiodont reported from the UK, the first record of this group from the palaeocontinent Avalonia, and the first from an environment dominated by sponges rather than euarthropods.[219]
- Barrios-de Pedro, Osuna & Buscalioni (2020) report the discovery of trematode and nematode eggs in coprolites from the Barremian Las Hoyas fossil site (Spain).[220]
Foraminifera[edit]
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Schlagintweit | Early Cretaceous (Aptian and Albian) | 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[edit]
New taxa[edit]
| 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 amb |