1884 in paleontology
# 1884 in paleontology

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1884.

## Arthropods

### insects

Newly named insects :

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Anomalites | Gen et Sp nov | valid | Frič | Priabonian | Nogent-le-Rotrou | France | A scarab beetle preserved in quartz | Anomalites fugitivus |

## Vertebrates

### Expeditions, field work, and fossil discoveries

* Joseph Burr Tyrrell discovered a partial Albertosaurus skull near Kneehills Creek in Alberta Canada. This specimen is now catalogued as CMN 5600.

### Pseudosuchians

Newly named pseudosuchians :

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Macelognathus | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Marsh | Kimmeridgian-Tithonian | Como Bluff Morrison Formation | USA Wyoming | A sphenosuchian crocodylomorph. Type species M. vagans | Macelognathus vagans |

### Non-avian dinosaurs

newly named non-avian dinosaurs :

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ceratosaurus | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Marsh | Kimmeridgian-Tithonian | Morrison Formation | USA Colorado | A ceratosaurid ceratosaur Type species C. nasicornis | Ceratosaurus |
| Dinodocus | Gen et sp nov | Nomen dubium | Owen | Aptian | Hythe Formation | UK England | A Sauropod, type species D. mackesoni | |

### Synapsids

Newly named non-mammalian synapsids :

| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type unit | Location | Notes | Images |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tritylodon | Gen et sp nov | Valid | Owen | Hettangian–Sinemurian | Karoo Supergroup | South Africa | A tritylodontid, type species T. longaevus | Tritylodon longaevus |

### Plesiosaurs

Newly named plesiosaurs :

| Name | Status | Authors | Location |
| - | - | - | - |
| Dactylosaurus | Valid | Gurich | Netherlands |
