Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, coprolites, palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because mankind has 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 in the year 1823.
William Buckland realizes that fossils he previously believed to be of cetacean origin were actually Iguanodon fossils. This mistake cost him the chance to describe the genus himself.[1]
Newly named dinosaurs[]
Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list[2] and Dr. Jeremy Montague's dinosaur genus database.[3]
The Reverend William Buckland gives a presentation to the Geological Society describing the first scientifically named dinosaur, Megalosaurus on February 20. Later that year its formal scientific description is published in writing. [5]
^Buckland, W. 1824. Notice on the Megalosaurus,
or great fossil lizard of Stonesfield. Transactions
of the Geological Society of London 2 (1): pp. 390-
396.
^Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 8. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.
