1822 in paleontology

Dinosaurs

* James Parkinson (after whom the disease is named) publishes a general text on paleontology wherein he illustrates and describes teeth belonging to "Megalosaurus". Because his reference to this name in print was earlier to William Buckland's formal description of the genus some people have concluded that Parkinson was the one who invented the name. This is a misconception; Buckland truly deserves credit for the name "Megalosaurus" and Parkinson got the name from him. [cite book| last = Farlow| first = James O.| coauthors = M. K. Brett-Surmann| title = The Complete Dinosaur| publisher = Indiana University Press| date = 1999| location = Bloomington, Indiana| pages = 7| isbn = 0-253-21313-4]
* According to an oft-repeated story, while her husband is treating a patient, Mary Ann Mantell amuses herself by rummaging through a pile of stone rubble and discovers the first fossil of what would later be named "Iguanodon". This tooth intrigues her husband, who ascertains the quarry they were excavated from and returns there to successfully discover more fossils belonging to the species. However, some have questioned the authenticity of this story. [cite book| last = Farlow| first = James O.| coauthors = M. K. Brett-Surmann| title = The Complete Dinosaur| publisher = Indiana University Press| date = 1999| location = Bloomington, Indiana| pages = 8| isbn = 0-253-21313-4]
* In May, Mantell publishes a book called "The Fossils of the South Downs" wherein he briefly describes his findings of the fossils belonging to a large reptile, which he would later name "Iguanodon". [cite book| last = Farlow| first = James O.| coauthors = M. K. Brett-Surmann| title = The Complete Dinosaur| publisher = Indiana University Press| date = 1999| location = Bloomington, Indiana| pages = 8| isbn = 0-253-21313-4]
* Adam Sedgwick noted a recent discovery by William Buckland in the Sandown Bay of the Isle of Wight. These large bones were misinterpreted by Buckland as belonging to a Cetacean. He would later realize that these were in fact "Iguanodon" bones. The long delay caused by his mistake prevented him from being able to name the genus himself. [cite book| last = Farlow| first = James O.| coauthors = M. K. Brett-Surmann| title = The Complete Dinosaur| publisher = Indiana University Press| date = 1999| location = Bloomington, Indiana| pages = 9| isbn = 0-253-21313-4]

References