1822 in paleontology

none 1822 paleontology science 1822 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.Farlow Brett-Surmann 1999 7 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.Farlow Brett-Surmann 1999 8 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. 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.Farlow Brett-Surmann 1999 9 References Sources Farlow James Orville M. K. Brett-Surmann The Complete Dinosaur Indiana University Press 1999 Bloomington, Indiana 9780253213136 37107117 Category:1820s in paleontology Paleontology