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 1876.

Dinosaurs

Name Status Authors Location Notes Images Chondrosteosaurus Nomen dubium Sir Richard Owen  UK Diclonius Nomen dubium Edward Drinker Cope  USA ( Montana) A hadrosaurid. Macrurosaurus Valid Harry Govier Seeley  UK Monoclonius Nomen dubium Edward Drinker Cope  Canada ( Alberta)  USA ( Montana A centrosaurine ceratopsid Paronychodon Nomen dubium Edward Drinker Cope  USA ( Montana,  North Dakota,  South Dakota, and  Wyoming) Zapsalis Nomen dubium Edward Drinker Cope  Canada ( Alberta)  USA ( Montana

Anapsids

Newly named anapsids

Name Status Authors Location Notes Images Anthodon Sir Richard Owen  South Africa  Tanzania A pareiasaur. Pareiasaurus Sir Richard Owen  South Africa  Zambia A pareiasaur

Plesiosaurs

Newly named plesiosaurs

Pterosaurs

New taxa

Name Status Authors Location Notes Images Nyctosaurus Valid Marsh  USA ( Kansas) A Pterosaur with an antenna-like crest . Pteranodon Valid Marsh  USA  Kansas  England  Japan An Crested Pterosaur, Erroneously known as "Pterodactyl"

Synapsids

Non-mammalian

Name	Status	Authors	Age	Location	Notes	Images
Cistecephalus	Valid	Owen	255 Millions of years ago.	South Africa	Box-Headed animal
Endothiodon	Valid	Owen	257 Millions of years ago.	Brazil  India  Malawi  South Africa  Tanzania  Zambia
Gorgonops	Valid	Owen	257 Millions of years ago.	Malawi  South Africa	A Gorgonopsian.
Scaloposaurus	Valid	Owen	251 Millions of years ago.	South Africa
Tapinocephalus	Valid	Owen	261 Millions of years ago.	South Africa	A Dome-headed Dinocephalian.
Theriognathus	Valid	Owen	255 Millions of years ago.	Tanzania
Titanosuchus	Valid	Owen	261 Millions of years ago.	South Africa	Titanic crocodile.