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 2008.
Paleoleishmania neotropicum
sp nov
Valid
Poinar
Burdigalian
Dominican amber
Dominican Republic
second record, and youngest, of the extinct genus Paleoleishmania
Dillhoffia
Gen. et sp. nov.
Valid
Manchester & Pigg
Ypresian
Unnamed Formation, Kamloops Group
Canada
Pluricarpellatia
Gen. et sp. nov.
Valid
Mohr, Bernardes-de-Oliveira & Taylor
Early Cretaceous
Crato Formation
Brazil
Montrichardia aquatica
sp nov
Valid
Herrera et al
Middle to late Paleocene
Cerrejon Formation
Colombia
only fossil record of the genus Montrichardia
Petrocardium
gen et sp nov
Valid
Herrera et al
Middle to late Paleocene
Cerrejon Formation
Colombia
Two named species Petrocardium cerrejonense and Petrocardium wayuuorum
Dicranocaris
Gen et sp nov
valid
Briggs, Lieberman, Hendricks, Halgedahl & Jarrard
Middle Cambrian
United States
An arachnormorph of uncertain classification. Type species D. guntherorum
Nettapezoura
Gen et sp nov
valid
Briggs, Lieberman, Hendricks, Halgedahl & Jarrard
Middle Cambrian
Marjum Formation
United States
An arachnormorph of uncertain classification. Type species N. basilika
Palaeosiro
Gen et sp nov
valid
Poinar
Cenomanian
Burmese amber
Myanmar
A stylocellid harvestman. Type species P. burmanicum
Cataglyphoides
Gen et sp et comb nov
Valid
Dlussky
Middle Eocene
Baltic amber
Europe
Fossil formicine ant, two species C. constrictus (Mayr, 1868) & C. intermedius Dlussky, 2008
Dolichoderus punctatus
Sp nov
Valid
Dlussky
Middle Eocene
Baltic amber
Europe
Fossil dolichoderine ant
Electropodagrion
Gen et sp nov
valid
Azar & Nel
Middle Eocene
Baltic Amber
Europe
A Megapodagrionidae damselfly
Elektroepyris
Gen et sp nov
Valid
Perrichot & Nel
Eocene
Oise amber
France
A bethylid wasp
Formosibittacus
gen et sp nov
Valid
Li, Ren & Shih
Middle Jurassic
Jiulongshan Formation
China
A bittacid
Haidomyrmodes
gen et sp nov
Valid
Perrichot et al
Middle Cretaceous
Charentese amber
France
A Sphecomyrminae ant, type species H. mammuthus
Jurahylobittacus
gen et sp nov
Valid
Li, Ren & Shih
Middle Jurassic
Jiulongshan Formation
China
A bittacid
Lutzomyia adiketis
sp nov
Valid
Poinar
Burdigalian
Dominican amber
Dominican Republic
Vector for the extinct Trypanosomatidae species Paleoleishmania neotropicum
Proraphidia gomezi
sp nov
Valid
Jarzembowski
Lower Cretaceous
Lower Weald Clay
England
Proraphidia hopkinsi
sp nov
Valid
Jarzembowski
Barremian
Spain
Proteroscelio gravatus
Sp nov
valid
Johnson, Musetti & Masner
Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
Lebanese Amber
Lebanon
A member of Platygastroidea.
Rhabdepyris gallicus
Sp nov
Valid
Perrichot & Nel
Eocene
Oise amber
France
A bethylid wasp
Sinomeganeura
gen et sp nov
Valid
Ren, Nel, & Prokop
Namurian
Tupo Formation
China
Third Namurian age Meganeuridae griffenfly described.
Sinoprotelenomus
Nom nov
valid
Zhang in Johnson, Musetti & Masner
Miocene
China
A member of Platygastroidea; replacement name for Protelenomus Zhang (1989).
Sphecomyrmodes occidentalis
Sp nov
jr syn
Perrichot et al
Middle Cretaceous
Charentese amber
France
A stem group ant jr synonym of Gerontoformica occidentalis
Syndesus ambericus
Sp nov
Valid
Woodruff
Burdigalian
Dominican amber
Dominican Republic
A stag beetle
Termitaradus avitinquilinus
Sp nov
Valid
Grimaldi & Engel
Burdigalian
Dominican amber
Dominican Republic
A termite bug
Lunataspis
gen et sp nov
Valid taxon
Nowlan, Rudkin, & Young
Late Ordovician
Churchill River Group?
Canada
Arquatichthys
Valid
Lu & Zhu
Devonian (Pragian)
Posongchong Formation
China
A basal member of Dipnomorpha. The type species is A. porosus.
Donnrosenia
Valid
Long, Choo, & Young
Devonian (Givetian)
Aztec Siltstone
Antarctica
A basal member of Actinopterygii. Genus includes new species D. schaefferi.
Genyonemus whistleri
Valid
Takeuchi & Huddleston
Late Miocene
Puente Formation
United States
A relative of the white croaker.
Hiodon woodruffi
Comb nov
valid
(Wilson)
Ypresian
Klondike Mountain Formation
United States Washington
A mooneye, Moved from Eohiodon woodruffi Wilson 1978
Tarachomylax multicostatus
Valid
Qiao & Zhu
Devonian (Emsian)
Chuandong Formation
China
A lungfish.
Thrinacoselache
Gen. et. sp. nov.
Jr. synonym
Grogan & Lund
Carboniferous (Serpukhovian)
Bear Gulch Limestone
USA
Type species is T. gracia. Genus now a junior synonym of Thrinacodus.
Gavinaspis
Gen. et. sp. nov.
Valid
Dupret & Zhu
Early Devonian (Lochkovian)
Xitun Formation
China
A phyllolepid.
gen et sp nov
Valid
Long, Trinajstic, Young, & Senden
Late Devonian
Gogo Formation
Australia
discovered with fossilized embryo.
Jenkins, F. A., jr, Shubin, N. H., Gatesy, S. M., and Warren, A., 2008, Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 28, n. 4, p. 935-950.
Acynodon adriaticus
Sp. nov
Valid
Delfino, Martin & Buffetaut
Late Cretaceous
Italy
Dakosaurus carpenteri
Sp. nov
Valid
Wilkinson, Young & Benton
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)
Kimmeridge Clay Formation
United Kingdom
A metriorhynchid crocodyliform. Originally described as a species of Dakosaurus, subsequently transferred to the separate genus Torvoneustes.
Gryposuchus croizati
Sp. nov
Valid
Riff & Aguilera
Late Miocene
Urumaco Formation
Venezuela
Guarinisuchus
Gen. et sp. nov
Valid
Barbosa, Kellner & Viana
Early Paleocene (Danian)
Maria Farinha Formation
Brazil
A dyrosaurid crocodyliform. Genus includes new species G. munizi.
Ocepesuchus
Gen. et sp. nov
Valid
Jouve et al.
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
Ouled Abdoun Basin
Morocco
A member of Gavialoidea. Genus includes new species O. eoafricanus.
Postosuchus alisonae
Sp. nov
Valid
Peyer et al.
Late Triassic
Newark Supergroup
United States( North Carolina)
Sierritasuchus
Gen. et sp. nov
Valid
Parker, Stocker & Irmis
Late Triassic
Tecovas Formation
United States( Texas)
An aetosaur Genus includes new species S. macalpini.
Sphagesaurus montealtensis
Sp. nov
Valid
Andrade & Bertini
Late Cretaceous
Adamantina Formation
Brazil
A sphagesaurid crocodyliform. Originally described as a species of Sphagesaurus, but subsequently transferred to the genus Caipirasuchus.
Wargosuchus
Gen. et sp. nov
Valid
Martinelli & Pais
Late Cretaceous
Bajo de La Carpa Formation
Argentina
A baurusuchid crocodyliform. Genus includes new species W. australis.
Elanodactylus
Valid
Andres
Ji, Q.
Hongshanopterus
Valid
Xiaolin Wang
de Almeida
et al.
Mythunga
Valid
Molnar
Thulborn, R.A.
Nemicolopterus
Valid
Wang
Kellner
et al.
Raeticodactylus
Junior synonym
Stecher
Jr. synonym of Caviramus
Shenzhoupterus
Valid
Lu J.
Unwin
et al.
Volgadraco
Valid
Averianov
Arkhangelsky
Pervushov
28 new dinosaur genera were erected in 2008. Data courtesy of George Olshevky's dinosaur genera list.
Austroraptor
Valid
Campanian-Maastrichtian
Allen Formation
The largest dromaeosaurid yet discovered in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dakotadon
Valid
Barremian
Lakota Formation
A new genus for "Iguanodon" lakotaensis (Weishampel and Bjork, 1989).
Daxiatitan
Valid
Lower Cretaceous
Lanzhou Basin
A basal titanosaur.
Diceratus
Junior synonym
Late Cretaceous
Objective junior synonym of Nedoceratops; possible junior synonym of Triceratops.
Dollodon
Valid
Barremian
Bernissart
An iguanodontian.
Dongyangosaurus
Valid
early Late Cretaceous
Fangyang Formation
A titanosauriform.
Duriavenator
Valid
Bajocian
Dorset
A megalosaurid.
Eocarcharia
Valid
Aptian/Albian
Elrhaz Formation
A carcharodontosaurid.
Eomamenchisaurus
Valid
Middle Jurassic
Zhanghe Formation
A mamenchisaurid.
Epidexipteryx
Valid
Late Jurassic
Daohugou Beds
An avialian.
Gobiceratops
Valid
Late Cretaceous
Baruungoyot Formation
Possible junior synonym of Bagaceratops.
Kryptops
Valid
Aptian/Albian
Elrhaz Formation
An abelisaurid.
Loricatosaurus
Valid
Callovian
A stegosaurid.
Microceratus
Nomen dubium
Campanian
Orkoraptor
Valid
Maastrichtian
Pari Aike Formation
A neovenatorid.
Peloroplites
Valid
Lower Cretaceous
Cedar Mountain Formation
A nodosaurid ankylosaur.
Pitekunsaurus
Valid
Campanian
Anacleto Formation
A titanosaur.
Qingxiusaurus
Valid
Late Cretaceous
A titanosaur.
Sahaliyania
Valid
Maastrichtian
Yuliangze Formation
A lambeosaurine hadrosaurid.
Similicaudipteryx
Valid
Aptian
Jiufotang Formation
A caudipterid oviraptorosaur.
Tastavinsaurus
Valid
Aptian
Xert Formation
A titanosauriform. Lurasiformes.
Uberabatitan
Valid
Upper Cretaceous
Marilia Formation
A titanosaur.
Wulagasaurus
Valid
Maastrichtian
Yuliangze Formation
A saurolophine hadrosaurid.
Aegolius martae
Sp. nov.
Valid
Marco Pavia
Early/Middle Pleistocene
Sicily
Italy:
Sicily
A Strigidae.
Bermuteo avivorus
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Storrs L. Olson
Late Pleistocene
Bermuda
An Accipitridae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Bountyphaps obsoleta
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Trevor H. Worthy
Graham M. Wragg
Subrecent
Henderson Island
Pitcairn
A Columbidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Calonectris wingatei
Sp. nov.
Valid
Storrs L. Olson
Middle Pleistocene
Bermuda
A Procellariidae.
Caracara tellustris
Sp. nov.
Valid
Storrs L. Olson
Holocene
Jamaica
A Falconidae.
Cathayornis chabuensis
Sp. nov.
Valid
Li Jianjun
Li Zhiheng
Zhang Yuguang
Zhou Zhonghe
Bai Zhiqiang
Zhang Lifu
Ba Tuya
Early Cretaceous
Jinchuan Formation
China
A Cathayornithidae Zhou, Jin et Zhang, 2006, Enantiornithes Walker, 1981.
Certhiops rummeli
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Albrecht Manegold
Early Miocene
MN 3
Germany:
Bavaria
A Certhioidea, this is the type species of the new genus.
Didactylornis jii
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Yuan Chongxi
Lower Cretaceous
Jiufotang Formation
China
Basal pygostylia, Sapeornithidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Enantiophoenix electrophyla
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Andrea Cau
Paolo Arduini
Upper Cretaceous
Lebanon
An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Avisauridae Brett-Surman et Paul, 1985, this is the type species of the new genus.
Eoconfuciusornis zhengi
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Fucheng Zhang
Zhonghe Zhou
Michael Benton
Lower Cretaceous
Dabeigou Formation
China
A Primitive Confuciusornithidae Hou, Zhou, Gu et Zhang, 1995, this is the type species of the new genus.
Ephippiorhynchus tchoufour
Sp. nov.
Valid
Antoine Louchart
Yohannes Haile-Selassie
Patrick Vignaud
Androssa Likius
Michel Brunet
Late Miocene
ca 7 Ma
Chad
A Ciconiidae.
Eurotrochilus noniewiczi
Sp. nov.
Valid
Zygmunt Bochenski
Zbigniew Bochenski
Early Oligocene
Late Rupelian
Poland
A new European species of the Trochilidae.
Foudia delloni
Sp. nov.
Valid
Anthony S. Cheke
Julian P. Hume
Subrecent
Not seen since 1672
Reunion
The original Foudia from Reunion.
Hokkaidornis abashiriensis
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Kazuhiko Sakurai
Masaichi Kimura
Takayuki Katoh
Late Oligocene
Tokoro Formation
Japan
A Plotopteridae Howard, 1969, this is the type species of the new genus.
Jabiru codorensis
Sp. nov.
Valid
Stig A. Walsh
Rodolfo Sanchez
Early Pliocene
Codore Formation,
Middle El Jebe Member
Venezuela
A Ciconiidae.
Leptoptilos patagonicus
Sp. nov.
Valid
Jorge I. Noriega
Gerardo Cladera
Late Miocene
Puerto Madryn Formation
Argentina
A Ciconiidae.
Manuherikia douglasi
Sp. nov.
Valid
Trevor H. Worthy
Alan J. D. Tennyson
Suzanne J. Hand
R. Paul Scofield
Early-Middle Miocene
Bannockburn Formation
New Zealand
An Anatidae, Anserinae.
Megadyptes waitaha
Sp. nov.
Valid
Sanne Boessenkool
Jeremy J. Austin
Trevor H. Worthy
R. Paul Scofield
Alan Cooper
Philip J. Seddon
Jonathan M. Waters
Late Holocene
Subrecent
New Zealand
A Spheniscidae, when it became extinct it made room for Megadyptes antipodes.
Mopsitta tanta
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
David W. Waterhouse
Bent E. K, Lindow
Nikita V. Zelenkov
Gareth J. Dyke
Early Eocene,
Ypresian
Fur Formation
Denmark
Described in the Psittaciformes, Gerald Mayr, 2009 sees no reasons to place the species in Psittaciformes.
Palaeortyx volans
Sp. nov.
Valid
Ursula B. Gohlich
Marco Pavia
Neogene
Gargano
Italy
A Phasianidae.
Pelagornis mauretanicus
Sp. nov.
Valid
Cecille Mourer-Chauvire
Denis Geraads
Late Pliocene
Ahl al Oughlam
Morocco
A Pelagornithidae Furbringer, 1888.
Pengornis houi
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Zhou Zhonghe
Julia A. Clarke
Zhang Fucheng
Early Cretaceous
Jiufotang Formation
China
An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, this is the type species of the new genus and the type genus of the new family Pengornithidae Wang, O'Connor, Zheng, Wang, Hu et Zhou, 2014.
Phaethusavis pelagicus
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Estelle Bourdon
Mbarek Amaghzaz
Baadi Bouya
Early Eocene
Early Ypresian
Morocco
A Phaethontidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Pleistovultur nevesi
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Herculano M. F. de Alvarenga
Guilherme R. R. Brito
Rafael Migotto
Alex Hubbe
Elizabeth Hofling
Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene
Brazil
A Cathartidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Thomasococcyx philohippus
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
David W. Steadman
Early Miocene
Hemingfordian LMA
USA:
Florida
A Cuculidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Tirarinetta kanunka
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Trevor H. Worthy
Pliocene
Tirari Formation
Australia
South Australia
An Anatidae, this is the type species of the new genus.
Zhongornis haoae
Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
Valid
Gao Chunling
Luis M. Chiappe
Meng Qinjing
Jingmai O'Connor
Wang Xuri
Cheng Xiaodong
Liu Jinyuan
Lower Cretaceous
Yixian Formation
China
Basal Aves, this is the type species of the new genus.
Zygodactylus luberonensis
Sp. nov.
Valid
Gerald Mayr
Early Oligocene
MP 23-24
France
A Zygodactylidae Brodkorb, 1971, ?Piciformes.
Itaboraiophis
gen et sp nov
Valid
Rage
Middle Paleocene
Brazil
A "booid"-grade snake of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Itaboraiophis depressus.
Kuwajimalla
gen et sp nov
Valid
Evans & Manabe
Early Cretaceous (Valanginian to Hauterivian)
Kuwajima Formation
Japan
A polyglyphanodontian lizard. The type species is Kuwajimalla kagaensis.
Merkurosaurus
gen et sp nov
Valid
Klembara
Early Miocene
Czech Republic
A member of Anguimorpha, might be related to the Chinese crocodile lizard. The type species is Merkurosaurus ornatus.
Ovoo
gen et sp nov
Valid
Norell, Gao, & Conrad
Late Cretaceous
near Ukhaa Tolgod
Mongolia
one of the oldest monitor lizards
Paraungaliophis
gen et sp nov
Valid
Rage
Middle Paleocene
Brazil
A snake related to members of the genus Ungaliophis. The type species is Paraungaliophis pricei.
Paulacoutophis
gen et sp nov
Valid
Rage
Middle Paleocene
Brazil
A booid-grade snake of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Paulacoutophis perplexus.
Prognathodon kianda
sp nov
Valid
Schulp et al.
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
Angola
A mosasaur.
Selmasaurus johnsoni
sp nov
Valid
Polcyn & Everhart
Late Cretaceous (early Santonian)
Niobrara Chalk
United States
A mosasaur.
Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis
sp nov
Valid
Caldwell, Konishi, Obata, & Muramoto
upper Santonian-lower Campanian
Japan
Third identified species for the genus Taniwhasaurus
Tianyusaurus
gen et sp nov
Valid
Lu et al.
Late Cretaceous
Qiupa Formation
China
A polyglyphanodontian lizard. The type species is Tianyusaurus zhengi.
Tinosaurus indicus
Sp nov
Valid
Prasad & Bajpai
Early Eocene
Cambay Shale
India
An agamid lizard, a species of Tinosaurus.
Vallecillosaurus
gen et sp nov
Valid
Smith & Buchy
Late Cretaceous (early Turonian)
Agua Nueva Formation
Mexico
A member of Mosasauroidea of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Vallecillosaurus donrobertoi.
Vastanagama
Gen. et sp. nov
Valid
Prasad & Bajpai
Early Eocene
Cambay Shale
India
An agamid lizard. The type species is Vastanagama susani.
Glyphoderma
Valid
Zhao et al.
Nichollsia
renamed
Druckenmiller
Russell
Nichollsia preoccupied by a genus of isopod, renamed in 2009 to Nichollssaura
Occitanosaurus
Synonym
Bardet
Fernandez
Garcia-Ramos
Superbiola
Pinuela
Ruiz-Omenaca
Vincent
Wumengosaurus
Valid
Jiang et al.
Alrausuchus
Valid
Middle Permian
Russia
A new genus for "Biarmosuchus" tagax
Megawhaitsia
Valid
Upper Permian
Russia
Albireo savagei
Valid
Late Pliocene
Pismo Formation
A member of Delphinoidea belonging to the family Albireonidae, a species of Albireo.
Cantalera
Valid
Early Cretaceous (late Hauterivian‐early Barremian)
A multituberculate belonging to the family Pinheirodontidae. The type species is C. abadi.
Crenatocetus
Valid
Eocene
A member of Protocetidae. The type species is Crenatocetus rayi.
Cynarctoides whistleri
Valid
Hemingfordian
A member of Canidae belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae, a species of Cynarctoides.
Diceratherium radtkei
Valid
Arikareean
Cabbage Patch beds
Harrison Formation
Sharps Formation
Djourabus
Valid
Late Miocene
A member of Mustelidae belonging to the subfamily Lutrinae. The type species is D. dabba.
Floridameryx
Valid
Late Miocene to earliest Pliocene
A member of Gelocidae belonging to the subfamily Pseudoceratinae. The type species is F. floridanus; genus also includes "Pseudoceras" klausi Frick (1937).
Fossendorhinus
Valid
Uintan
A member of Brontotheriidae; a new genus for "Telmatherium" diploconus Osborn (1895)
Fredszalaya
Valid
Late Oligocene
A member of Borhyaenidae. The type species is Fredszalaya hunteri.
Glibia namibiesis
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
A rodent belonging to the family Zegdoumyidae, a species of Glibia.
Merycopotamus thachangensis
Valid
Late Miocene
Metalopex
Valid
Late Clarendonian to early Hemphillian
Ash Hollow Formation
Kern River Formation
Rattlesnake Formation
Thousand Creek Formation
A fox. The type species is Metalopex merriami.
Mioheteromys crowderensis
Valid
Late Hemingfordian to Barstovian
Barstow Formation
Crowder Formation
A rodent belonging to the family Heteromyidae, a species of Mioheteromys.
Namahyrax
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
A hyrax. The type species is Namahyrax corvus.
Namaia
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
Probably a member of the family Adapidae. The type species is Namaia bogenfelsi. The generic name turned out to be preoccupied; Pickford and Uhen (2014) created a replacement name Notnamaia.
Namalestes
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
A member of Cimolesta belonging to the family Todralestidae. The type species is Namalestes gheerbranti.
Namatherium
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
An embrithopod. The type species is Namatherium blackcrowense.
Nasamplus
Valid
Late Eocene (Ulangochuian)
A member of Brontotheriidae; a new genus for "Metatitan" progressus Granger and Gregory (1943).
Pollyosbornia
Valid
Uintan
Uinta Formation
A member of Brontotheriidae; a new genus for "Telmatherium" altidens Osborn (1908).
Prepomonomys
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
A rodent belonging to the family Diamantomyidae. The type species is Prepomonomys bogenfelsi.
Proadinotherium saltoni
Valid
Late Oligocene
A member of Toxodontidae, a species of Proadinotherium.
Siamoadapis
Valid
Middle Miocene
Silicamys
Valid
Eocene (Lutetian)
A rodent belonging to the family Myophiomyidae. The type species is Silicamys cingulatus.
Sivaonyx beyi
Valid
Late Miocene
A member of Mustelidae belonging to the subfamily Lutrinae.
Stenomylus taylori
Valid
Miocene (Hemingfordian)
Zia Formation
A camelid.
Teilhardina magnoliana
Valid
Early Eocene
Tuscahoma Formation
Wickia
Valid
Uintan
Sand Wash Basin
Washakie Formation
A member of Brontotheriidae. The type species is Wickia brevirhinus.
As science becomes more collaborative, papers with large numbers of authors are becoming more common. To prevent the deformation of the tables, these footnotes list the contributors to papers that erect new genera and have many authors.