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 1838.
Jacques Amand Eudes-Deslongchamps discovers the remains of the first major French dinosaur find. He names the animal Poekilopleuron, and mistakenly believes it to be marine.[4]
^Eudes-Deslongchamps, J.A. 1838. Memoire sur
le Poekilopleuron bucklandi, grande saurien
fossile, intermediaire entre les crocodiles et les
lezards. Memoires de la Societe linneenne de
Normandie, Caen 6: pp. 37-146.
^Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 16. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.