title: 1821 in paleontology
text: # 1821 in paleontology
  
  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 1821.
  
  ## Dinosaurs
  
  * On 21 June, Gideon Algernon Mantell displays his Iguanodon fossils to the Geological Society, but arouses little interest.
  
  ## Plesiosaurs
  
  ### New taxa
  
  | Taxon | Novelty | Status | Author(s) | Age | Unit | Location | Notes | Images |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Plesiosaurus | Gen. nov. | Valid | William Daniel Conybeare | Sinemurian, 199 mya | Blue Lias | England | Conybeare named the genus in Plesiosaurus 1821 without designating a type species. The genus was named on the basis of a complete skeleton discovered by Mary Anning. | |
  