2026 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 2026.

Flora

Plants

Main article: 2026 in paleobotany

Fungi

Newly named fungi

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Hermatomycesporites	Gen. et sp. nov		Garcia Massini et al.	Jurassic	La Matilde Formation	Argentina	A mitosporic fungus with similarities to Hermatomyces. Genus includes new species H. patagonicus.
Meliolinites mycoparasitica	Sp. nov		Kundu & Khan	Miocene		India	A member of the family Meliolaceae.
Papulosporonites canadensis	Comb. nov		(Srivastava)	Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian)		Canada United States	Fungal spores; moved from Palambages canadiana Srivastava (1968).
Papulosporonites polycellularis	Comb. nov		(Takahashi & Shimono)	Probably Pleistocene		Japan	Fungal spores; moved from Palambages polycellularis Takahashi & Shimono (1980).
Parolactarius	Gen. et sp. nov		Lin et al.	Cretaceous	Kachin amber	Myanmar	A fungus with probable affinities with the family Russulaceae. Genus includes new species P. pilosus.
Polyadosporites colonicus	Comb. nov		(Trivedi & Verma)	Eocene		Malaysia	Fungal spores; moved from Palambages colonicus Trivedi & Verma (1969).
Zygosporium bivesiculam	Sp. nov		Kundu & Khan	Miocene		India	A member of Xylariales belonging to the family Zygosporiaceae.

Mycological research

• Rea, Simpson & Wizevich (2026) study a sample of the ichnofossil Eopolis ekdalei from the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation (Utah, United States) preserved with plant, insect and fungal remains interpreted as suggesting that Eopolis ekdalei was produced by termite, as well as suggestive of fungal farming by termites during the Late Jurassic.

Cnidarians

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Aulastraeogyra	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	Valid	Löser & Wilmsen	Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)	Altamira Formation	Spain	A coral. Genus includes new species A. astraeforma and A. meandriforme.
Heina	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Wang	Silurian (Aeronian)	Shihniulan Formation	China	A rugose coral belonging to the family Stauriidae. The type species is "Neoceriaster" rarisepta He (1980).
Macgeea myallensis	Sp. nov		Wright & McLean	Devonian	Cara Formation	Australia	A rugose coral belonging to the family Phillipsastreidae.
Michelinia rara	Sp. nov	Valid	Krutykh, Mirantsev & Rozhnov	Carboniferous (Gzhelian)		Russia	A tabulate coral. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Paleocanna	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Ramirez-Guerrero et al.	Ordovician	Neuville Formation	Canada (Quebec)	A stem-medusozoan. The type species is P. tentaculum.
Yuina	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Wang	Silurian (Aeronian)	Leijiatun Formation	China	A rugose coral belonging to the family Stauriidae. The type species is "Ceriaster" columellatus Ge & Yu (1974); genus also includes "Ceriaster (Eostauria)" agglomorata He & Li (1974) and "Ceriaster" qiaogouensis He (1980).

Cnidarian research

• Bernad, Echevarría & Ros-Franch (2026) study the diversity dynamics of Conulariida throughout their evolutionary history, reporting evidence of decline of origination rates by the Late Ordovician.
• Specimens of Montlivaltia with regular growth bands, interpreted as likely evidence of growth periodicities corresponding to lunar cycles nested within annual growth rhythms, are described from the Middle Jurassic strata from Lorraine (France) by Lathuilière (2026).
• Löser (2026) studies the composition of the assemblage of Hauterivian corals from the Yokonuma Formation (Japan), extending known temporal range of the genera Calamophylliopsis, ?Eohydnophora, Siderohelia and Palaeosiderofungia.
• Moclán et al. (2026) study the biometric parameters and orientations of specimens of Cordubia gigantea from the Cambrian strata from the Constantina site (Torreárboles Formation; Spain), identify additional specimens at the studied site, and interpret the specimens from the studied aggregation as likely to have died during a mass mortality event.
• Moreau et al. (2026) report the discovery of fossil material of Medusina atava from the strata of the Cham-el-Houa Siltstone Formation (Morocco), extending known geographical range of Permian freshwater medusoids into the equatorial zone.

Arthropods

Main articles: 2026 in arthropod paleontology and 2026 in paleoentomology

Brachiopods

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Amphithyris butleri	Sp. nov		Robinson	Eocene		New Zealand	A species of Amphithyris.
Amphithyris thomsoni	Sp. nov		Robinson	Eocene to Oligocene		New Zealand	A species of Amphithyris.
Dubatolovispirifer	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Baranov & Nikolaev	Devonian (Pragian)		Russia	A member of Spiriferida. The type species is D. ribbed. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Golestania	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Baranov, Kebrie-ee Zade & Blodgett	Devonian (Famennian)	Khoshyeilagh Formation	Iran	A member of Spiriferida belonging to the family Ambocoelidae. The type species is G. shahrudus. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Howellella nelyudimica	Sp. nov	Valid	Baranov & Nikolaev	Devonian (Pragian)		Russia	A member of Spiriferida. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Howellella septentrionalis	Sp. nov	Valid	Baranov & Nikolaev	Devonian (Pragian)		Russia	A member of Spiriferida. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Isocrania multicostata	Sp. nov		Poddar et al.	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Kallankurichchi Formation	India
Jilinmartinia hovsugolensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Sun et al.	Permian (Cisuralian)	Kharnuden Formation	Mongolia
Johndearia isbelli dorsofurcata	Ssp. nov	Valid	Waterhouse	Permian		Australia	A member of the family Ingelarellidae.
Kallirhynchia oranensis roussellei	Ssp. nov		Benzaggagh	Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)		Morocco
Kosoplasia	Gen. et comb. nov		Mergl	Silurian (Ludfordian)		Czech Republic	A member of the family Ambocoeliidae. Genus includes "Metaplasia" hemicona Havlíček in Havlíček & Štorch (1990).
Lambdarina vangyrika	Sp. nov	Valid	Pakhnevich & Sobolev	Carboniferous (Tournaisian)		Russia (Komi Republic)	A member of Rhynchonellida belonging to the superfamily Lambdarinoidea. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Linoproductus planiconvexus	Sp. nov	Valid	Sun et al.	Permian (Cisuralian)	Kharnuden Formation	Mongolia
Paramarginifera pentagona	Sp. nov	Valid	Sun et al.	Permian (Cisuralian)	Kharnuden Formation	Mongolia
Pocillocrania	Gen. et sp. nov		Madison et al.	Ordovician (Hirnantian)		Estonia	A craniiform brachiopod belonging to the family Craniidae. The type species is P. rubeli.
Praeoehlertella convexa	Sp. nov		Valentine, Mathieson & Simpson	Devonian		Australia	A discinoid brachiopod.
Septothyris sulcata	Sp. nov	Valid	Benedetto, Rustan & Lopez	Devonian (Lochkovian)	Los Espejos Formation	Argentina	A member of Terebratulida.

Brachiopod research

• Esteve, González-Cloquells & Arriola (2026) compare the columnar microstructure of Iberotreta sampelayoi and Genetreta trilix from the Láncara Formation (Spain), providing evidence of differences interpreted as related to distinct biomechanical characteristics, and link the diversification of Cambrian brachiopods to the variation of their skeletal architecture.
• A study on the composition of the brachiopod assemblage from the Ordovician Cabrières Biota (Landeyran Formation, France) is published by Harper et al. (2026).
• Zhang et al. (2026) publish a revision of the species Salairella latecostellata and a systematic revision of the genus Salairella, providing evidence of distinctiveness of late Ordovician brachiopods assemblages from the Altai Mountains, Siberia and Mongolia compared to the ones from China and Kazakhstan.
• Huang et al. (2026) study changes of composition of Telychian brachiopod assemblages from the Ningqiang Formation (Sichuan, China), providing evidence of a shift from a deep-water fauna to one from shallower environment, interpreted as a response to regional uplift.
• A study on changes of diversity and distribution of Productida throughout the evolutionary history of the group is published by Chen et al. (2026).
• Fu et al. (2026) describe fossil material of Pseudolingula quadrata from the Ordovician Pingliang Formation (China), preserved with impressions of the musculature and the vascular system, and representing the first record of Pseudolingulidae from the North China Platform.
• Popov et al. (2026) report the discovery of a specimen of Mergliella aff. bechei from the Ludfordian Cae'r mynach Formation (Wales, United Kingdom) with a well-preserved pedicle, representing the first case of soft tissue preservation in a Silurian linguliform brachiopod.
• Müller et al. (2026) report a mass occurrence of specimens of Halorella amphitoma in the Upper Triassic strata of the Dachstein Formation (Hungary), interpreted as preserved in a palaeokarst cavity filled by seawater as a result of sea-level rise, and expanding known range of habitats of the studied species.
• New records of fossils of brachiopods from the orders Athyridida, Rhynchonellida and Spiriferinida from the Triassic and Jurassic strata in New Zealand and New Caledonia are reported by MacFarlan (2026).

Bryozoans

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Amphiblestrella magna	Sp. nov	Valid	Koromyslova & Holroyd	Paleocene (Thanetian)		Kazakhstan	A member of the family Onychocellidae.
Brydonella favorskayae	Sp. nov	Valid	Koromyslova & Holroyd	Paleocene (Thanetian)		Kazakhstan	A member of Flustrina belonging to the family Brydonellidae.
Cellaria fallax	Sp. nov	Valid	Iturra et al.			Argentina	A species of Cellaria.
Cellaria roborata	Sp. nov	Valid	Iturra et al.			Argentina	A species of Cellaria.
Distansescharella levinae	Sp. nov	Valid	Koromyslova & Holroyd	Paleocene (Thanetian)		Kazakhstan	A member of the family Cribrilinidae.
Gramipora	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Håkansson et al.	Miocene	Gram Formation	Denmark	A cheilostome bryozoan of uncertain affinities. The type species is G. laxevincta.
Hexacanthopora turgayensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Koromyslova & Holroyd	Paleocene (Thanetian)		Kazakhstan	A member of the family Cribrilinidae.
Juanopora	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Ernst, Racki & Wyse Jackson	Devonian (Givetian)	Wietrznia Beds	Poland	A member of the family Fenestellidae. The type species is J. elegans.
Reussirella germinatio	Sp. nov	Valid	Håkansson et al.	Miocene	Gram Formation	Denmark	A cheilostome bryozoan belonging to the family Cupuladriidae.
Voigtopora naidini	Sp. nov	Valid	Koromyslova & Holroyd	Paleocene (Thanetian)		Kazakhstan	A member of the family Stomatoporidae.

Molluscs

Main article: 2026 in paleomalacology

Echinoderms

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Acruxaster	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Jell	Silurian and Devonian		Australia	A new genus for "Petraster" richi Withers & Keble.
Afanasievocrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species A. pentagonalis. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Allosocrinus moscoviensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Apographiocrinus convexus	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Austrophiaulax	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A new genus for "Crepidosoma" kinglakensis Withers & Keble.
Batainacrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Sycocrinitidae. The type species is B. sulcus.
Brabeocrinus costatus	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Catinogalerus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Neumann & Kutscher	Late Cretaceous (Campanian)		Germany	A sea urchin belonging to the family Galeritidae. The type species is C. alexanderi.
Cemgiganticrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species C. popovorum. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
?Chlidonocrinus medvedkaensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Coenocystis akros	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Streblocrinidae.
Cruciformaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Travers & Fau in Travers et al.	Miocene	Calcaire de Ménerbes Formation	France	A starfish belonging to the family Oreasteridae. The type species is C. pedicellarius.
Curtobesaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish. Genus includes new species C. brachiatus.
Cyclaster pectiformis	Sp. nov	Valid	Neumann & Jagt	Late Cretaceous (Campanian)		Germany	A sea urchin belonging to the family Micrasteridae.
Dichostreblocrinus aequalis	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Streblocrinidae.
Eckardtaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. Genus includes new species E. superbus.
Elibatocrinus gracilis	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Enidaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. Genus includes new species E. holmesae.
Eugasterella australiana	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star.
Eugasterella edmundgilli	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star.
Exoriocrinus pseudorugosus	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Ferroaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish. Genus includes new species F. gravidus.
Fhcaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. Genus includes new species F. hotchkissi.
Fonsaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish. Genus includes new species F. vandenbergi.
Furcaster chrisahyeei	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star.
Gennaeocrinus wenningi	Sp. nov	Valid	Bohatý, Ausich & Bialas	Devonian (Famennian)	Etroeungt Formation	Germany	A periechocrinid crinoid.
Gracilicrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species G. chertanovoensis. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Halogetocrinus yakovlevi	Sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Hemistreptacron concavus	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Streblocrinidae.
Kswaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish. Genus includes new species K. campbelli.
Lapworthura nnetteae	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star.
Lavacystis	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Rozhnov	Ordovician (Floian)		Australia (Leningrad Oblast)	A member of Rhombifera belonging to the family Pleurocystitidae. Genus includes new species L. sagittalis. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as December 2025.
Litocrinus delicatulus	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Litocrinus lanei	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Litocrinus ornatus	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Litocrinus sevastopuloi	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Menerbesaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Travers & Fau in Travers et al.	Miocene	Calcaire de Ménerbes Formation	France	A starfish belonging to the family Echinasteridae. The type species is M. bongrainae.
Metallagecrinus blothros	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Metallagecrinus granulosus	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Metallagecrinus omanensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Allagecrinidae.
Metopaster boudinus	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Metopaster boutillieri	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Metopaster brebis	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Metopaster fa	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Metopaster glarea	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Metopaster sandalina	Sp. nov	Valid	Villier et al.	Late Cretaceous		France	A starfish.
Mitrocystella incipiens pustulosa	Ssp. nov	Valid	Vidal-Marty et al.	Ordovician (Darriwilian)	Guindo Shale	Spain	A mitrate belonging to the family Mitrocystitidae.
Monobrachiocrinus trochos	Sp. nov	Valid	Webster, Ausich & Heward	Permian (Kungurian)	Batain Group	Oman	A crinoid belonging to the family Sycocrinitidae.
Neverovocrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species N. decadoramosus. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Ophiurina ripariensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star.
Patenaster	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. Genus includes new species P. knoxensis and P. secundus.
Phurioina	Gen. et comb. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. A new genus for "Taeniactis" yeringae Withers & Keble; genus also includes new species P. lilydalensis.
Quarreriaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish. Genus includes new species Q. madelynae.
Rolfaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A brittle star. Genus includes new species R. schmidti.
Subcystaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	An asterozoan belonging to the group Stenurida. Genus includes new species S. magnadamus.
Sukhanovocrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species S. parvus. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Sulcatocrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species S. sinusoides. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Syzigobrachiocrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species S. ramulosus. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Talentaster	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Jell	Silurian and Devonian		Australia	A new genus for "Salteraster" biradialis Withers & Keble.
Tanyakanthaster	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	An asterozoan belonging to the group Stenurida. Genus includes new species T. plerus.
Tenuibrachiocrinus	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species T. domodedovoensis and T. erlangeri. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Voskresenskicrinus	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mirantsev	Carboniferous (Kasimovian)	Neverovo Formation	Russia	A crinoid. Genus includes new species V. medvedkensis. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as November 2025.
Xenaster profusus	Sp. nov	Valid	Jell	Devonian		Australia	A starfish.

Echinoderm research

• Nohejlová, Dupichaud & Lefebvre (2026) report the discovery of fossil material of Dehmicystis aff. ariasi from the strata of the Nantglyn Flags Formation (Wales, United Kingdom), representing the second record of Silurian Soluta worldwide reported to date.
• Sheffield et al. (2026) compare rates of evolution of traits of members of Diploporita, Eublastoidea and Paracrinoidea and study their phylogenetic relationships, reporting evidence of overall similar rates among the three groups, but also evidence of elevated rates of evolution of the attachment, thecal, reproductive and respiratory characters in paracrinoids.
• Paul (2026) revises the ambulacral structure of members of accepted genera within the diploporite family Gomphocystitidae, and tentatively assigns the species "Protocrinus" sparsiporus from the Ordovician of Myanmar to the genus Gomphocystites.
• Waters & Macurda (2026) reevaluate the affinities of blastoids and propose a new classification of members of the group, reorganizing them into three superorders on the basis of differences in their respiratory structures.
• The oldest known crinoid specimen comparable in size and developmental stage to an early pentacrinoid larva of living crinoids is described from the Ordovician (Katian) Verulam Formation (Ontario, Canada) by Ausich, Hetrick & Leslie (2026).
• Accumulation of crinoid fossils representing the first confirmed crinoid Konzentrat-Lagerstätte from the Middle Jurassic of Africa reported to date, dominated by Phyllocrinus stellaris, is described from the Bathonian strata of the Djara Formation (Algeria) by Salamon et al. (2026).
• Salamon et al. (2026) describe new cyrtocrinid crinoid fossil material from the Jurassic (Callovian and Oxfordian) strata of the Argiles de Saïda Formation (Algeria), including fossils of members of the genera Apsidocrinus and Tetracrinus older than the oldest reported European occurrences, and review the fossil record of cyrtocrinids from Gondwana, interpreted as indicative of diversification of members of this group in areas other than the European part of the Tethys Ocean, as well as indicative of complex dispersal patterns along northern and southern Tethyan margins.
• Poatskievick-Pierezan et al. (2026) report the first discovery of confirmed stalked crinoid remains from the Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation, providing evidence of presence of stalked crinoids in predator-dominated continental shelf ecosystems of Antarctica until the latest Cretaceous, filling the gap between Antarctic crinoid fossil record from the Early Cretaceous and from the Paleogene.
• Stöhr, Jagt & Thuy (2026) report the discovery of fossil material of "Ophiolepis" falsa from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) strata in the Münsterland Basin (Germany), and transfer this species to the extant brittle star genus Actinozonella.

Hemichordates

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Saetograptus rinconadensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Lopez et al.	Silurian	Rinconada Formation	Argentina	A graptolite belonging to the family Monograptidae.
Sigmagraptus introversus	Sp. nov	Valid	Maletz	Ordovician (Dapingian)	Cow Head Group	Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) Norway	A graptolite belonging to the family Sigmagraptidae.
Sigmagraptus sombrero	Sp. nov	Valid	Maletz	Ordovician (Dapingian)	Cow Head Group	Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador)	A graptolite belonging to the family Sigmagraptidae.

Hemichordate research

• A study on the composition of the graptolite assemblage from the Ordovician Cabrières Biota (France) is published by Harper et al. (2026).
• Qiu et al. (2026) link the decline of graptolites belonging to the group Diplograptina during the Late Ordovician mass extinction and subsequent diversification of Neograptina to dynamic marine euxinia and enhanced sedimentary phosphorus recycling during the Ordovician-Silurian transition.
• A study on the morphology of members the graptolite genus Pseudoretiolites, on the composition of the genus and on the evolution of this lineage is published by Maletz et al. (2026).

Conodonts

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Icriodella serpaglii	Sp. nov	Valid	Ferretti, Cioni & Gibellini	Ordovician		Italy
Polygnathus talenti	Sp. nov		Tagarieva	Devonian (Famennian)		Russia (Bashkortostan)
Quadralella globosa	Sp. nov		Han & Zhao in Han et al.	Late Triassic (Carnian)	Maantang Formation	China
Quadralella praedeflecta	Sp. nov		Han et al.	Late Triassic (Carnian)		China
Tropodus repetskii	Sp. nov		Zhen	Ordovician	Emanuel Formation	Australia

Conodont research

• Goudemez et al. (2026) report evidence of covariation between the increase of sharpness of the blade and the reduction of the platform in the P₁ element of the feeding apparatus of members of the genus Palmatolepis throughout the Famennian, likely related to increase in food processing abilities, and report possible evidence of trophic partitioning between juvenile and adult individuals of P. gracilis.
• Świś et al. (2026) report evidence of different strontium isotopic composition of bioapatite of conodonts from the Famennian strata from the Kowala Quarry (Poland) belonging to different genera, interpreted as likely resulting from trophic niche differentiation and/or different digestive physiology.
• Casas-Peña, Gutiérrez-Reyes & Navas-Parejo (2026) study the conodont biostratigraphy of the Rancho Nuevo Formation (Mexico), interpreted as indicative of late Moscovian–Kasimovian age of the studied formation.
• León-Caffroni et al. (2026) describe fossil material of Idioprioniodus conjunctus from the Carboniferous strata of the Itaituba Formation (Brazil) indicating that the species was not strictly confined to deep waters but also present in shallow epicontinental sea environment, and link its abundance in the studied area to the maximum flooding interval of the Amazonas Basin during the Bashkirian-Moscovian interval.
• Qin et al. (2026) provide a biostratigraphic framework for the Middle Triassic strata of the Nanpenghe and the Xuanlai sections of the Baoshan Block (Yunnan, China) on the basis of the study of the local conodont fauna.

Fish

Main article: 2026 in paleoichthyology

Amphibians

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Nabia	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Guillaume et al.	Late Jurassic	Lourinha Formation Alcobaça Formation	Portugal	A member of the family Albanerpetontidae. The type species is N. civiscientrix.
Tanyka	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Pardo et al.	Early Permian	Pedra de Fogo Formation	Brazil	An early tetrapodomorph. The type species is T. amnicola.
Tyrannoroter	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Mann et al.	Carboniferous	Sydney Mines Formation	Canada (Nova Scotia)	A pantylid "microsaur". The type species is T. heberti.

Amphibian research

• Molnar, Hutchinson & Pierce (2026) compare limb functions of musculoskeletal models of Acanthostega and Pederpes and an extant salamander and lizard, and report that hip and shoulder mobility of the studied early tetrapods was not compatible with movement patterns of the studied extant tetrapods, but find no evidence that limbs of Acanthostega and Pederpes were less adapted for weight support or hindlimb-based propulsion compared to the studied salamander and lizard.
• Evidence of variability in number and sequence of growth marks between different bones of a single individual of Sclerocephalus nobilis is presented by Klein & Konietzko-Meier (2026).
• Description of the morphology of the postcranial skeleton of Gerrothorax pulcherrimus and its changes during the ontogeny of the animal is published by Witzmann & Schoch (2026).
• Kear et al. (2026) revise the fossil material attributed to Erythrobatrachus noonkanbahensis, interpreting it as a valid species on the basis of the study of the holotype, and interpreting the referred material as belonging to cf. Aphaneramma sp.
• Jansen et al. (2026) report the discovery of a new assemblage of amphibian fossils from the Campanian strata of the Villeveyrac-Mèze basin (France), including the oldest European members of the families Albanerpetontidae and Batrachosauroididae reported to date.
• Description of the skull anatomy of Eoscapherpeton asiaticum is published by Kolchanov & Skutschas (2026).
• Syromyatnikova (2026) describes the anatomy of the skull of Mioproteus wezei on the basis of new fossil material from the Pliocene strata from North Caucasus (Russia).
• Lemierre, Heinrich & Blackburn (2026) describe fossil material of members of Salientia from the Upper Jurassic Tendaguru Formation (Tanzania), including two humeri representing the oldest fossil record of members of frog crown group from Jurassic outcrops of Gondwana reported to date.
• A study on the composition of the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian or Santonian) frog assemblage from the In Becetèn locality (Niger), including the oldest known member of Ranoidea and a large indeterminate neobatrachian known from ornamented cranial material, is published by Lemierre et al. (2026).
• The first fossil material of tree frogs from the Pleistocene of the Urals is reported from the Makhnevskaya Ledyanaya Cave (Russia) by Tarasova et al. (2026).
• Hiotis, Reed & Sherratt (2026) identify Late Pleistocene frog fossils from the Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Area (Australia) on the basis of the study of their ilial morphology.
• Ikeda, Takahashi & Hasegawa (2026) study the composition of the Pleistocene frog assemblage from the Minatogawa man site (Okinawa, Japan), reporting evidence of presence of taxa that are presently endemic to Okinawa, and evidence of presence of Fejervarya kawamurai, interpreted as indicative of natural dispersal of the species to Okinawa and refuting the possibility of its introduction by humans in the Holocene.
• A study on anuran fossils in the vertebrate assemblage from the Ravina das Araras (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil), interpreted as consistent with presence of temporary bodies of water in a landscape dominated by open habitats during the late Quaternary, is published by Costa et al. (2026).
• Yu, Xu & Benson (2026) compare body size, cranial proportions, neck length and respiratory traits of Devonian to Permian land vertebrates, and find evidence of stronger constraints on body size evolution in the stem group of Lissamphibia compared to the stem group of Amniota, interpreted as likely linked to divergence of respiratory adaptations of the two groups.

Reptiles

Main articles: 2026 in reptile paleontology and 2026 in archosaur paleontology

Synapsids

Non-mammalian synapsids

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Jirahgorgon	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Macungo et al.	Permian	Abrahamskraal Formation	South Africa	A gorgonopsian in the family Phorcyidae. The type species is J. ceto.
Njalila	Gen. et comb. nov	Valid	Gebauer & Maisch	Permian	Usili Formation	Tanzania	A gorgonopsian; a new genus for "Dixeya" nasuta Huene (1950).

Synapsid research

• Warshaw, Singh & Benton (2026) evaluate possible factors influencing cranial shape evolution in carnivorous Permian synapsids, and identify adaptation for trophic functions as the primary driver influencing the cranial shape.
• Angielczyk et al. (2026) describe a natural mold of a vertebra of a synapsid and a natural mold of a partial maxilla of a synapsid with sphenacodont affinities from the Permian (Cisuralian) Pedra de Fogo Formation (Brazil), representing the first definitive pelycosaur-grade synapsids reported from South America.
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of therapsids is published by Duhamel et al. (2026).
• Benoit, Fernandez & Botha (2026) identify a curled perinate specimen of Lystrosaurus from the Lower Triassic strata of the Balfour or Katberg Formation (South Africa) as likely to be an embryo originally preserved within an egg, and interpret Lystrosaurus as a precocial animal unlikely to feed on milk.
• Suchkova, Bulanov & Masyutin (2026) report evidence of preservation of remains of a specimen of Emeroleter levis within the abdominal cavity of a specimen of Viatkosuchus sumini from the Permian (Capitanian) strata from the Kotel'nich locality (Kirov Oblast, Russia).
• Redescription and a study on the affinities of Cistecynodon parvus is published by Lund et al. (2026).
• Averianov & Sues (2026) report the discovery of an isolated ulna of Docodon from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Wyoming, United States), and find no evidence of fossorial or aquatic adaptations.

Mammals

Main article: 2026 in paleomammalogy

Other animals

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Anabarites yuanbaoshanensis	Sp. nov		Chen et al.	Ediacaran	Dengying Formation	China
Arborea elegans	Sp. nov	Valid	Rosse-Guillevic, Olschewski & McIlroy	Ediacaran	Mistaken Point Formation	Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador)	A species of Arborea.	3D reconstruction of Arborea elegans in its environment.
Biplicatella	Gen. et comb. et sp. nov	Valid	Peel	Cambrian	Qiaonzhusi (Chiungchussu) Formation	China Greenland	A member of Hyolitha. The type species is "Linevitus" opimus Yu (1974); genus also includes new species B. skovstedi.
Cloudina? petala	Sp. nov		Chen et al.	Ediacaran	Dengying Formation	China
Cornulites hemistriatus	Sp. nov	Valid	Jin & Vinn	Ordovician		Canada (Quebec)
Cystostroma dongkaense	Sp. nov		Jeon et al.	Silurian (Aeronian)	Dongka Group	China	A member of Stromatoporoidea belonging to the family Rosenellidae.
Dictyotubulus	Gen. et sp. nov		Chen et al.	Ediacaran	Dengying Formation	China	A skeletal fossil that might represent a morphologically complex animal. Genus includes new species D. circularis.
Ecclimadictyon gejingae	Sp. nov		Jeon et al.	Silurian (Aeronian)	Dongka Group	China	A member of Stromatoporoidea belonging to the family Actinodictyidae.
Filogranula mogenstrupensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Kočí et al.	Oligocene	Brejning Formation	Denmark	A serpulid tubeworm.
Guanduscolex hexagonus	Sp. nov	Valid	Shi et al.	Cambrian	Wulongqing Formation	China	A palaeoscolecid.
Hydroides engi	Sp. nov	Valid	Goedert, Rich & Kočí	Eocene	Cowlitz Formation	United States (Washington)	A polychaete, a species of Hydroides.
Kuanchuanpivermis	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xian et al.	Cambrian (Fortunian)	Kuanchuanpu Formation	China	A polychaete. The type species is K. brevicruris.
Labyrintholites cassus	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites conoides	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites crassidiscus	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites globosus	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites ollae	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites planifructectum	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Labyrintholites urnule	Sp. nov	Valid	Pervushov	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)		Russia (Saratov Oblast)	A hexactinellid sponge belonging to the family Euretidae.
Placostegus vilsundensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Kočí et al.	Oligocene	Brejning Formation	Denmark	A serpulid tubeworm.
Protarabellites luztejadae	Sp. nov	Valid	Carlorosi et al.	Ordovician (Darriwilian)	San José Formation	Peru	A polychaete belonging to the family Ramphoprionidae.
Tubuloreticulaspongia	Gen. et sp. nov		Hang et al.	Ordovician and Silurian (Hirnantian to Rhuddanian)		China	A protospongiid sponge. Genus includes new species T. sinensis.
Zhangjiagoivermis	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xian et al.	Cambrian (Fortunian)	Kuanchuanpu Formation	China	A polychaete. The type species is Z. longicruris.

Other animal research

• Boan & Droser (2026) interpret cases of contant of margins of specimens of Aspidella from the Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite (Australia) as more likely representing competitive interactions (overgrowth) than reproductive process.
• Rossi et al. (2026) reconstruct the evolutionary history of sponges on the basis of a phylogeny recovered from phylogenomic analyses and molecular clock analyses constraining the age of 12 major sponge clades on the basis of the fossil record, and interpret their findings as indicative of an Ediacaran origin of sponges, as well as indicating that the ancestral sponges were not biomineralized and lacked spicules, and that biosilicification and biocalcification evolved independently in multiple sponge lineages.
• Evidence of reduction in body size of scolecodonts across the Frasnian/Famennian Kellwasser Events, possibly linked to oxygen stress, is presented by Chilcoat & Cohen (2026).
• Vinn et al. (2026) report the discovery of possible remains of a lophophore in specimens of Cornulites from the Silurian Kaochiapien Formation (Hubei, China), supporting the classification of cornulitids as lophophorates.
• New information on the anatomy of "Pelagiella" subangulata, based on the study of new, well-preserved fossil material from the Cambrian strata from Flinders Ranges (Australia), is presented by Richter Stretton et al. (2026).
• Xiao et al. (2026) report the discovery of a probable specimen of Wronascolex sp. from the Cambrian (Wuliuan) Tianpeng Formation (Yunnan, China), preserved with taphonomical features interpreted as broadly consistent with Burgess Shale-type preservation.
• Evidence supporting the interpretation of luolishaniid lobopodians as epibenthic suspension feeders is presented by Richards & Ortega-Hernández (2026).

Foraminifera

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Ammobaculites oieensis	Sp. nov		Matting & Reich	Eocene (Ypresian)		Germany	A member of Lituolida belonging to the family Lituolidae.
Davanella	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	Valid	Okuyucu & Akba	Permian (Capitanian)		Turkey	A member of Cornuspiroidea belonging to the family Neodiscidae. The type species is D. ankaraensis; genus also includes D. acuminata.
Kaganella	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Okuyucu & Akba	Permian (Capitanian)		Turkey	A member of Cornuspiroidea belonging to the family Neodiscidae. The type species is K. tekini.
Orbitolinopsis bilottei	Sp. nov	Valid	Schlagintweit & Doubrawa	Late Cretaceous (Campanian)		France
Rectogordiopsis	Gen. et 2 sp. nov	Valid	Okuyucu & Akba	Permian (Capitanian)		Turkey	A member of Cornuspiroidea belonging to the family Neodiscidae. The type species is R. kamuranaeformis; genus also includes R. ovaliformis.

Foraminiferal research

• Cózar, Somerville & Hounslow (2026) revise the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of earliest members of Fusulinida, and consider fusulinids to be more likely a polyphyletic group than a monophyletic one.
• Evidence of gradual changes of composition of the foraminiferal assemblage from the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Ukraine) in response to environmental changes during the Sinemurian-Pliensbachian transition is presented by Józsa et al. (2026).
• Golfinopoulos et al. (2026) report the first discovery of benthic foraminifera from the Lower Jurassic strata exposed in Greece.
• Lowery et al. (2026) constrain the duration of the interval between the extinction of the Cretaceous species and the first appearance of Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina to between 3,500 and 11,100 years, and report evidence of appearance of as many as 10 new species of planktic foraminifera in this interval, with the first appearing less than 2,000 years after the Chicxulub impact initiating the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
• Lu et al. (2026) study changes of foraminiferal species richness during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, reporting evidence of distinct evolutionary histories of marine foraminifera living in different habitats.

Other organisms

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Type locality	Country	Notes	Images
Archeoentactinia heptactinia	Sp. nov		Sheng et al.	Cambrian (Miaolingian)	Inca Formation	Australia	A polycystine radiolarian belonging to the group Archaeospicularia and the family Echidninidae.
Archeoentactinia pentactinia	Sp. nov		Sheng et al.	Cambrian (Miaolingian)	Inca Formation	Australia	A polycystine radiolarian belonging to the group Archaeospicularia and the family Echidninidae.
Avannacystis	Gen. et sp. nov		Willman & Peel	Cambrian (Wuliuan)	Henson Gletscher Formation	Greenland	A colonizing microbe of uncertain affinities (possibly chytrid-like fungus) described on the basis of vesicular fossils attached to, or embedded within, shells of the tommotiid Tesella. Genus includes new species A. polaris.
Conochitina clavatus	Sp. nov	Valid	Liang et al.	Ordovician	Dawan Formation	China	A chitinozoan.
Conochitina tenellensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Liang et al.	Ordovician	Dawan Formation	China	A chitinozoan.
Haplotaeniatum wufengensis	Sp. nov		Sheng, Aitchison & Kachovich in Sheng et al.	Ordovician (Katian)	Wufeng Formation	China	A radiolarian belonging to the group Spumellaria and the family Haplotaeniatidae.
Kamounia	Gen. et sp. nov		Strullu-Derrien in Strullu-Derrien et al.	Carboniferous		France	A possible member of Peronosporomycetes. The type species is K. striata.
Lagenochitina yangtzensis	Sp. nov	Valid	Liang et al.	Ordovician	Dawan Formation	China	A chitinozoan.
Pachycingula alta	Sp. nov	Valid	Vishnevskaya	Late Jurassic	Bazhenov Formation	Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug)	A radiolarian.
Pachycingula capitata	Sp. nov	Valid	Vishnevskaya	Late Jurassic	Bazhenov Formation	Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug)	A radiolarian.
Pachycingula laevigata	Sp. nov	Valid	Vishnevskaya	Late Jurassic	Bazhenov Formation	Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug)	A radiolarian.
Pachycingula praebiporata	Sp. nov	Valid	Vishnevskaya	Late Jurassic	Bazhenov Formation	Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug)	A radiolarian.

Research on other organisms

• Hagen et al. (2026) determine the processes responsible for silicification of organic tissues of Cambrian cyanobacteria from the Harkless Formation (Nevada, United States).
• Cyanobacteria with morphological similarities to Chroococcidiopsis and Gloeocapsopsis, colonized by parasitic chytrid fungi or chytrid-like organisms or associated with fungal hyphae and mycelia of uncertain affinities, are described from the Devonian strata of the Rhynie chert (United Kingdom) by Krings & Kaštovský (2026).
• Evidence from the study of spatial distribution of minerals and organic matter in embryo-like microfossils from the Ediacaran Weng'an phosphorite (Doushantuo Formation, South China), interpreted as consistent with a microbial origin of the studied microfossils, is presented by Lu et al. (2026).
• Flett et al. (2026) study the developmental biology of Megaclonophycus from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, support the interpretation of Megaclonophycus, Parapandorina and Megasphaera as likely to be the same organism, find no evidence supporting animal affinities of the studied organism, and interpret it as a possible non-choanozoan holozoan.
• Shang, Liu & Zhang (2026) report the discovery of a new acritarch assemblage from the Ediacaran strata of the Kheseen Formation (Mongolia), providing evidence of presence of Doushantuo-Pertatataka–type acritarchs (otherwise predominantly known from pre-Shuram strata) in the horizon recording the Shuram excursion.
• Qiu et al. (2026) report the discovery of a new assemblage of compression fossils from the Tonian Changlingzi Formation (Liaoning, China), including fossils of members of the genera Chuaria, Tawuia and Protoarenicola.
• Loron et al. (2026) report evidence indicating that fossils of Prototaxites from the Rhynie chert were chemically and structurally distinct from contemporaneous and extant fungi, and interpret Prototaxites as a representative of an extinct eukaryotic lineage distinct from fungi.
• Evidence from the study of Eocene dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the Ivory Coast–Ghana marginal ridge (equatorial Atlantic Ocean), indicating that the studied assemblages did not undergo significant changes of composition during those early Eocene hyperthermals that did not result in sea surface temperatures rising more than approximately 1.5 °C, is presented by Fokkema et al. (2026) .
• Zhao et al. (2026) link the displacement of green eukaryotic algae by phytoplankton groups whose plastids are derived from rhodophytes as the dominant marine phytoplankton in the early Mesozoic to structural characteristics of red lineage phytoplankton that enhanced their resistance to environmental reactive oxygen species.

History of life in general

• Zhang (2026) presents a new hypothesis on causes of the rise of organismal complexity that made the Cambrian radiation possible in favorable environmental conditions, linking it to predator–prey interactions among unicellular holozoans that drove genomic novelty, and to motility acting as an evolutionary filter, with high-motility forms retaining unicellularity and low-motility ones ultimately evolving multicellularity.
• Wang et al. (2026) report the discovery of a new assemblage of late Ediacaran organisms (the Dongpo biota) from the Dongpo Formation (China), expanding known geographic distribution of the Ediacaran macrofossils.
• Kolesnikov et al. (2026) determine precise minimum age of the Ediacaran biota from the Chernyi Kamen Formation in Central Urals (Russia).
• Becker-Kerber et al. (2026) describe new filamentous fossils from the Ediacaran strata of the Tamengo Formation (Brazil), compare their structure to those of purported trace fossils produced by animals from the Ediacaran–Cambrian Corumbá Group reported by Parry et al. (2017), and interpret the studied structures as more likely representing microbial consortia composed of filamentous algae and bacteria rather than animal burrows.
• McIlroy et al. (2026) report the discovery of a new fossil site at Inner Meadow (Newfoundland, Canada) determined to be approximately 550.78-million years old and including most the Avalon assemblage biota, and interpret this finding as indicating that the Avalon assemblage and the White Sea assemblage were contemporaneous, and that both were affected by the first pulse of the End-Ediacaran extinction (the Kotlin Crisis).
• Li et al. (2026) report the discovery of a new assemblage of late Ediacaran organisms from the strata of the Dengying Formation from the Qingshuigou and Shanglijiao localities (Yunnan, China), preserving remains of Ediacaran macrobionts as well as vermiform animals and the oldest deuterostomes (stem-group ambulacrarians) reported to date.
• Zhuravlev & Wood (2026) report evidence from the study of the fossil record of Cloudina and earliest Cambrian archaeocyaths indicating that early animals were ecological generalists that were not preferentially associated with reefs, and link the distribution of reefs throughout the evolutionary history of reef-building animals to the presence of suitable environmental conditions and availability of substrates.
• Malanoski et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of the fossil record of shallow-marine taxa, indicating that throughout the Phanerozoic taxa with geographical distribution allowing easier access to north-south dispersal pathways were more resilient compared to taxa living along east-west–oriented coastlines, islands or inland seaways.
• Evidence of long-term northward shifts in marine biodiversity centers throughout the Phanerozoic, interpreted as linked to northward drift of major continental plates, is presented by Zhang & Shen (2026).
• Dantes & Nagovitsin (2026) provide a general morphological classification of Cambrian cone-shaped microfossils.
• Song et al. (2026) study the composition of the small shelly fauna associated with archaeocyath reefs from the Cambrian Xiannüdong Formation (Shaanxi, China), interpreted as indicative of presence of a diverse benthic assemblage with reef-dwelling organisms distinct from those in other reef environments.
• Zeng et al. (2026) report a diverse biota dominated by arthropods, sponges and cnidarians and including soft-bodied forms preserved with cellular tissues (the Huayuan biota) from a Cambrian Stage 4 Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätte from the Yangtze Block (Hunan, China).
• Gass & Noffke (2026) describe new trace fossils from the Cambrian strata from the Blackberry Hill site (Wisconsin, United States), including trace fossil evidence of an animal feeding on a scyphozoan, and name new ichnotaxa Seilacherichnus and Climactichnites blackberriensis.
• Shi et al. (2026) reconstruct high-resolution patterns of changes of marine biodiversity from Miaolingian to Furongian, reporting evidence of three significant biodiversity pulses and evidence of declines of biodiversity coinciding with carbon isotope excursions.
• Evidence from the study of the invertebrate fossil material from the Cincinnati Arch (United States), indicating that the appearance of invasive species during the Late Ordovician (the Richmondian Invasion) resulted in composition of the benthic invertebrate assemblage from the studied area but did not significantly change its functional diversity, is presented by Ess et al. (2026).
• Kundladi & Stigall (2026) study diversification and interaction dynamics of marine invertebrates from the Nashville Basin across the Richmondian Invasion, providing evidence of changes of community structure that negatively impacted some of the native taxa but overall resulted in the emergence of a more stable and complex ecosystem.
• Cyanobacterial, fungal and algal remains interpreted as record of a Devonian biota inhabiting a highly saline, sulphate lake and associated playa mudflat are described from the Lower Old Red Sandstone) deposits of the Northern Highlands (Scotland, United Kingdom) by Wellman (2026).
• A new Devonian biota, including clam shrimps, scorpions, juvenile eurypterids and possible euthycarcinoids and velvet worms, is reported from a new site in Luxembourg (the Consthum Lagerstätte) by Poschmann et al. (2026).
• Calábková, Březina & Nádaskay (2026) study the composition of a diverse assemblage of tetrapod trace fossils from the Carboniferous (Gzhelian) Semily Formation (Czech Republic).
• Henderson, Angiolini & Beauchamp (2026) study the composition of the Permian (Asselian) fauna from the Strathearn Formation (Nevada, United States) dominated by brachiopods and bryozoans, interpreted as benefiting from intermittent nutrient supply brought in by upwelling, and interpreted as repeatedly recovering after disruptions caused by storm events.
• Marchetti et al. (2026) determine the Permian biota from the Bromacker locality (Tambach Formation, Germany) to be latest Asselian in age.
• A regurgitalite produced by a predator (possibly Dimetrodon teutonis or Tambacarnifex unguifalcatus), preserving remains of Thuringothyris mahlendorffae, Eudibamus cursoris and an unidentified diadectid, is described from the Permian Tambach Formation (Germany) by Rebillard et al. (2026).
• Tooth marks produced by large carnivores, as well as boring likely produced by arthropod larvae, are identified in skeletons of juvenile specimens of Diadectes sp. from the Permian strata of the Vale Formation (Texas, United States) by Young, Maho & Reisz (2026).
• Gastaldo et al. (2026) reevalute evidence of replacement of Permian terrestrial vertebrate assemblages from the Karoo Basin by taxa from the Lystrosaurus declivis Assemblage Zone during the Permian-Triassic transition on the basis of data from localities in and around Wapadsberg Pass (South Africa), and interpret the stratigraphic record from the Wapadsberg Pass area as inconsistent with the model of turnover of vertebrate assemblages that was coeval with the end-Permian marine extinction.
• Liu et al. (2026) compare the recovery of ostracods, brachiopods and ammonites in the aftermath of the Permian–Triassic extinction event, and find that brachiopods and ammonites refilled the vacated morphospace with limited innovation, while ostracods underwent a adaptive radiation, expanding morphospace and ecological niches.
• A study on the diverse coprolite assemblage from the Lower Triassic Vikinghøgda Formation (Svalbard, Triassic), providing the first evidence of presence of invertebrates (cephalopods and sponges) in the Grippa bonebed and evidence of the coprolite producers feeding on ray-finned fishes and juvenile ichthyopterygians, is published by Simonsen et al. (2026).
• Trace fossil evidence of predation of horseshoe crabs on polychaetes is reported from the Lower Triassic Daye Formation (China) by Feng et al. (2026), who also report evidence indicative of enhanced infaunalization coinciding with diversification of marine predators during the Early Triassic.
• Woolley et al. (2026) describe the first vertebrate assemblage from the middle member of the Fremouw Formation (Antarctica), including capitosaurian, therocephalian, procolophonid and archosauromorph fossil material and interpreted as likely to be Early Triassic in age.
• Casts of burrows likely produced by ground-dwelling crayfish, as well as casts of burrows produced by tetrapods (possibly procolophonids, trirachodontids or bauriids) that might have been feeding on crayfish, are reported from the Middle Triassic Burgersdorp Formation (South Africa) by Wolvaardt et al. (2026).
• Zhang et al. (2026) determine the age and duration of the Ladinian Xingyi Fauna on the basis of the study of astrochronology and cyclostratigraphy of the Nimaigu Section of the Falang Formation (China), and interpret the environment of the studied fauna as driven by a combination of orbital forcing and volcanic activity.
• Trinidad et al. (2026) study the bone histology of Late Triassic vertebrates from the Pebbly Arkose Formation (Zimbabwe), reporting evidence of frequent interrupted growth in rhynchosaurs and suchians as well as evidence of faster and more continuous growth in cynodonts and dinosaurs, and interpret the studied vertebrates as likely living in a more arid resource-poor environment with less seasonal variation compared to their contemporaries from assemblages from Argentina, Brazil and India.
• Numberger-Thuy et al. (2026) describe fossil material of late-surviving plagiosaurs and a diverse reptile assemblage from the Rhaetian strata of the Exter Formation (Germany).
• Rosin et al. (2026) study the composition of the palynomorph assemblages from the Westbury, Lilstock and Redcar Mudstone formations in the Cheshire Basin (United Kingdom), recording changes of composition of vegetation and aquatic microorganism assemblages in response to environmental changes during the latest Triassic and Early Jurassic.
• Stone et al. (2026) reconstruct timing and phases of reef recovery in the High Atlas Basin of Morocco in the aftermath of the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, interpreted as determined by tolerances of different framework builders to environmental conditions at the time.
• A Bajocian fauna with similarities to faunas of the northern Tethyan margin, dominated by ammonites and including sponges, crinoids, brachiopods, bivalves and belemnites is described from the strata of the Komló Calcareous Marl Formation (Hungary) by Bujtor, Henn & Kanizsai (2026), who link the presence of the fauna in the studied area to the sea level rise during the latest Bajocian.
• A study on the composition of the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) microvertebrate fauna from the Cliff End Bone Bed (Ashdown Formation; United Kingdom) is published by Clavo Yamahuchi et al. (2026).
• García-Cobeña et al. (2026) report the discovery of new fossil material of cartilaginous fishes, turtles, crocodylomorphs and dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous El Castellar Formation (Spain), expanding known vertebrate diversity from the studied formation.
• Fiorelli et al. (2026) report discovery of well-preserved fossil material of diverse Late Cretaceous microorganisms encrusted in microbialites from paleogeysers and hot springs from the Sanagasta GeoPark (La Rioja, Argentina).
• Evidence from the study of the fossil record of reef-building corals and of the evolutionary history of reef-associated fishes inferred from molecular phylogenies, indicating that formation of the Great Indo-Australian Miocene Reef System in the Miocene coincided with and likely influenced diversification of corals and reef-associated fish lineages, is presented by Siqueira et al. (2026).
• Moretti & Young (2026) describe new fossil material of mammals and tortoises from Bender's Cave (Texas, United States), including the first records of Hesperotestudo sp. and Holmesina septentrionalis from the Late Pleistocene of the Edwards Plateau, and argue that the assemblage from Bender's Cave might include animals dating to interglacial intervals of the Late Pleistocene.
• Pillay et al. (2026) conduct a survey of ancient DNA from subfossil remains from Nuku Hiva (French Polynesia), identify a wide range of vertebrate taxa on the basis of bulk bone metabarcoding, and report the identification of remains of three seabird taxa new to the archaeological record of the Marquesas Islands.
• Evidence from the study of approximately 7,000-year-old corals and fish otoliths from coral reef deposits from Panama and the Dominican Republic and from the study of the trophic structure of nearby modern reefs, indicative of reduction of length and complexity of food webs in the Caribbean reef ecosystems throughouth the Holocene, is presented by Lueders-Dumont et al. (2026).
• Evidence from the study of the Neogene to Holocene record of marine anthozoans, bivalves, gastropods, sea urchins, cartilaginous fishes and mammals, indicating that neither absolute range nor range change in isolation is sufficient to predict extinction of members of the studied groups, is presented by Straube et al. (2026).

Other research

• Liu et al. (2026) reconstruct marine biogeochemical cycles during the Proterozoic, and find that dense phytoplankton at the surface of the ocean resulting from lack of predators would have prevented sunlight from reaching subsurface layers of the ocean, causing reduction of subsurface net primary productivity.
• El Khoury et al. (2026) report geochemical data from the Franceville basin (Gabon) indicating that during Paleoproterozoic seawater in the studied area episodically reached nutrient and oxygen levels comparable to those observed in Cambrian oceans.
• Fernandes et al. (2026) study the chromium, cadmium and strontium isotope composition of carbonate rocks from the Corumbá Group (Brazil) to reconstruct local environmental conditions during the late Ediacaran, and interpret the extent of habitats suitable for early animals as limited by the extent of oxygenated shallow waters, which in turn was influenced by an intricate interplay of water circulation, redox and productivity.
• Jamart et al. (2026) determine the locations of the Wuliuan–Drumian and Drumian–Guzhangian stage boundaries and the duration of the Drumian Carbon Isotope Excursion on the basis of the study of Albjära-1 core from the Alum Shale Formation (Sweden).
• Evidence from the study of zinc isotope data from the Chattanooga Shale (Tennessee, United States), linking marine euxinia during the Late Devonian mass extinctions to increased marine productivity, is presented by Li et al. (2026).
• Evidence from the Chattanooga Shale in the southeastern United States indicating that massive wildfires did not trigger marine anoxia during the Late Devonian mass extinctions but rather were its consequence is presented by Lu et al. (2026).
• Review of evidence supporting the interpretation of cataclysmic volcanism as the most likely primary cause of the Late Devonian mass extinctions is published by Racki & Pisarzowska (2026).
• Evidence linking two stages of the Capitanian mass extinction event to two pulses of eruptive activity of the Emeishan Traps is presented by Wei, Zhang & Qiu (2026).
• Bagherpour et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of the Abadeh and Baghuk sections of the Hambast Formation (Iran) indicative of presence of oxygenated shallow water environment (but with episodes of anoxic conditions) in the central Tethys Ocean during the Permian-Triassic transition.
• Ruciński et al. (2026) study the taphonomy of the Grippia Bonebed from the Lower Triassic Vikinghøgda Formation (Norway), identifying processes resulting in a concentrated accumulation of vertebrate remains in the studied area.
• Barrenechea et al. (2026) report evidence of higher content of aluminium phosphate–sulphate minerals in the Lower Triassic strata from the equatorial areas compared to strata from higher latitudes, indicative of prolonged or recurrent acidic episodes continental basins near the equator during the Early Triassic, and interpret the acidity conditions in continental environments as contributing to the Smithian–Spathian boundary event and moderated the recovery after the Permian–Triassic extinction event.
• Evidence linking major episodes of marine large igneous provinces to at least four extinctions of marine biota during the Triassic is presented by Fan et al. (2026).
• Ruciński et al. (2026) provide new information on the sedimentology, stratigraphy and taphonomy of the Upper Triassic Silves Marl-Carbonate Evaporitic Complex in the upper portion of the Silves Group (Portugal), and report the identification of new fossil-bearing layers yielding vertebrate fossil material.
• Chai et al. (2026) reconstruct major processes of tectonic evolution in the northern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (China) during the Late Triassic, providing evidence of high volcanic viscosity approximately 220 million years ago that might have been caused by multiple tectonic events, and report evidence of coeval climate changes, and discuss possible links between the studied tectonic events and environmental changes and extinctions in the Norian.
• Evidence from the study of the geochemical records of the McCarthy Formation from the Grotto Creek site (Alaska, United States), indicative of progressive deoxygenation in eastern Panthalassa that began approximately 8 million years before Central Atlantic magmatic province emplacement and Triassic–Jurassic extinction and coincided by pattern of regional decline of biodiversity of ammonites and global decline of biodiversity of benthic organisms, is presented by McCabe et al. (2026).
• Chen et al. (2026) report evidence from chemostratigraphic and astrochronological analysis of a drill core from the Kunming Basin (Yunnan, China) indicative of negative carbon isotope excursions mirroring disturbances in the global carbon cycle during the Triassic-Jurassic transition, and indicative impact of both Central Atlantic magmatic province and regional factors on environmental disruption on the studied area at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary; the authors also determine the oldest sauropodomorph dinosaur fossils from the Kunming Basin to be 200.17-million-years-old, and interpret this result as evidence of colonization of low palaeolatitude area of southwest China by medium- to large-bodied dinosaurs in the aftermath of the Triassic–Jurassic extinction.
• Wang et al. (2026) report evidence of high elevations and complex topography in northeastern Asia resulting from mid–Late Jurassic plate convergence and promoting the emergence of Yanliao Biota, as well as evidence of topographic ruggedness during the Early Cretaceous that expanded the surface area, amplified the available ecological niche space and resulted in diversification of the Jehol Biota.
• Rey et al. (2026) study the elemental variability of vertebrate coprolites from the Angeac-Charente bonebed (France), providing evidence that the chemical composition of the studied coprolites was affected by burial environment to a greater degree than by diets of the producers.
• Evidence from the study of sediments and trace fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Três Barras Formation (Sanfranciscana Basin, Brazil), indicative of marine incursions during the Early Cretaceous that were long enough to support benthic colonization of the substrate in probable estuarine setting, is presented by Sedorko (2026).
• Lu et al. (2026) report evidence of asynchronous carbon isotope excursions associated with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a in terrestrial and marine systems, and question the proposal to place the boundary between Barremian and Aptian at the base of the studied oceanic anoxic event.
• Antonietto et al. (2026) identify the strata of the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (Brazil) as deposited in estuarine bay environments identifiable as mangrove forest-analogues, and interpret the presence of marine fishes in the strata of the studied formation as related to presence of their seasonal breeding grounds in the studied area.
• Buryak et al. (2026) study two exploration drill cores from the Wombat pipe locality in the Lac de Gras kimberlite field (Northwest Territories, Canada), providing information on the climate and environment in the subarctic Canada during the Late Cretaceous, and interpret the sedimentary organic matter from the studied drill cores as derived from C₃ land plants and, to a lesser degree, algae.
• Landman et al. (2026) reconstruct the environment of deposition of the Pierre Shale on the Cedar Creek Anticline (Montana, United States) spanning the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary on the basis of the study of geochemical and sedimentological evidence and on the basis of the composition of the fauna.
• Liu et al. (2026) present sedimentological and geophysical evidence indicative of multilayered oceanic circulation and high productivity in the Arctic Ocean during the Late Cretaceous.
• Evidence of earthquakes and seismically-induced deformations triggered by the Chicxulub impact is reported from the strata from the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition from Colombia and Mexico by Bermúdez et al. (2026).
• The first record of soft-sediment deformation structures from Cuba that were caused by the Chicxulub impact, affecting deep marine deposits and causing sediment remobilization, is reported from the Peñas Formation by Rojas Consuegra et al. (2026).
• Bartali et al. (2026) report evidence of preservation of a high-resolution record of the Chicxulub impact in the strata from the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition from the Rayon reef boundary section from the Valles-San Luis Potosi platform across the Gulf of Mexico.
• Kaiho et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of marine sedimentary rocks from Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary sections in Haiti and Spain indicative of two peaks of mercury enrichments of the studied sediments (the first one likely linked to Deccan Traps volcanism shortly before the Chicxulub impact, the second one linked to the impact itself), and indicating that extinction of Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera coincided with the Chicxulub impact.
• Evidence from the study of spores, pollen and microcharcoal abundances from Paleogene sediments from a hydrothermal vent crater in the North Atlantic Igneous Province on the Norwegian Margin and from other mid- and high latitude continental margins, indicative of rapid vegetation and soil disturbances in response to environmental changes at the onset of the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum resulting in widespread appearance of fern-dominated pioneer vegetation across mid- and high-latitude regions of the world, is presented by Nelissen et al. (2026).
• Evidence of Priabonian age of Baltic amber from the Sambia Peninsula (Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) is presented by Ross, Bojarski & Szwedo (2026).
• Öğretmen et al. (2026) provide new information on the age of marine deposits exposed on land in Latakia (Syria) on the basis of foraminiferal, nannofossil and palynological data, providing evidence that the shoreline of the easternmost Mediterranean was approximately 15 km inland during the Early Pleistocene, evidence that the coastal strip of the Levantine Corridor was not available for hominin migrations before 1.28 million years ago, and evidence of Mediterranean climate during the Calabrian.
• The first molecular evidence of HPV16 in ancient anatomically modern humans is reported from the study of ancient DNA of the Ust'-Ishim man and Ötzi by Yazigi et al. (2026).
• Evidence from the study of the fossil record of Cenozoic foraminifera, Cretaceous echinoids, Carboniferous crinoids and Cambrian trilobites using a birth–death-sampling model, indicating that long-lived ancestral species that gave rise to many descendant species over the course of their existence should be common in the fossil record of groups with high levels of preservation, is presented by Parins-Fukuchi (2026).
• Chiappone et al. (2026) determine factors influencing transport of bones in unsteady flows, including their travel distance and transport groups, on the basis of experiments with bones of modern sheep and models of bones of Eolambia caroljonesa and Edmontosaurus regalis.
• Siviero et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of bones of Edmontosaurus annectens from the Cretaceous Lance Formation (Wyoming, United States) indicating that fossil bone abnormalities resulting from postmortem taphonomic processes can be superficially similar to pathologies resulting from disease, and recommend testing diagnoses based on purported fossil bone pathologies with histological analysis.
• Van Hinsbergen et al. (2026) provide a new upgrade of the online calculator Paleolatitude.org used for estimates of paleolatitude for any location on Earth through time.

Paleoclimate

• Myrow, Hu & Lamb (2026) report evidence from the study of storm deposits from the Fountain and Minturn formations (Colorado, United States) indicative of large waves and large cyclonic storms irreconcilable with climate reconstructions suggestive of cold equatorial climate during the middle Pennsylvanian.
• Evidence indicative of decrease of atmospheric CO₂ during the early and main flood basalt phases of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province emplacement followed by its increase during silicic eruptions, and indicating that environmental impact of Emeishan volcanism began before the main eruptive phase, is presented by Shen et al. (2026).
• Evidence from the study of the paleoclimatic data from a Late Triassic sequence in the Zigui Basin (China), indicative of a delayed onset of humidification in the South China Block (postdating the Carnian pluvial episode) relative to the North China Block rather than a uniform climate change during the Triassic, is presented by Yi et al. (2026).
• Mao et al. (2026) study the elevation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the Late Triassic, and report evidence of an uplift resulting from collision of the Tarim, European, and Siberian cratons resulting in mountain glaciation, global cooling, intensification of the monsoon system of Pangaea and disruption of regional ecosystem stability.
• Evidence linking late Miocene global cooling and northern Tibetan Plateau uplift to near-synchronous monsoon intensification and turnover of mammalian communities in Asia approximately 8.7 million years ago is presented by Han et al. (2026).
• Burgener, Griffith & Hyland (2026) report evidence from the study of modern topography and land cover data indicating that differences between reconstructions of past mean annual ranges in temperature based on paleobotanical and geochemical proxies are at least partly explained by differences in fossil leaf and soil carbonate land cover types, and interpret most proxies as likely recording true local signals of temperature within larger regions with variable temperatures.
• Evidence indicating that reconstructions of past tropical climate variability based on the study of geochemical tracers measured in corals may be affected by a non-climate noise component inflating the variance of reconstructed temperature is presented by Dolman et al. (2026).