Fossil taxa described in 2020

Asteriornis ("Asteria's bird") is an extinct genus of bird from the Late Cretaceous of Belgium which is known from a single species, Asteriornis maastrichtensis. It was a small, long-legged bird that lived near the coastline and co-existed with more "primitive" types of birds such as Ichthyornis. Asteriornis is one of the oldest-known birds irrefutably belonging to the group Neornithes, which encompasses all modern birds, and is possibly closely related to birds of the extant superorder Galloanserae such as chickens and ducks. It possesses characteristics of both galliformes (chicken-like bird

Thanatotheristes (meaning "reaper of death" according to the original authors; literally, "death harvester" in Greek: , , "Death" and , , "harvester") is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Laramidia, approximately 80.1-79.5 Ma. Thanatotheristes contains only one species, T. degrootorum. Fossils of this taxon are found in the Foremost Formation of Alberta, Canada, coexisting with medium-sized ceratopsids like Xenoceratops foremostensis and small pachycephalosaurids like Colepiocephale lambei.

Adratiklit (meaning "mountain lizard") is an extinct genus of stegosaurian dinosaur that lived on the supercontinent Gondwana during the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian age). The genus contains a single species, Adratiklit boulahfa. Its remains were found in the El Mers III Formation, near Boulemane in north Morocco.

Oculudentavis is an extinct genus of lizard of uncertain taxonomic placement, originally but inaccurately identified as an avialan dinosaur (bird, in the broad sense). It contains two known species, O. khaungraae and O. naga. Each species is known from one partial fossil specimen in Burmese amber, which differ in several proportions. Their skulls measure in length, indicating that Oculudentavis would have been comparable in size with the modern bee hummingbird if it were an avialan. Both specimens were retrieved from 99-million-year-old deposits of the Hukawng Basin in Kachin State, northern M

Dineobellator (meaning Diné warrior, pronounced ) is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian age) Ojo Alamo Formation (Naashoibito Member) of New Mexico, United States. The genus contains a single species, Dineobellator notohesperus, known from a partial skeleton.

species of reptile (fossil)

Abdarainurus (meaning "Abdrant Nuru tail" after the holotype locality) is a genus of titanosaur dinosaur from the Alagteeg Formation in Mongolia. The type and only species is A. barsboldi. Currently seen as an indeterminate titanosaur, it may represent a previously unknown lineage of Asian macronarians. Abdarainurus is not known from many remains; it is only known from eight front tail vertebrae and a middle tail vertebra and several chevrons.

Aratasaurus is an extinct genus of basal coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Romualdo Formation of Brazil. The genus contains a single species, A. museunacionali, known from a partial right leg. Aratasaurus represents the only tetrapod fossil known from the lower levels of the Romualdo Formation.

genus of neoceratopsian dinosaur (fossil)

Trierarchuncus (meaning "captain hook," after its single-clawed hands) is a monotypic genus of alvarezsaurid theropod which includes a single species, Trierarchuncus prairiensis, mainly known from fossils found in deposits of the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. It is the youngest known alvarezsaurid and one of the last non-avian dinosaurs, going extinct during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, which occurred approximately 66 million years ago.

Stellasaurus (meaning "star lizard"; both in reference to the shape of its head ornamentation and as an homage to the song "Starman" by David Bowie) is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that lived in Montana during the Late Cretaceous. The type and only species is Stellasaurus ancellae. Its remains have been found in the late Campanian-aged Two Medicine Formation, the same geological unit which its relatives Rubeosaurus (now seen as a synonym of Styracosaurus), Einiosaurus, and Achelousaurus were discovered in.

species of reptiles (fossil)

Terminocavus is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of what is now North America. The genus contains a single species, the type species Terminocavus sealeyi, known from a parietal and some other associated fragments. The holotype specimen was discovered in the Kirtland Formation of New Mexico in 1997, and was later described and named in a 2020 study. It was similar in anatomy to Pentaceratops and Anchiceratops, which it was closely related to, but had a distinctive heart-shaped upper frill with very narrow notch. It has been hypothesized to form an anagenetic series

Kongonaphon is an extinct genus of lagerpetid avemetatarsalians from the Middle to Late Triassic of Madagascar. It contains a single species, Kongonaphon kely, which is known from a fragmentary partial skeleton. This fossil hails from the late Ladinian or early Carnian-age "basal Isalo II beds". As the first lagerpetid found in Africa, Kongonaphon extends the range of the family significantly. It possessed a combination of features from various other lagerpetids, but developed particularly long and slender leg bones. Kongonaphon is also the first lagerpetid for which fossils of the snout and t

fossil bilaterian

Analong is an extinct genus of mamenchisaurid sauropod from the Chuanjie Formation in Yunnan, China. The type and only species is Analong chuanjieensis. ==Discovery and naming== The fossils of Analong has a relatively convoluted history. The skeletons of two giant sauropods were discovered in 1995 by Tao Wang, who was working with the Lufeng Dinosaur Museum. The fossils were found in the village of A'na and the town of Chuanjie in the Lufeng County of Yunnan. The local villagers built a small shelter around the fossils because they could not be immediately excavated. They remained in situ for

Spectrovenator ("ghost hunter") is a genus of basal abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now Brazil. The type and only known species is S. ragei, representing a small abelisaurid about long.

Amanzia (after Swiss geologist Amanz Gressly) is a genus of turiasaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Reuchenette Formation in Moutier, Switzerland. The type and only species is Amanzia greppini, originally named as a species of Ornithopsis and Cetiosauriscus.

Lusovenator (meaning "Portuguese hunter") is a genus of carcharodontosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) Praia de Amoreira Porto-Novo Member and the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (Tithonian-Berriasian) Assenta Member of the Lourinhã Formation in present-day Portugal. It includes one species, Lusovenator santosi.

Jucha is an extinct genus of plesiosaur found in the Hauterivian (Early Cretaceous) Klimovka Formation of Russia. The type species, J. squalea, was one of the basalmost and oldest definitive elasmosaurs known to date.

Citipes () is an extinct genus of caenagnathid theropod from the Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada. The genus contains only one species, the type species, C. elegans. The generic name of Citipes is Latin for "fleet-footed", and the specific epithet "elegans" is Latin for "elegant". The type specimen of Citipes has a convoluted taxonomic history, and has been previously assigned to the genera Ornithomimus, Macrophalangia, Elmisaurus, Chirostenotes, and Leptorhynchos before being given its own genus in 2020. ==Discovery and naming== ===Initial discovery=== thumb|left|An

Riabininohadros (meaning "Riabinin's hadrosaur") is an extinct genus of ankylopollexian dinosaur from the Maastrichtian of Crimea. Its type species is Riabininohadros weberi, emended to Riabininohadros weberae. It was originally classified as a species of Orthomerus, until 2015.

Kholumolumo (referring to a type of dragon the local Basuto associate with dinosaurs), formerly "Kholumolumosaurus" or "Thotobolosaurus", is an extinct genus of massopodan sauropodomorph dinosaur, which was closely related to Sarahsaurus, from the lower Elliot Formation of Maphutseng, Lesotho. The type species, Kholumolumo ellenbergerorum was formally described in 2020.

Paraxenisaurus (, meaning "strange lizard") is an extinct genus of ornithomimosaurian theropod from the Late Cretaceous Cerro del Pueblo Formation of Coahuila in Mexico. The genus contains a single species, P. normalensis, which is known from a few bones of tail, hips, hands, and feet. The specific epithet was given in honor of the Benemérita Normal School of Coahuila, a teacher training institution, where the fossils were reposited. It is a member of the family Deinocheiridae and is the only member of that clade known from Laramidia.

Lajasvenator (meaning "Las Lajas hunter" after the city of Las Lajas in Neuquén, Argentina) is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur from the Mulichinco Formation from Neuquén Province in Argentina. The type and only species is Lajasvenator ascheriae. It was probably one of the smaller known Carcharodontosaurids, being slightly more than half the length of Concavenator, about .

Kylinxia is a genus of extinct arthropod described in 2020. It was described from six specimens discovered in Yu'anshan Formation (Maotianshan Shales) in southern China. The specimens are assigned to one species Kylinxia zhangi. Dated to 518 million years, the fossils falls under the Cambrian period. Announcing the discovery on 4 November 2020 at a press conference, Zeng Han of the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, said that the animal "bridges the evolutionary gap from Anomalocaris to true arthropods and forms a key ‘missing link’ in the origin of arthropods," which was "predicte

Huinculsaurus is an extinct genus of noasaurid dinosaurs known from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, Huinculsaurus montesi, known from five partial vertebrae.

Irisosaurus (meaning "iridescent lizard" after the iridescent clouds of Yunnan Province, China) is an extinct genus of sauropodiform sauropodomorph dinosaur, from the Fengjiahe Formation of China. The type species, Irisosaurus yimenensis was formally described in 2020. It was the sister taxon to Mussaurus.

Afrotapejara (meaning "African old being") is an extinct genus of tapejarid pterosaur discovered in Morocco. The type species, Afrotapejara zouhri, was named and described in 2020. It was the first tapejarid discovered in Africa and the fourth pterosaur discovered in the Kem Kem Beds.

Overoraptor (, meaning "piebald thief") is an extinct genus of paravian theropod of uncertain affinities from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentinian Patagonia. The genus contains a single species, O. chimentoi, known from several bones of the hands, feet, and hips alongside some vertebrae.

Punatitan (meaning "puna giant") is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Ciénaga del Río Huaco Formation of La Rioja, Argentina. It contains one species, Punatitan coughlini.

Vectaerovenator (meaning "Isle of Wight air-filled hunter" due to the pneumaticity of the vertebrae) is a genus of tetanuran theropod from the Early Cretaceous period of what is now England (Lower Greensand Group; Ferruginous Sands). It contains one species, Vectaerovenator inopinatus; its holotype, consisting of the specimens IWCMS 2020.400, 2020.407, and 2019.84, comprises two anterior dorsal vertebrae, a cervical vertebra and a mid‐caudal vertebra from the late Aptian Ferruginous Sands of the Isle of Wight in southern England, discovered in 2019. Comparative anatomical analysis shows that t

Bagualia (meaning "wild horse") is an extinct genus of eusauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic (middle Toarcian) Cañadón Asfalto Formation in what is now the Chubut Province of Argentina. The type species, B. alba, was formally described in 2020. Bagualia represents the oldest known definitive eusauropod, and due to the completeness of its material, it represents one of the most important taxa for understanding the early evolution of the group.

Navajoceratops (meaning "Navajo horned face") is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of what is now North America. The genus contains a single species, N. sullivani, named after Robert M. Sullivan, leader of the expeditions that recovered the holotype. thumb|left|Geological map of the southeast San Juan Basin; A (lower right) is where the holotype was found

Albadraco is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Romania. The type species is Albadraco tharmisensis. Its remains, consisting of parts of the snout and a neck vertebra, were found in the Șard Formation, near the city of Alba Iulia in Transylvania. The species was named and described in 2020 by paleontologist Alexandru Solomon and colleagues.

extinct species of reptile

Ferrucyon is an extinct genus of omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, which inhabited North America during the Pliocene, Blancan in the NALMA classification, from about 4.9 to approximately 2.6 Ma. The type species, F. avius, was originally interpreted as a relative of the modern crab-eating fox, and described as a species belonging to the genus Cerdocyon. Ruiz-Ramoni et al. (2020) reinterpreted it as a vulpine canid related to North American species Metalopex macconnelli, and to the Eurasian genus Nyctereutes. This reinterpretation necessitated removal of "Cerdocyon" avius from the genus

Schleitheimia (named after the type locality of Schleitheim), is an extinct genus of sauropodiform sauropodomorph dinosaur, from the Gruhalde Member of Klettgau Formation of Switzerland. The type species, Schleitheimia schutzi was formally described in 2020.

Jinbeisaurus (meaning "northern Shanxi Province lizard" after Shanxi Province in China) is an extinct genus of tyrannosauroid dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Huiquanpu Formation of Shanxi Province in China. The type and only species is Jinbeisaurus wangi. It is the first non-avian theropod named from Shanxi.

Bravasaurus (meaning Laguna Brava lizard) is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Ciénaga del Río Huaco Formation of La Rioja, Argentina. It contains one species, Bravasaurus arreirosorum.

Parioscorpio is an extinct genus of arthropod containing the species P. venator known from the Silurian-aged Waukesha Biota of the Brandon Bridge Formation near Waukesha, Wisconsin. This animal has gone through a confusing taxonomic history, being called an arachnid, crustacean, and an artiopodan arthropod at various points. This animal is one of the more famous fossil finds from Wisconsin, due to the media coverage it received based on its original description in 2020 as a basal scorpion.

Proexochokefalos (meaning "big head with big tuberosities") is an extinct genus of machimosaurid teleosauroid from the Middle to Late Jurassic of France and Switzerland. In life, it was a large marine reptile that would have fed on other large animals.

Gavialimimus is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur from the Maastrichtian of Morocco and possibly Angola.

Ophthalmothule (meaning "eye of the north"), was a cryptoclidid plesiosaur dating to the latest Volgian (around the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary), found in the Slottsmøya Member Lagerstätte of the Agardhfjellet Formation in Spitsbergen. The type species is O. cryostea.

Species of reptiles (fossil)

Changmiania (from the Chinese "changmian", meaning "eternal sleep") is a genus of basal ornithopod dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous. It contains a single species, Changmiania liaoningensis.

Wunyelfia is a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, a type of long-necked marine reptile, that lived in the oceans of Late Cretaceous Chile. It contains one species, W. maulensis.

Adalatherium (Adàla, 'crazy' in Malagasy and therium, 'beast' in Greek) is an extinct gondwanatherian that lived in Madagascar during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton from the Maevarano Formation was announced in April 2020.

Aerodraco (meaning "air dragon") is a genus of anhanguerid pterosaur from the Albian–Cenomanian-age Cambridge Greensand of England. It contains only one species, Aerodraco sedgwickii. It was originally assigned to the genus Pterodactylus.

Ordosipterus is a pterosaur belonging to the suborder Pterodactyloidea. Its holotype specimen was discovered in China, and dated back to the Early Cretaceous period (Aptian stage). Further analysis conclude that it was a genus of dsungaripterid pterosaur.

Luchibang (meaning "Lü's heron wing") is an extinct genus of istiodactylid pterosaur discovered in Inner Mongolia, China. The type and only species is Luchibang xingzhe. The genus was initially established on the basis of a supposed nearly complete skeleton and skull, although later analysis of the specimen revealed that it represents a chimera, with the Luchibang holotype restricted to the end of the snout.

thumb|left|250px|Alternative view of the holotype Seldsienean is an extinct genus of teleosauroid thalattosuchian from the Middle Jurassic of England and France. The only known species, S. megistorhynchus, is known from remains from the Calcaire de Caen and the Cornbrash Formation. In life, Seldsienean was a marine reptile that would have fed mostly on fish and other small animals.

Tralkasaurus (meaning "thunder lizard") is a genus of abelisaurid dinosaur from the Huincul Formation from Río Negro Province in Argentina. The type and only species is Tralkasaurus cuyi, named in 2020 by Mauricio Cerroni and colleagues based on an incomplete skeleton. A medium-sized abelisaurid, Tralkasaurus exhibits a conflicting blend of characteristics found among the early-diverging abelisauroids with others that characterize the highly specialized clade Brachyrostra, and thus its position within the clade is poorly-resolved.

Nicorhynchus (meaning "knucker snout", in reference to its likely ecology) is a genus of anhanguerid pterosaur from the Cretaceous period. It contains two species, the type species, N. capito, from the Cambridge Greensand of England, and N. fluviferox from the Kem Kem Group of Morocco. These species were previously assigned to Coloborhynchus.

Obamus is an extinct enigmatic organism from the late Ediacaran of Australia, . It is torus in shape, and is a monotypic genus, containing only Obamus coronatus.

Ogresuchus is an extinct crocodylomorph known from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian stage) Tremp Formation in Spain. The type species, O. furatus, was named in 2020. It was a small crocodylomorph, measuring long and weighing about . Initially classified as a sebecid, a 2026 study suggested that it was a neosuchian, possibly an atoposaurid.

Falcatakely forsterae (meaning "small scythe" from the Latin falcatus and Malagasy kely, in reference to the shape of the beak) is an extinct genus of enantiornithean that lived during the period Upper Cretaceous, approximately 68 to 70 million years ago, in what is now Madagascar. Its fossil remains date back to the Maevarano Formation bird known from partial fossils from northern Madagascar. The genus contains a single species, Falcatakely forsterae.

Apatorhamphus is an extinct genus of azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Kem Kem Group of Morocco. It might have been part of the Chaoyangopteridae. It is only known from a few snout fragments and it likely had a wingspan of between

Charitomenosuchus (meaning "graceful crocodile") is an extinct genus of machimosaurid teleosauroid from the Callovian Oxford Clay Formation of England. upright|thumb|left|Illustration of the holotype

Plagiophthalmosuchus is an extinct genus of thalattosuchian crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic (Early Toarcian) Whitby Mudstone Formation of Whitby, Yorkshire, UK, and Dudelange, Luxembourg. It contains the single species Plagiophthalmosuchus gracilirostris. In life, it was a small marine predator that would have fed on fish.