Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.^[1] 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 1972.

Bryophytes

Mollusca

Bivalves

Archosauromorphs

Newly named archosauromorphs

Newly named pseudosuchians

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Gracilisuchus[6]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Romer	Late Triassic (Carnian)	Chañares Formation	Argentina

Newly named dinosauriforms

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Lewisuchus[7]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Romer	Late Triassic (Carnian)	Chañares Formation	Argentina	A silesaurid.

Newly named dinosaurs

Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list.^[8]

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Archaeornithomimus[9]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Russell	Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)	Iren Dabasu Formation	China	An ornithomimid.
Dromiceiomimus[9]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Russell	Maastrichtian	Horseshoe Canyon Formation	Canada	An ornithomimid, possibly a synonym of Ornithomimus.
Gallimimus[10]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Osmólska, Roniewicz Barsbold	Late Cretaceous (Maastichtian)	Nemegt Formation	Mongolia	An ornithomimid.
"Thotobolosaurus"[11]		Nomen nudum	Ellenberger	Late Triassic (Norian)		Lesotho	Formally named Kholumolumo in 2020.
Vulcanodon[12]	Gen. et sp. nov.	Valid	Raath	Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Pliensbachian)	Batoka Formation	Zimbabwe	A sauropod.

Newly named birds