Introduction to the Study of Greek Fossil Vertebrates

Abstract

The sedimentary basins of Greece contain an important fossil record of vertebrates that is known and studied for nearly two centuries. Vertebrate paleontological research in Greece has passed through three main stages: the Early Stage until the end of World War II, the Intermediate Stage until the end of the twentieth century, and the Modern Stage since then. At present, the active Greek paleontological community is more populous and diverse than before. Nearly 900 publications dealing specifically with Greek fossils have been published so far, and almost half of them appeared during the last two decades. Based on these works, more than 1100 different species have been identified from more than 500 localities in the country. At least 254 of these valid species are new and have been named based on unique Greek fossils. However, the continuation of paleontological research on the rich and important fossil record of Greece requires serious investment and important structural changes.