A New Theropod Dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Lufeng,Yunnan, China

A new theropod dinosaur, Shidaisaurus jinae gen. et sp. nov., has been described on the basis of an incomplete skeleton. The specimen was found near the base of the Upper Lufeng Formation (early Middle Jurassic) in Yunnan, China. It is the first theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Yunnan. Shidaisaurus jinae is distinguishable from other Jurassic theropods by certain features from the braincase, axis, and pelvic girdle. The absence of any pleurocoels in the axis or in any anterior dorsal vertebrae suggests that the new Lufeng theropod is relatively primitive and more plesiomorphic than most of the Middle to Late Jurassic theropods from China. Most Chinese taxa of Jurassic theropod dinosaurs have not been well described; a further detailed study will be necessary for us to determine their phylogenetic relationships with Shidaisaurus jinae.     

云南下侏罗统禄丰组恐龙足迹的发现和张北足迹属新观察

记述了云南省禄丰县腰站乡下侏罗统禄丰组2个恐龙足迹,命名了棋盘张北足迹（Changpeipus pareschequier ichnosp. nov.）一新种。这是在禄丰组中首次发现恐龙足迹化石,重新观察并修订了张北足迹一属的属征。滦平张北足迹（Changpeipus luanpingeris）应为石炭张北足迹（Changpeipus carbonicus）的亚成年个体,为同物异名。此前被认为是石炭张北足迹（Changpeipus carbonicus）前足迹的IVPP V2472 2a,应为其未成年体的后足迹。张北足迹与卡岩塔足迹（Kayentapus）类似。综合种种特征,棋盘张北足迹（新种）的造迹恐龙很可能为禄丰组的腔骨龙类（Coelophysoidea）     

A Juvenile Specimen of Sauropodomorpha from the LowerJurassic of China and a Brief Review of the LufengSauropodomorph Fauna

An incomplete dinosaur skeleton,including a partial skull,recently discovered from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan,China,is here reported.Apart from its small size,little anatomical evidence supports,a priori,the non-adult status of this new sauropodomorph specimen but osteohistological analyses suggest that it is a fast-growing juvenile. This specimen represents only the second occurrence of a juvenile non-sauropodan sauropodomorph in the Lufeng Basin. The anatomy of the new specimen does not match that of other Lower Jurassic immature specimens;although cranial material is preserved,it does not display the diagnostic characters of early sauropodomorphs from the same horizon,namely Lufengosaurus,Yizhousaurus and Yunnanosaurus.Our phylogenetic analysis places the new specimen in a position relatively distant from other Chinese sauropodomorphs,and corroborates the anatomical evidence showing it is not referable to any known species already excavated in Yunnan.This result is interpreted with caution considering that ontogeny affects phylogenetic reconstruction.A thorough comparison with adult forms,taking into account ontogeny-related characters,suggests that this Lufeng juvenile might represent a previously unknown species of early sauropodomorph.     

Late Triassic sauropodomorph and Middle Jurassic theropod tracks from the Xichang Basin,Sichuan Province,southwestern China:First report of the ichnogenus Carmelopodus

Upper Triassic and Middle Jurassic strata of the Xichang Basin in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, yielded important dinosaur ichnofossils. From the Xujiahe Formation of the Yiguojiao tracksite, we report a Late Triassic footprint assemblage in China and the first discovery of diagnostic Triassic sauropodomorph tracks in this region. The tracks share a number of features in common with the ichnogenera Eosauropus(Late Triassic) and Liujianpus(Early Jurassic). The neighboring Bingtu tracksite is stratigraphically younger(Shaximiao Formation, Middle Jurassic) and preserves small tridactyl theropod tracks that represent the first occurrence of the ichnotaxon Carmelopodus in China and Asia. While these tracks are morphologically comparable to those from the Middle Jurassic type locality in North America, the specimens from China show the proximal margin of the digit IV impression in a more cranial position, which may indicate a trackmaker with a relatively short metatarsal IV. In addition to the skeletal record, the Carmelopodus footprints document the presence of small theropods in the dinosaur fauna of the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation.     

云南禄丰早侏罗世一新的原蜥脚类恐龙

云南禄丰下侏罗统下禄丰组产出一新的原蜥脚类孙氏细细坡龙(Xixiposaurus suni gen.et sp.nov.),其特征为:侧视头骨背缘向前强烈倾斜,下颌高度大于齿骨最小高度的两倍,颈椎体中第四颈椎体最长,耻骨裙宽度大于肠骨的耻骨突,股骨第四转子侧视具有V形切口。其系统位置比较进步,是禄丰发现的原蜥脚类中最进步的一种。     

Braincase Anatomy of the Basal Theropod Sinosaurus from the Early Jurassic of China

The neuroanatomy of the mid-sized theropod Sinosaurus triassicus from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation, Lufeng Basin in Yunnan Province, China was studied using X-ray computed tomography. The braincase is characterized by a large supraoccipital knob that is capped by a posterior projection of the parietal and two external foramina for the caudal middle cerebral vein, which is completely enclosed by the supraoccipital. The basicranium has well defined, short basipterygoid processes that project ventral to the basal tubera. The basisphenoid is expanded, projects posteroventrally, and is pierced by four pneumatic recesses. The endocranial morphology resembles that observed in other basal theropods—in particular some allosauroids—and has a strongly marked pontine flexure and a large dorsal expansion. The inner ear morphology is also similar to that observed in other basal theropods, with slender semicircular canals. The anterior semicircular canal is 20% larger than the posterior semicircular canal, and the angle formed between them is less than 90° when seen in dorsal view.     

藏东昌都地区首次发现中侏罗世兽脚类恐龙行迹

藏东昌都地区阿涅塘化石点中侏罗世达布卡组滨湖相紫红色中-细砂岩中,发现以凸形迹完好地保存的4层恐龙足迹,包括Grallator类、大型兽脚类、小型兽脚类和小型蜥脚类等足迹类型,并构成两列完美的行迹. 组成行迹T1的4个Grallator类足迹被命名为Grallator anietangensis isp. nov.,对其进行了详细的形态学分析,并讨论了造迹恐龙的大小和运动状态,这是Grallator类足迹在西藏地区的首次发现. 组成行迹T2的9个大型兽脚类足迹被归为Theropoda igen. et isp. indet.,对该类足迹进行了形态描述和功能分析;这类足迹在中国是首次记录,其连续且清晰的尾迹表明造迹者并非处于正常运动状态,而是应对某种特殊境况的特别行为方式,即其正以昂起的前躯一边观察,一边以极低的速度前进,因前躯昂起,尾部相应下垂,从而留下尾迹. 两列行迹均显示出造迹者正沿古昌都湖岸前进. 中国迄今所发现的恐龙骨骼和Grallator类足迹化石主要表现为以西南地区为中心,再向四周不断发散的扩散模式,但Grallator类足迹化石综合提供的信息显示恐龙动物的扩散速度比骨骼化石反映的速度更快.      

滇中禄丰地区侏罗系磁性地层学研究

通过云南中部禄丰地区侏罗系磁性地层学研究，建立了滇中侏罗系磁极性地层柱，为国内及该地区侏罗系地层单元的时代划分与对比提供了基础资料。依据磁性地层学研究的结果，修订了滇中侏罗系的顶界和上、中侏罗统的界线，建立了中、下侏罗统和侏罗系—三叠系界线数据。经对比发现，滇中侏罗系古地磁极与扬子地块侏罗系古地磁参考极之间有较大差异，反映滇中地块自侏罗纪以来曾向南发生了明显移动，产生过顺时针旋转。     

A New Sauropod, Gongxianosaurus, from the Lower Jurassic of Sichuan, China

The paper describes an early and primitive sauropod dinosaur, Gongxianosaurus shibeiensis (gen. et sp. nov.), from the Dongyuemiao Member of the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation in Shibei Township, Gongxian County, Sichuan Province, China, which is one of the 5 dinosaur fossils discovered in Gongxian in 1997. Except the skull which is incomplete, the fossils are well preserved. It has some features of both sauropods and prosauropods. It is an intermediate type in the evolution of dinosaurs from prosauropods to sauropods and provides materials for the study of the origin and evolution of the sauropod dinosaur fauna. The discovery of this new sauropod furnishes a way for the stratigraphic correlation between the Early Jurassic Ziliujing Formation in the Sichuan basin and the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation in the Central Yunnan basin.     

云南禄丰中侏罗世弓鲛（软骨鱼类）化石新材料

后句弓鲛(Hybodus houtienensis Young 1941)是中国发现最早的弓鲛鱼类之一,由杨钟健建立。由于建种的化石材料均为破碎的鳍棘,因此与其他弓鲛鱼类难以进行较全面的对比。本文依据在禄丰川街盆地发现的新化石材料,对后甸弓鲛进行再研究,补充了描述、修订了其特征,并讨论了弓鲛属的生物地层和地理分布特征。     

陕西商洛地区下白垩统大型兽脚类恐龙足迹

记叙了中国陕西省商洛市邵涧村下白垩统东河群2个大型兽脚类恐龙足迹,并将其归于Megalosauripus isp.。 东河群的时代与热河生物群同期,邵涧Megalosauripus isp. 可能可与热河生物群的大型兽脚类恐龙之足部形态做简 单对比。此外,邵涧Megalosauripus isp.造迹者的体长约为7.4m,这意味着早白垩世的陕西中南部亦存在着大型的 兽脚类恐龙。邵涧Megalosauripus isp.的发现,不仅为中国早白垩世恐龙足迹增加了新的成员,而且为将来在该地 区下白垩统中发现大型兽脚类恐龙的骨骼化石提供了确凿的依据。     

Theropod dinosaur diversity and palaeobiology in the Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous) of England: evidence from a previously undescribed tibia

A robust, partial right tibia of a theropod dinosaur (Natural History Museum London collections, BMNH R9385) is described for the first time. The specimen was collected at Hastings, Sussex (England) in the last century, and is among the oldest known of English Wealden Group theropods. It represents a tetanuran theropod that may have been about 3 m in total length, and is distinct from all currently known Wealden theropods for which tibiae have been described. The present specimen is significant palaeobiologically in exhibiting a series of theropod tooth marks on its caudal surface, indicating predation or scavenging by another theropod.     

禄丰棠海发现金山龙

记述云南禄丰棠海出土早侏罗世一件恐龙头骨化石标本。通过鉴定比较,归于新洼金山龙相似种(JingshanosaaurusofXinwaZhang＆Yong,1995),并与许氏禄丰龙、金山龙、玉溪易门龙进行对比,讨论了它们在原蜥脚类进化过程中的各自位置。     

云南禄丰地区首次发现晚侏罗世早期轮藻化石组合

近年来云南禄丰地区在地层学方面有两项重要的进展：①川街盆地不仅具有“禄丰晰龙动物群”, 在其上部还相继发现了中侏罗世“川街龙动物群”和相当晚侏罗世的恐龙化石;②按照国际地层规范,厘定并新建了一套侏罗纪岩石地层单位。新近又在前人称之为“上禄丰组”下部（川街组）及“酒红层”（麻地山组）中分别鉴定出中侏罗世轮藻组合Aclistochara maanshanensis-Aclistochara abshirira-Aclistochara karierica和晚侏罗世早期轮组合Aclistochara jaisalmerensis-Aclistochara karierica-Mesochara voluta。这一晚株罗世早期轮藻化石组合在中国属首次发现。     

Research on Dinoasur Footprints in Zizhou, Shaanxi Province, China

In recent years, the discoveries of dinosaur footprints have been successively reported from Dianshi Town, Zizhou City, Shaanxi Province. The footprints include the tracks of theropod, ornithopod and sauropod as well. Actually, the dinosaur footprints were found by local inhabitants much earlier in history, but not for science. The slabs bearing the dinosaur footprints were collected for domestic use, such as building stones, millstones, cellar covers, sheepfold fences, windlass holders, etc. This paper is to describe the dinosaur footprints on both sides of three slabs used for cellar covers, sheepfold fences and windlass holders by the local people. 24 dinosaur footprints and 4 trackways have been recognized and all of them belong to theropod. Four kinds of dinosaur footprints are identified, including 1 new ichnogenus and 2 new ichnospecies: (1) Shanbeipus caudatus ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov.; (2) Pengxianpus yulinensis ichnosp. nov.; (3) Eubrontes ichnosp; (4) Kayentapus ichnosp. Dinosaur-footprint-bearing beds were initially identified as the Fuxian Formation of the Lower Jurassic. Multipal dinosaur footprints associated with fragment plant fossils suggest a humid fluvio-lacustrine environment setting in the Ordos Basin during the early period of the Jurassic.     

山东诸城早白垩世中期超大规模恐龙足迹群及其古地理与古生态*

山东诸城黄龙沟恐龙足迹产于下白垩统中部莱阳群杨家庄组,其中以兽脚类为主,同时有蜥脚类和疑似鸟脚类足迹;兽脚类足迹又可进一步区分为大型兽脚类、似跷脚龙类(Paragrallator）和东方强壮百合龙类(Corpulentapus lilasia）。足迹共组成至少63条行迹,作者系统实测了其中50条,并据足迹大小指数—复步长和GAE(跷脚龙—安琪龙—实雷龙）图解给出了识别3类兽脚类足迹的经验性数值。足迹点沉积特征显示,浅湖相粉砂质泥岩和粉砂岩逐渐过渡为滨湖相砂岩。足迹层及其邻近层位波痕、泥裂发育,根据波脊线恢复的古岸线方向为东西向,波浪运动方向呈现出北至北西周期性变化,表明可能存在季节性风向变化。泥裂以及恐龙分布特征显示足迹点以S/WS为湖心方向,以N/EN为湖岸方向。似跷脚龙类和东方强壮百合龙类足迹分布区域的差异性表明东方强壮百合龙类生活区域更靠近湖岸。恐龙足迹中存在的明显叠盖现象表明足迹不是同时,而是多次活动遗迹。小型兽脚类行迹中较多近于平行的行迹体现了集群性生活习性。行进行为研究又显示兽脚类的绝大多数为快速奔跑状态,但蜥脚类等为慢行状态。兽脚类与蜥脚类、疑似鸟脚类足迹数量之比远大于正常捕食者和被捕食者之比也表明,早白垩世中期的胶莱盆地生存着以兽脚类为主、蜥脚类和鸟脚类为辅的恐龙动物群。早白垩世晚期,胶莱盆地以及沂沭断裂带内蜥脚类、鸟脚类恐龙以及鸟类逐渐繁盛,这与华北北部恐龙足迹所恢复的造迹恐龙动物群特征较为一致。中国北方、韩国、日本白垩纪恐龙足迹以及骨骼化石发育情况暗示,晚中生代中国北方以及东亚地区发育一个以恐龙等脊椎动物为主的大型陆地动物群。     

元谋姜驿中侏罗世一蜥脚龙新种

记述产自元谋县姜驿乡半箐村中侏罗统中的恐龙新种。根据骨骼特征鉴定，认为：有别于云南省已发现的早侏罗世原蜥脚类恐龙，而与四川会理及自贡大山铺出土的蜀龙有相似处，但也存在一些较明显的差别，据此，建蜀龙新种。     

Diversity of theropod ootaxa and its implications for the latest Cretaceous dinosaur turnover in southwestern Europe

The scarcity of diagnostic skeletal elements in the latest Cretaceous theropod record of the Ibero-Armorican domain (southwestern Europe) prevents to perform accurate phylogenetic, paleobiogeographic, and diversity studies. In contrast, eggs and eggshells of theropod dinosaurs are relatively abundant and well known in this region from which several ootaxa have been described. Here, we describe the first Late Maastrichtian theropod ootaxon (Prismatoolithus trempii oosp. nov.) from SW Europe and demonstrate that oological record can be used as a proxy for assessing diversity of egg-producers and may help to complement their scarce bone record. The performed analyses indicate that the theropod taxa and ootaxa reach their diversity maxima during the Late Campanian and start to decrease near the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary at both global and regional scales. The oological diversity of theropods in the Ibero-Armorican domain is consistent with the theropod diversity identified at high taxonomic level. Two distinct assemblages of theropod ootaxa can be recognized in the latest Cretaceous of the Ibero-Armorican domain. Their temporal transition can be correlated with other dinosaur faunal changes recorded in the region. This faunal turnover took place around the Early–Late Maastrichtian boundary, involving ornithopods, sauropods, ankylosaurs and, according to the present results, theropods as well.     

辽宁西部及邻区中侏罗世燕辽生物群脊椎动物化石研究进展

近年来,在中国辽宁西部、内蒙古东南部、河北北部中侏罗世髫髻山组和九龙山组中发现了丰富的脊椎动物、无脊椎动物和植物化石,这一化石群被称为燕辽生物群。燕辽生物群已正式命名的脊椎动物26属28种,包括鱼类1属1种、两栖类4属4种、有鳞类1属1种、翼龙类10属12种、兽脚类恐龙5属5种、哺乳类5属5种。燕辽生物群的脊椎动物化石对研究长羽毛兽脚类恐龙的演化、翼龙类的分类演化、滑体两栖类的分异等具有重要意义。虽然辽宁西部及邻区燕辽生物群脊椎动物的多样性不及同一地区早白垩世的热河生物群,但它为认识这一地区晚中生代生物群的演替提供了极为重要的依据。     

The longest theropod trackway from East Asia,and a diverse sauropod-, theropod-, and ornithopod-track assemblage from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation,southwest China

Here we report a large dinosaur tracksite from an extensive fluvial sandstone surface in the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Sichuan Province, China. The site contains over 250 individual tracks comprising at least 18 recognizable trackways, including the longest theropod trackway (cf. Eubrontes) known from China. This exceptional theropod trackway consists of 81 successive footprints covering a distance of 69 m. The tracks are well-preserved and are expressed both as true tracks on the main “upper” surface and as transmitted undertracks on a locally exposed “lower” bed. Also recorded are six other theropod trackways, including small Grallator-like ichnites, eight sauropod trackways (cf. Brontopodus), and three small ornithopod (cf. Ornithopodichnus) trackways with a parallel orientation, which may indicate gregarious behavior. Several trackways of a larger theropod trackmaker show pes imprints with elongated traces of the metatarsals, suggesting extramorphological (substrate-controlled) variation and/or plantigrade posture, which is here interpreted as indicating a change in gait assumed in response to deep and soft sediment. The assemblage indicates a diverse dinosaur fauna in the Lower Cretaceous Sichuan Basin with variously sized theropods, sauropods, and ornithopods. The late occurrence of footprints of the Grallator-Eubrontes plexus in Lower Cretaceous strata is further evidence of the extended stratigraphic range of this morphotype and the distinct palaeobiogeographic distribution of these trackmakers in East Asia.