山东青岛莱西地区首次发现恐龙蛋化石及其沉积环境分析

本文报道了首次在山东青岛莱西地区晚白垩世红土崖组发现的恐龙蛋化石,蛋化石呈圆形,其直径为11 cm,蛋壳的显微构造研究表明,它属于树枝蛋类,可能为镰刀龙类恐龙所产。沉积环境和岩石地球化学分析显示,该时期研究区主要为河道—河漫滩沉积环境,适宜的古气候条件是恐龙蛋孵化的理想地区;同时镰刀龙类蛋的发现,预示着将来在该地区很有可能发现镰刀类恐龙骨骼化石。     

A Possible Long-tailed Bird with a Pygostyle from the Late Mesozoic Yixian Formation, Western Liaoning, China

AbstractAn incomplete caudal vertebral series (IVPP Vl1309) from the Yixian Formation of late MesozoicJianshangou area of Beipiao, western Liaoning Province, may represent a new bird. The tail is composed of at least 12 free caudal vertebrae and the most distal 5 caudal vertebrae co-ossified into a pygostyle. The pygostyle is plate-like and slightly curved dorsally. The anterior free caudals are amphiplatyan. The anterior caudal surfaces of the last three free caudals are concave, but their posterior articular surfaces are convex. The pygostyle is regarded as the first appeared flight apparatus during the evolutionary process from Archaeopteryx to neornithes. The pygostyle appeared in most early fossil birds and almost all the modem birds. Although their morphologies are different, they are basically formed by at least four last caudal vertebrae. The specimen V11309 is regarded as a bird rather than a non-avian theropod dinosaur based on the following characters: short caudal vertebrae, numerous pits present on the surfaces of the centra and, a foramen present between the basal part of the fused neural spines, which is similar to that of Struthio camelus. The discoveries of pygostyles from the therizinosauroids and oviraptorosaurs may provide strong evidence for supporting the origin of birds from small theropod dinosaurs. The structure of the pygostyle in specimen Vl1309 is different from those of Beipiaosaurus (Therizinosauroid) and Nomingia (oviraptorosaur). The most parsimonious interpretation is that these pygostyle-like structures are independently acquired by Beipiaosaurus and Nomingia during their evolutionary process.     

A polar dinosaur feather assemblage from Australia

Exceptionally preserved Mesozoic feathered dinosaur fossils (including birds) are famous, but recognized from only very few localities worldwide, and are especially rare in the Southern Hemisphere. Here we report an assemblage of non-avian and avian dinosaur feathers from an Early Cretaceous polar (around 70°S) environment in what is now southeastern Australia. The recovered remains incorporate small (10–30 mm long) basal paravian-like tufted body feathers, open-vaned contour feathers, and asymmetrical bird-like wing feathers that possess high-angled barbs with possible remnants of barbicels — amongst the geologically oldest observed to date. Such morphological diversity augments scant skeletal evidence for a range of insulated non-avian theropods and birds inhabiting extreme southern high-latitude settings during the Mesozoic. Although some of these fossil feathers exhibit what may be residual patterning, most are uniformly toned and preserve rod-shaped microbodies, as well as densely-packed microbody imprints on the barbules that are structurally consistent with eumelanosomes. Geochemical analysis detected no identifiable residual biomolecules, which we suspect were lost via hydrolysis and oxidization during diagenesis and weathering. Nevertheless, an originally dark pigmentation can be reasonably inferred from these melanic traces, which like the coloured feathers of modern birds, might have facilitated crypsis, visual communication and/or thermoregulation in a cold polar habitat.     

A Large Therizinosauroid （Dinosauria： Theropoda） from the Early Cretaceous of Northwestern China

We herein describe an associated partial postcranial skeleton of a theropod dinosaur discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Xinminpu Group of the Yujingzi Basin, in the Jiuquan area of Gausu Province, northwestern China. Features of its humerus, such as strongly expanded proximal and distal ends, a well developed medial tuberosity, distal condyles expressed on the humeral cranial surface, and a hypertrophied entepicondyle, definitively establish the therizinosauroid affinities of the specimen. It differs from other therizinosauroids in having a shallow, poorly demarcated glenoid fossa with a prominent rounded and striated tumescence on the dorsomedial surface of its scapular portion, and a pubis with a strongly concave cranial margin. It represents a new taxon, Suzhousaurus megatherioides gen. et sp. nov. Cladistic analysis recovers Suzhousaurus as the sister taxon of Nothronychus mckinleyi from the mid-Cretaceous of western North America; together, they are basal members of the Therizinosauroidea, more derived than the Early Cretaceous Falcarius and Beipiaosaurus but less derived than Alxasaurus and the Therizinosauridae. Along with ＂Nanshiungosaurus＂ bohlini from possibly coeval beds in the Mazongshan area of northern-most Gansu, Suzhousaurus represents one of the largest-known Early Cretaceous therizinosauroids, demonstrating that this clade attained considerable body size early in its evolutionary history.     

河北赤城地区土城子组中一例极可能的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹(英文)

描述了河北省赤城县寺梁山土城子(后城)组一例极可能的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹及相关的足迹,该蹲伏迹也是该组地层目前发现的最大的兽脚类足迹。虽然缺乏前足迹和尾迹,但因保存了左跖骨印、关联的坐骨及可能的耻骨胼胝印被定为蹲伏迹。该蹲伏迹是世界上第三例非对称的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹。     

A New Enantiornitine Bird with Four Long Rectrices from the Early Cretaceous of Northern Hebei, China

Paraprotopteryx gracilis, a new enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Fengning, northern Hebei Province is erected, based on the following characters： Yshaped furcula with a long hypocleidum and a much narrow interclavicular angle, and the morphology of the sternum are different from other enantiornithines. Additionally, alular digit bearing the biggest manual claw extends distally to the distal end of the major metacarpal; the minor metacarpal is slender than the major metacarpal. Carpometacarpus only fused proximally; astragalus and calcaneum partially fused to one another but unfused to the tibia. This is the first record of Mesozoic birds in having four long rectrices, which may represent morphologically a secondary sexual character, an intermediate stage from elongated scale to branched feather, and possess functional advantage in supplementing the lifting surface to compensate the unskilled flight.     

河北赤城地区土城子组中一例极可能的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹

描述了河北省赤城县寺梁山土城子（后城）组一例极可能的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹及相关的足迹,该蹲伏迹也是该组地层目前发现的最大的兽脚类足迹。虽然缺乏前足迹和尾迹。但因保存了左跖骨印、关联的坐骨及可能的耻骨胼胝印被定为蹲伏迹。该蹲伏迹是世界上第三例非对称的兽脚类恐龙蹲伏迹。     

广东南雄白垩系及恐龙蛋到鸟蛋演化研究

首次实测了南雄盆地一条完整的白垩系剖面;沿剖面在66个层位中采集到蛋化石, 新建了1个恐龙蛋科, 2个属及6个种;在厘定南雄盆地和丹霞盆地的岩石地层后, 统一提出了一套白垩纪地层单位名称。另外通过对羽状蛋化石的研究, 揭示出恐龙蛋到鸟蛋的进化, 是由于蛋壳棱柱层产生了变异, 出现了从‘层状结构’到‘羽状结构’的转变;与现代鸟禽类对比后确认, 恐龙蛋的棱柱层相当于鸟禽类的鳞片层(带);具有羽状结构的蛋化石是恐龙蛋演化到鸟蛋的一种中间类型。     

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。     

Enantiornithine Bird with Diapsidian Skull and Its Dental Development in the Early Cretaceous in Liaoning, China

A Iarge number of enantiornithine birds are discovered from the Early Cretaceous Jiufutang Formation in western Liaoning, China. They are all small-sized birds with a few small teeth. The enantiornithine bird from the Jiufutang Formation in the Shangheshou area, Chaoyang, Liaoning Province reported in this paper is the largest individual known in all enantiornithine birds of the Early Cretaceous. However, its teeth possess a feature of pseudoheterodont. Some different development stages of the new teeth substitute the earlier stages and the stages of development are preserved in this specimen. This development pattern is similar to that of Archaeopteryx and alligator but not dinosaur. A well-developed postorbital was also preserved in the skull, which was a diapsidian skull like that of Confuciusornis. Additionally, the distinctive preservation of its prefrontal distinguishes it from other enantiornithine birds of the Early Cretaceous.     

冀西北尚义上侏罗统—下白垩统后城组恐龙足迹新发现及生物古地理意义*

简要报道了新近首次在冀西北张家口尚义地区发现的恐龙足迹。野外地质调查发现,恐龙足迹赋存于尚义晚中生代盆地侏罗系—白垩系后城组顶部。恐龙行迹呈近东西向展布,由数十个足迹构成。初步研究表明,造迹者分别属于兽脚类和蜥脚类恐龙,由西向东行进。足迹中包括兽脚类足迹70余个,组成数个行迹;蜥脚类足迹15个,构成1列行迹。蜥脚类足迹特征显示其可能属于游泳状的行迹。华北北部土城子组/后城组发育于燕辽生物群—热河生物群更替演化时期（晚侏罗世—早白垩世早期）,以往在该时期沉积物中罕见脊椎动物骨骼化石。近年来华北北部土城子组/后城组中频繁发现的恐龙足迹表明,燕辽生物群—热河生物群更替演化时期发育着以恐龙为代表的脊椎动物群。该发现将有助于进一步了解土城子组/后城组沉积时期恐龙属种的多样性及其生物古地理环境。晚侏罗世—早白垩世早期沉积古地理和古生态环境及其与恐龙动物群发育的研究有助于揭示陆地生物群更替演化和环境的关系。     

Morphological and Phylogenetic Study Based on New Materials of Anchiornis huxleyi (Dinosauria,Theropoda) from Jianchang,Western Liaoning,China

Anchiornis huxleyi, which is a member of the Middle–Late Jurassic Yanliao Biota, is the smallest feathered dinosaur ever known. It has been described as a critical link between feathered dinosaurs and birds. Recent studies, including those of Anchiornis, Xiaotingia, Eosinopteryx and Aurornis, challenged Archaeopteryx as the most basal bird. The new Anchiornis huxleyi specimens that are described in this paper show some minor different characters compared to previously reported Anchiornis specimens, which has revised the character list of Anchiornis and indicates a different phylogenetic point from former opinions.     

重庆綦江白垩系夹关组恐龙足迹群沉积环境

重庆綦江莲花保寨保存有大量以莲花卡利尔足迹为主的恐龙足迹,研究其沉积环境对恢复当时恐龙动物群的生活环境有着十分重要的意义。运用岩石学、沉积学和古生物学方法,通过岩石学特征、沉积构造特征、粒度分布特征等分析重庆綦江莲花保寨恐龙足迹群的沉积环境,认为当时的沉积环境为曲流河沉积,恐龙足迹的赋存层位为曲流河边滩和河漫滩环境。     

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。     

黑龙江沿岸晚白垩世恐龙生物群化石产地的初步预测

根据对黑龙江沿岸孙吴、逊克和嘉荫保兴-炮台店一带晚白垩世地层与嘉荫乌拉嘎、龙骨山等含恐龙化石群的渔亮子组(K2y)等对比及在前三个地区已发现部分恐龙化石的线索,初步预测孙吴北部、逊克东南部和嘉荫保兴-炮台店等三地区可能为较大规模的恐龙化石群产地。预测区含恐龙化石的晚白垩世地层均属河流-湖泊相沉积,除恐龙外,尚可能发现叶肢介、介形类、鱼、龟鳖类、鳄、鸟类及被子植物等伴生化石。上述地区下伏于渔亮子组的太平林场组(K2t)和永安村组(K2yn)等地层,也有含恐龙化石的可能性。     

Dinosaur burrows in the Otway Group (Albian) of Victoria,Australia, and their relation to Cretaceous polar environments

Three enigmatic structures in an outcrop of the Otway Group (Albian) of Victoria, Australia, compose the first known evidence suggestive of dinosaur burrows outside of North America and the oldest from the fossil record. The most complete of the Otway structures nearly matches the size and morphology of a burrow attributed to the only known burrowing dinosaur, Oryctodromeus cubicularis from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Montana (USA). The suspected burrows cross-cut alluvial facies and overlie nearby strata containing dinosaur tracks. The structures contain identical sand fills in their upper portions, implying a near-synchronous origin and filling; graded bedding in the most complete structure also indicates passive filling of an originally open structure. This probable burrow is a 2.1 m long, gently descending, semi-helical tunnel, with a near-constant diameter (about 30 cm) that connects with an enlarged terminal chamber. The structures are unlikely to have been caused by physical or chemical sedimentary processes, and hence are considered as biogenic structures; moreover, their size and morphology imply tetrapod tracemakers. Burrow allometry indicates tracemakers with a mass of 10–20 kg, matching size estimates for small ornithopods from the Otway Group. Burrowing behavior in hypsilophodontid-grade dinosaurs, which compose most of the dinosaurian assemblage in the Lower Cretaceous of Victoria, was proposed previously as an adaptation for surviving formerly polar conditions in southeastern Australia. This paradigm is explored in detail, particularly through actualistic examples of tetrapod burrowing in cold climates. These structures may provide the first clues of ornithopod burrowing in these extreme environments, while also establishing search images for similar structures in other Lower Cretaceous outcrops in Victoria.     

A densely feathered ornithomimid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation,Alberta, Canada

A recently discovered articulated partial skeleton of Ornithomimus from the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada is remarkable in the extent and quality of preservation of integumentary structures including feathers. It is the first ornithomimid to preserve a tail bearing extensive plumaceous feathers that are slightly more elongate in comparison to those present on the remainder of the body. However, the underside of the tail and the hind limb distal to the middle of the femur appear devoid of plumage. Overall, the plumage pattern in Ornithomimus is similar to that of Struthio camelus (ostrich) and other large palaeognaths, indicating a probable function in thermoregulation. The specimen also preserves the body outline around the legs, including a skin contour anterior to the femur, analogous to skin webs in extant birds. Whereas the knee web of birds bridges the knee to the abdomen, in Ornithomimus it spans from the mid-femoral shaft to the abdomen, and is herein referred to as an anterior femoral web. This is the first report of such soft tissue structures in non-avian theropods. It may indicate that the resting position of the femur was positioned more anteroventrally in ornithomimids than in most theropods, and in that sense may have been transitional to the situation in modern birds.     

南阳盆地西峡赵营村上白垩统高沟组恐龙蛋化石埋藏特征及古环境意义

豫南南阳盆地西峡赵营村上白垩统高沟组含有较多的恐龙蛋化石,其中最为著名的是“路易贝贝”胚胎化石。对含化石地层中恐龙蛋的保存特征和古气候重建,可进一步认识白垩纪恐龙灭绝的古环境背景和原因。本文实测赵营村剖面厚约267.8 m,主要由下伏泥盆系南湾组(厚7.9 m)、上白垩统高沟组(厚259.9 m,未到顶)组成。通过地层沉积物结构构造观测和样品采集,在室内进行了元素、碳酸盐碳氧同位素组成、有机质饱和烃生标化合物等测试。结果表明,高沟组沉积物主要源于熊耳山岩浆岩的风化和短距离迁移,恐龙蛋化石主要保存于海拔200~800 m的山麓至平原过渡带的河漫滩环境,以原地埋藏为主。降雨量的变化造成河漫滩与河道频繁变化,从而导致恐龙在山麓与河漫滩之间来回迁栖。生物标志化合物分析表明,含恐龙蛋化石地层有机质主要来源于水生植物、菌藻类和陆生植物,但植被总体不发育。利用地层沉积岩Si/Al、CIA、Rb/Sr比值,以及δ13C、δ18O等环境指标对高沟组古气候重建,该时期发生了较为快速的旋回变化,经历了暖干—暖湿—干旱—暖湿—干旱的古气候演变过程,总体上呈逐渐干旱化的趋势。通过赵营村晚白垩世早期恐龙蛋化石的埋藏、以及地层的古环境重建,说明古气候、古环境状况可能是影响恐龙生存的主要因素,大量恐龙蛋不能完全孵化以及气候的干旱化导致植被恶化可能是恐龙逐渐消亡的原因。     

内蒙古鄂尔多斯地区早白垩世原角龙类化石的发现及其意义

根据采自内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯杭锦旗一件恐龙不完整头骨新材料的形态学特征,鉴定其为原角龙未定种(Protoceratops sp.),产出地层为下白垩统。这是原角龙属化石在早白垩世地层中的首次报道,也是该类恐龙在鄂尔多斯地区的首次记录。该化石的发现,扩大了原角龙化石在我国的地理分布范围,也丰富了鄂尔多斯地区恐龙动物群的内容。     

河南西峡晚白垩世恐龙蛋化石壳微量元素组成及其对恐龙灭绝的指示意义

恐龙蛋化石是探索恐龙生存和灭绝的重要研究材料,目前对恐龙蛋化石的研究集中在生物学和埋藏特征方面。本文利用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP-OES)对采自河南西峡晚白垩世的12枚恐龙蛋化石壳及部分围岩进行分析测试,研究其生命微量元素组成及其与恐龙灭绝的关系。结果表明,恐龙蛋壳中缺乏碳氮磷硫等有机质元素,而主要由钙铝镁铁钾等生命必需元素和锶锰钡镧锌硼钒钴铱等微量元素组成,其中锶和铱均具有明显的超高异常,这可能与地外撞击事件引起生态环境的急剧变化有关。元素的组合规律表明西峡盆地晚白垩世应为干旱、半干旱的气候环境,来自于环境中异常含量的锶和铱共同作用使这一时期该地区大量的恐龙蛋在恐龙体内遭受污染,发育孵化机能受到影响,成为导致盆地内恐龙灭亡的主要原因之一。这一发现为探讨恐龙生活环境变化、灭绝原因以及揭示晚白垩纪古气候提供了重要依据。