A reappraisal of a putative record of abelisauroid theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of England

Abelisauroidea are a recently recognized clade of theropod dinosaurs that have a predominantly Gondwanan distribution. Recently, a distal theropod tibia from the Middle Jurassic of England was identified as an abelisauroid, representing one of the oldest records of the group in general and the only Jurassic occurrence in Europe. On this basis, rapid radiation of abelisauroid and a global distribution of this clade in the Jurassic were suggested. Here, the specimen in question is re-examined and the characters used for referral to the Abelisauroidea are re-evaluated. None of the proposed characters can be demonstrated to represent abelisauroid synapomorphies and all have a wider distribution; especially coelurosaurian theropods, which are known from contemporaneous beds in England, frequently show the same character combination. Thus, there is currently no secure evidence for the occurrence of abelisauroids in the Jurassic of the northern Hemisphere, and the early evolution of this clade remains poorly known. Furthermore, other fragmentarily known taxa previously referred to Abelisauroidea based on putative synapomorphies of the distal tibia, such as Ozraptor and Austrocheirus, should be considered as Theropoda indet.     

Did William Smith (1769–1839), the father of biostratigraphy,discover a Jurassic pterosaur tooth?

A partial, isolated tooth from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Stonesfield ‘slate’ of the Taynton Limestone Formation of Oxfordshire is identified as likely coming from a ctenochasmatid pterosaur. Referral to Ctenochasmatidae is based on its very slender, slightly curved crown with near circular cross-section and subparallel margins, slightly inflated root and its stratigraphic age. The tooth is part of the William Smith fossil collection held at the Natural History Museum, London. The collection was assembled as part of William Smith's attempt to identify and map strata around England and Wales in the last decade of the 18th century and the first 15 years of the 19th century. Smith's extensive fossil collection of more than 2500 specimens was purchased by the British Museum in 1816 (Wigley et al., 2018), and thus the specimen is the first pterosaur to be accessioned to the national collection.     

藏北南羌塘盆地曲瑞恰乃地区中侏罗世色哇组、莎巧木组、布曲组的生物地层特征

对藏北南羌塘盆地曲瑞恰乃地区的晚三叠世-侏罗纪地层进行了研究,自下而上划分为晚三叠世日干配错群,晚三叠世～早侏罗世索布查组,早侏罗世曲色组,中侏罗世色哇组、莎巧木组、布曲组、夏里组和晚侏罗世索瓦组。其中,对中侏罗世色哇组、莎巧木组、布曲组生物地层的研究为本文的主要内容,研究成果为该区中侏罗世地层层序的建立和详细对比提供了重要的依据。     

藏北南羌塘盆地曲瑞恰乃地区中侏罗世色哇组、 莎巧木组、布曲组的生物地层特征

对藏北南羌塘盆地曲瑞恰乃地区的晚三叠世-侏罗纪地层进行了研究,自下而上划分为晚三叠世日干配错群,晚三叠世～早侏罗世索布查组,早侏罗世曲色组,中侏罗世色哇组、莎巧木组、布曲组、夏里组和晚侏罗世索瓦组。其中,对中侏罗世色哇组、莎巧木组、布曲组生物地层的研究为本文的主要内容,研究成果为该区中侏罗世地层层序的建立和详细对比提供了重要的依据。     

Pangea, the geoid, and the paths of virtual geomagnetic poles during polarity reversals

The elongated distribution of virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) of South American Jurassic units has been interpreted as reflecting: 1) the behavior of the Earth's magnetic field (EMF), and 2) apparent polar shift of the South American plate before the breakup of Gondwana. New paleomagnetic data do not support the latter. We analyze these Jurassic VGPs together with those of other Pangean continents, considering a model based on the following assumptions: 1) Pangea was assembled over the present African-Atlantic geoid high; 2) the hotspot framework has not been significantly deformed over the last 200 Ma; 3) the present geoid matches the present topography of the core mantle boundary (CMB); 4) the overall topography of the CMB remains unchanged for long periods of time. We plotted Jurassic VGPs of Pangean continents, previously returned to a fixed-hotspot framework, on a map of the present topography of the CMB. The VGPs seem to follow the trend of regions of increased CMB seismic velocities. When a polarity reversal was registered by a Jurassic unit, the path of the VGPs was channeled on zones that have been observed in translational paths for the last 10 Ma.     

木里盆地有机质热演化异常及其演化史

本文讨论了木里盆地中株罗统有机质热演化异常的特征及其成因,并用盆地模拟研究了其演化史,研究表明,不仅在煤一段和煤二段之间存在着反希尔特定律的现象,而且煤二段及其上覆地层烃源岩的有机质成熟度也高于其下的煤一段及下伏地层烃源岩,这种有机质演化热异常是由热蚀变作用引起的,热演化史的研究表明,木时盆地中株罗统在晚侏罗世进入生油门限,开始生油,在白垩纪末期,由于地下水热水的上涌,使煤二段及其上覆地层的有机质     

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

A new theropod dinosaur,Shidaisaurusjinae 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.     

新疆吐哈盆地侏罗纪古植被与古气候及古环境的探讨

通过对新疆吐哈盆地侏罗系孢粉植物群、特殊岩性、泥质岩中的元素和粘土矿物分布规律的研究 ,探讨了古植被、古气候及古环境的纵向演化特点 ,认为研究区内侏罗纪古气候特点是早侏罗世至中侏罗世早期为温暖潮湿的亚热带 ,局部有干旱趋势 ;中侏罗世中晚期为半潮湿、半干旱的温带—亚热带气候 ;从中侏罗世末期开始转为炎热干旱的亚热带气候。     

柴西阿尔金山前下中侏罗统沉积地球化学特征及意义

依据柴达木盆地西部阿尔金山前红沟子北部地区黑石山地质调查,结合样品的地球化学分析资料,对该区下中侏罗统的沉积特征和沉积环境进行了详细研究。其结果表明柴西阿尔金山前黑石山山顶下中侏罗统层位在横向上不见其相同层位,且岩性特征与山底区别较大,判断山顶上的下中侏罗统可能为“飞来峰”;柴西阿尔金山前下中侏罗统的沉积环境为还原环境,有利于有机质的保存和烃源岩的生成,具有一定的油气勘探前景。     

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.     

The oldest known metriorhynchid crocodylian from the Middle Jurassic of North-eastern Italy: Neptunidraco ammoniticus gen. et sp. nov.

Metriorhynchidae is a clade of marine-adapted crocodilians known from several Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous specimens collected predominantly in South America and Europe, but poorly known in the northern margin of Gondwana. The “Portomaggiore crocodile” is the most complete specimen of an Italian metriorhynchid to date: it consists of a partial skeleton that has been provisionally referred to an unnamed species of Late Jurassic Metriorhynchus or Geosaurus. The specimen is preserved in the reddish, nodular limestone of the Rosso Ammonitico Veronese Formation (Bajocian–Tithonian); new data on microfossil associations constrain the age of the metriorhynchid to the late Bajocian–earliest Bathonian. On the basis of cranial synapomorphies, the “Portomaggiore crocodile” falls as the closest sister-taxon of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous geosaurines, and is referred to Neptunidraco ammoniticus gen. et sp. nov. It is unique among Middle Jurassic metriorhynchids in showing an incipient streamlining of the skull, shared with Late Jurassic and Cretaceous taxa. Since Neptunidraco is the oldest known member of Metriorhynchidae, its phylogenetic position supports the hypothesis that the timing of the initial metriorhynchid and geosaurine diversifications should start in the Bajocian.     

藏东昌都地区侏罗纪岩石磁组构研究及其构造意义

本文对藏东昌都地区侏罗纪汪布组、东大桥组和小索卡组红层共71个采点开展了磁组构(AMS)研究。磁组构测试结果表明,早侏罗世汪布组岩石磁线理较磁面理发育,磁化率各向异性度较高,磁化率椭球最小轴K3散布于层面缩短方向,代表了与构造成因相关的磁组构;中侏罗世东大桥组和晚侏罗世小索卡组岩石则磁面理较磁线理发育,磁化率各向异性度较低,磁化率椭球最小轴K3与层面近垂直,指示了原生沉积磁组构。早侏罗世汪布组地层的磁组构揭示了其构造应力场方向为NE-SW向。中侏罗世东大桥组的磁组构指示了其沉积时的古水流方向为SE向(138.3°),而晚侏罗世小索卡组磁组构指示了其沉积时的古水流方向为NNW向(328.3°)。古水流方向的明显变化揭示了昌都地区从中侏罗世到晚侏罗世沉积物物源发生了相应的转变,表明昌都地区南早北晚的隆升过程。     

New Species of Cimbrophlebiidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Four new species of three genera in the family Cimbrophlebiidae, Telobittacus decorus sp. nov., Bellicimbrophlebia heteroneura sp. nov., Cimbrophlebia amoena sp. nov., and Cimbrophlebia gracilenta sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on eleven well-preserved fossil specimens. These specimens were collected from the latest Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. This is the first record of the genus Cimbrophlebia in the Jurassic extending its age from the Lower Cretaceous to the Middle Jurassic. Due to same venational characters, we propose that an undescribed fossil specimen of Cimbrophlebiidae from the Jurassic of Germany is attributed to C. gracilenta sp. nov. Our new findings demonstrate an evolutionary trend of venational change from 185 to 50 Ma that the level of the bifurcation of Rs is gradually moving toward the base of wing in reference to the bifurcation of M.     

An alternative Pangea reconstruction for Middle America with the Chortis Block in the Gulf of Mexico: tectonic implications

Understanding Pangea breakup requires a robust reconstruction, and this article focuses on the Middle America sector of the supercontinent. Although most Pangean reconstructions locate the Yucatan Block along the southern USA, the Chortis Block is generally placed off southern Mexico (Pacific model), undergoing sinistral relative motion during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. However, the Pacific model is inconsistent with the absence of a Cenozoic fault linking the Cayman transforms and the Middle America Trench. We present an alternative Pangean reconstruction, where both the Yucatan and Chortis Blocks are placed in the future Gulf of Mexico, moving Mexico westwards along the Mojave–Sonora megashear to accommodate overlap with South America. Subsequent Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution is inferred to have occurred in two stages: (i) Jurassic clockwise rotation along the Mojave–Sonora and West Florida megashears, followed by (ii) Cenozoic anticlockwise rotation along the Sierra Madre Oriental and East Yucatan megashears. The first stage is linked to the breakup of Pangea where the Gulf of Mexico formed as a pull-apart basin. The second stage is related to the evolution of the Caribbean where the Chortis and Yucatan Blocks rotated into the trailing side of the Caribbean Plate (pirate model). The new reconstruction is consistent with major parameters, such as (i) gravity, magnetic, and palaeomagnetic data; (ii) the westward continuation of the Cayman transform faults through the Chiapas foldbelt and along the N–S front of the Sierra Madre Oriental foldbelt; (iii) the 27–19 Ma removal of the southern Mexican forearc; (iv) offset of the Cretaceous volcanic arc (Guerrero-Suina); (v) the deflection of the Laramide orogen (Sierra Madre Oriental–Zongolica–Colon); and (vi) the continuity of Cretaceous platformal carbonates containing Caribbean fauna across Middle America. In this latter context, the Motagua high-pressure belt is interpreted as a Cretaceous extrusion zone into the upper plate above a subduction zone rather than as an oceanic suture.     

西藏羌塘扎仁中侏罗世巴通期(布曲组)岩相古地理演化

研究区中侏罗统布曲组岩性为一套碳酸盐岩,产丰富的腕足、双壳和有孔虫类化石。通过单剖面相分析、沉积相剖面对比及面上填图,基本查清了布曲组垂向上的沉积序列特征及横向上的沉积相带变化,重塑了布曲组的岩相古地理演化。     

黑龙江省东部中侏罗世至早白垩世沟鞭藻组合序列

对近二十年来黑龙江省东部海相侏罗纪—白垩纪沟鞭藻地层资料进行了综合研究 ,首次为该地区建立起侏罗纪—白垩纪沟鞭藻地层序列 ,主要包含 7个组合带 (含 3个高峰带 ) ,其中绥滨地区 Callovian— Valanginian期有 4个带 ;鸡西盆地早白垩世也有 4个带 (其中包括与绥滨地区早白垩世早期同时异相的一个 )。它们自下而上为 :1)绥滨组的 Pareodinia ceratophora- N annoceratopsispellucida组合带 ;　 2 )东荣组下部的 Gonyaulacysta jurassica组合带 (高峰带 ) ;　 3)东荣组上部的 Amphorula delicata组合带 ;　 4 )东荣组最上部的海相 Oligosphaeridium pul-cherrimum组合带 (高峰带 )或鸡西盆地滴道组的微咸水—半咸水的 Vesperopsis didaoensis- L agenorhytis granoru-gosa组合带 ,两者为同时异相关系 ;　 5 )城子河组下部海相层的 Odontochitina operculata- Muderongia tetracantha组合带 (该带可进一步划分出 2个亚组合带 ) ;　 6 )城子河组上部海相层的 Canningia reticulata组合带 ;　 7)穆棱组下段的 Cribroperidinium ?parorthoceras组合带 (高峰带 )。     

藏北中侏罗世遗迹化石Tisoa Serres的发现及其环境意义

遗迹化石TisoaSeres国内尚无报导,70多块遗迹化石Tisoa标本见于藏北羌塘地区中侏罗统色哇组。本文对所采集的Tisoa标本作了详细的研究,Tisoa通常由紧靠的圆柱状平行潜穴管组成,单一潜穴管直径2～7mm间,两栖管间距1～4mm,外部由锥形或圆柱形钙质结核所包围,钙质结核直径10～25mm。保存完好的标本表明Tisoa为两个潜穴管底部相连的“Ｕ”形管,大多数只含两个平行潜穴管的标本实际上只是保存的一个“Ｕ”形管的上部。在大多数Tisoa管壁通常发育不规则的黄铁矿层或一微晶方解石薄层;栖管中常充填微晶和亮晶方解石以及黄铁矿、云母及泥质和石英。一般认为Tisoa是一种节肢动物潜穴。沉积环境分析,产Tisoa的沉积环境为正常浅海环境。     

燕山东段下辽河地区中新生代盆山构造演化

笔者通过分析燕山东段-下辽河地区的前中生代构造背景和中新生代盆山构造演化认为,该区中新生代的构造演化过程是在前中生代华北克拉通岩石图基础上发育起来的克拉通内(陆内或板内)盆山构造与挤压构造的交替演化过程,经历了早-中三叠世、晚三叠世-早侏罗世、中-晚侏罗世、白垩纪、新生代5个盆山构造演化阶段和中三叠世末、早侏罗世末、晚侏罗世末和白垩纪末、老第三纪末5期挤压作用。每次挤压作用都使得早期盆地萎缩或消亡,造成早期盆地反转。中-晚侏罗世、白垩纪和新生代三个阶段的伸展作用形成中-晚侏罗世断陷盆地、白垩纪断陷盆地和新生代裂谷盆地。在这一构造演化过程中,挤压作用和伸展作用交替出现,挤压构造和伸展构造间互发育。      

New coelacanth material from the Middle Triassic of eastern Switzerland, and comments on the taxic diversity of actinistans

New coelacanth material from the Middle Triassic Prosanto Formation of the Ducan and Landwasser area near Davos in eastern Switzerland, Canton Graubünden, is described. A sub-complete individual is visible in ventral view, and shows details of its branchial apparatus. In particular, it possesses relatively large teeth on the ceratobranchials, and possible ossified hypobranchials. Few diagnostic characters are observable, and most of them are visible on the mandibles preserved in lateral view. This specimen shares characters with Ticinepomis peyeri, a smaller form from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio, whose holotype is re-described in part here. A second specimen, a fragmentary caudal skeleton shows the typical supplementary lobe of coelacanths, and meristic characters indicating probable close affinities with T. peyeri. We refer this material to Ticinepomis cf. T. peyeri. Because the new specimen is larger than the holotype, we refute the possible juvenile status of the small specimen from Monte San Giorgio. The new material of Ticinepomis from Canton Graubünden shows anatomical features not preserved on the holotype and allows the addition of new characters to a previously published data matrix of actinistians. A phylogenetic analysis is performed, which supports that Ticinepomis is nested among the Latimeriidae. The diversity of post-Palaeozoic coelacanths is assessed. The taxic diversity of observed occurrences shows a peak in the Early Triassic and a peak in the Late Jurassic, as detected in previous studies. When ghost lineages are included in the computation, the Late Jurassic peak is smoothened. By comparing the taxic diversity curves with the curve of average ghost lineage duration, we conclude that the Early Triassic peak of diversity was probably caused by a biological radiation, whereas the Late Jurassic peak of observed diversity is probably the result of a Lagerstätten effect.