A Whole Plant Herbaceous Angiosperm from the Middle Jurassic of China

In contrast to woody habit with secondary growth, truthful herbaceous habit lacking secondary growth is restricted to angiosperms among seed plants. Although angiosperms might have occurred as early as in the Triassic and herbaceous habit theoretically may have been well adopted by pioneer angiosperms, pre-Cretaceous herbs are missing hitherto, leaving the origin of herbs and evolution of herbaceous angiosperms mysterious. Here we report Juraherba bodae gen. et sp. nov, a whole plant herbaceous angiosperm, from the Middle Jurassic (>164 Ma) at Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, a fossil Lagerst?tten that is worldwide famous for various fossil finds. The angiospermous affinity of Juraherba is ensured by its enclosed ovules/seeds. The plant is small but complete, with physically connected hairy root, stem, leaves, and fructifications. The Middle Jurassic age recommends Juraherba as the earliest record of herbaceous seed plants, demanding a refresh look at the evolutionary history of angiosperms.     

An edible fruit from the Jurassic of China

Frugivory is an important ecological tie between animals and angiosperms. It plays an important role in the evolution of food webs and energy flow networks in the ecosystem. However, little is known about how old this relationship can be due to lack of relevant fossil evidence. Here, the authors report a fossil fruit, Jurafructus gen. nov., a putative angiosperm from the Middle–Late Jurassic (>164 Ma) of Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, which provides the currently earliest evidence of frugivory. The fossil is a more or less three-dimensionally preserved coalified drupe that has been damaged by animals in two different ways. The pericarp, in addition to the seed coat surrounding parenchyma seed contents, is suggestive of an angiospermous affinity, as such a 3+3 structure is distinct from a three-layered seed coat in gymnosperms. The seed possesses a distal micropyle, attached on the base of the pericarp, suggestive of a former orthotropous ovule in the gynoecium. The damaged pericarp of Jurafructus suggests that frugivory can be dated back to the Middle–Late Jurassic. Apparently, the ecological relationship between angiosperms and animals extends deep into the fossil record.     

Xingxueanthus: An Enigmatic Jurassic Seed Plant and Its Implications for the Origin of Angiospermy

Abstract: The origin of angiosperms has been tantalizing botanists for centuries. Despite the efforts of palaeobotanists, most of the pre-Cretaceous angiosperms are regarded either non-convincing or misdated. The applications of SEM and LM (light microscope) enable us to recognize a coalified fossil plant, Xingxueanthus sinensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Haifanggou Formation (Middle Jurassic, >160 Ma) in western Liaoning, China. Xingxueanthus is an “inflorescence” with more than 20 female units spirally arranged. Each female unit is situated in the axil of a bract. The female unit is composed of an ovule-container and a style-like projection at the top. There is a vertical column bearing several ovules in the ovule-container. The general morphology and the internal structure of Xingxueanthus distinguish itself from any known fossil and extant gymnosperms, and its structures are more comparable to those of angiosperms. Xingxueanthus, if taken as a gymnosperm, would represent a new class, demonstrate an evolutionarily advanced status of ovule-protection in gymnosperms never seen before, and provide new insights into the origin of angiospermy. Alternatively, if taken as an angiosperm, together with Schmeissneria, it would increase the diversity of Jurassic angiosperms, which has been underestimated for a long time, and suggest a much earlier origin of angiospermy than currently accepted.     

New Jurassic Paleomagnetic Results from Southeastern China and Their Geological Implication

A paleomagnetic study was carried out on late Jurassic sediments in the Nanjing area. Stepwise thermal demagnetization was used to isolate the characteristic higher temperature component (HTC)(D=354.0°,I=48.5°,a95=7.8°),which passes the reversal test.A 24.7±8.7°counter-clockwise rotation relative to the Sichuan area is detected through comparing this new pole(84.4°N,7.0°E, A95=7.7°)with other coeval poles reported from South China.This rotation was conducted by sinistral action of slip faults.These cases...     

A New Ceratopsian from the Upper Jurassic Houcheng Formation of Hebei, China

A new ceratopsian taxon Xuanhuaceratops niei gen. et sp. nov. is erected based on four fragmentary specimens collected from the Late Jurassic Houcheng Formation, Hebei Province, China. Xuanhuaceratops shares a number of derived features with, and is closely related to, another probable Late Juarassic ceratopsian Chaoyangsaurus youngi, from which it differs in only possessing a single premaxillary tooth as well as in details of quadrate and scapular morphology. We hypothesize that these two taxa represent a primitive lineage of Ceratopsia that is basal to the psittacosaurid-neoceratopsian diversity, and propose the name Chaoyangsauridae for it     

中国辽西中侏罗世地层发现船颌翼龙新属新种

根据不完整的化石骨架,建立船颌翼龙一新属新种:李氏凤凰翼龙.它产自辽西中侏罗世的髫髻山组.具有以下特征:上颌有11对以上牙齿,最后一枚牙齿位置靠后,位于眶前孔后下角的下方.翼掌骨长度大约为肱骨的55%.凤凰翼龙的发现不但增加了船颌翼龙的新成员,而且对船颌翼龙的古地理分布提供了重要信息.它代表目前为止最早的船颌翼龙类.为我们了解船颌翼龙的起源和演化具有重要意义.     

西北地区侏罗纪原始沉积区恢复

通过边缘相分析、地层接触关系分析、古水流系统分析和构造格架分析并结合侏罗系残余露头与残余沉积体系分布,对早-中侏罗世和中-晚侏罗世的原始沉积区进行了恢复,发现早-中侏罗世的沉积范围要比现今残存的沉积范围大得多,而中-晚侏罗世的沉积范围与现今残存的沉积范围相比则变化不大。     

大巴山侏罗纪叠加褶皱与侏罗纪前陆

大巴山是NWW_SEE走向的中央造山带中惟一的向南凸出大型弧型褶皱带,与秦岭—大别造山带的构造特征明显不协调。研究表明,大巴山弧型构造卷入了侏罗纪地层,因此不属于三叠纪中央造山带。秦岭、大别山和大巴山最新的证据证实侏罗纪曾经发生陆内俯冲作用,大巴山是侏罗纪陆内造山作用的产物。大巴山西侧为典型的叠加褶皱变形样式,三叠纪近东西向褶皱叠加上近南北向褶皱构成横跨型干涉变形图像。由此,确立了侏罗纪复合前陆的存在,证明中国东部甚至亚洲东部侏罗纪陆内造山的广泛性,晚侏罗世的“燕山运动”是波及亚洲中东部的重要构造事件。     

New Fossils of Eoptychopteridae (Diptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Three new species of the extinct genus of Eoptychopterina from the Eoptychopteridae     

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.     

New Fossils of Eoptychopteridae (Diptera)from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Three new species of the extinct genus of Eoptychopterina from the Eoptychopteridae family, Eoptychopterina antica sp. nov., Eoptychopterina adnexa sp. nov., and Eoptychopterina mediata sp. nov., are described and illustrated. These three new species are established based on fossil specimens with bodies and complete wings. All were collected from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Based on the new materials, the name of two species in Eoptychopterina from China--Eoptychopterina elenae Ren and Krzeminski and Eoptychopterina gigantea Zhang--is sysnonymum junius.     

Earliest mordellid-like beetles from the Jurassic of Kazakhstan and China (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea)

Within this study the subfamily Praemordellinae is reviewed and the holotype of Praemordella martynovi Scegoleva-Barovskaja, 1929 is re-described. The genera Cretanaspis Huang and Yang, 1999, Mirimordella Liu et al., 2007, Bellimordella Liu et al., 2008 and Wuhua Wang and Zhang, 2011 is attributed to Praemordellinae. One new species, Wuhua peregrina sp. nov., is erected based on two well-preserved specimens from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Biota (Inner Mongolia, China). The morphological characters of Praemordellinae are given and a key to genera of Praemordellinae is presented. Praemordellinae is closely related to extant Mordellidae in having humpbacked body, strongly deflexed head, filiform antennae and pectinate tarsal claws, but it is differing in that the pygidium absent and hind femora not well developed. It is also similar to Ripiphoridae in having a convex body and simple tarsi, but differs Ripiphoridae in having filiform antennae. Praemordellinae is probably a stem group including the ancestor of Mordellidae and Ripiphoridae. Also, within this paper, the fossil record of Mordellidae is summarized.     

New Jurassic Pseudopolycentropodids from China (Insecta: Mecoptera)

Abstract: In this paper two new species of fossil Pseudopolycentropus Handlirsch, 1906 are described: Pseudopolycentropus janeannae sp. nov. and P. novokshonovi, sp. nov. All of them were recovered from the Middle Jurassic non-marine sedimentary strata of northeastern China. The new material from China reveals that the early diversification of pseudopolycentropodids was well underway by the Middle Jurassic.     

中国中侏罗世哺乳动物研究新进展

本文介绍了中国北方东部地区发现的几种中侏罗世哺乳动物:纤细辽兽、獭形狸尾兽、远古翔兽和粗壮假碾磨齿兽,除纤细辽兽发现于辽宁凌源房身九龙山组外,其他3种哺乳动物化石均发现于内蒙古宁城道虎沟地区的髫髻山组.这些哺乳动物化石的发现不仅丰富了我国中侏罗世生物群的组成,加深了人们对于中侏罗世哺乳动物多样性的认识,而且为解决我国北方东部地区晚中生代地层的划分和对比提供了可靠的古生物证据.     

New Jurassic Fossil True Bugs of the Pachymeridiidae(Hemiptera:Pentatomomorpha)from Northeast China

Four new fossil genera and species of true bugs from the family Pachymeridiidae, Beipiaocoris multifurcus, Bellicoris mirabilis, Nitoculus regiUus, and Viriosinervis stolidus, are described. New specimens were collected from the Middle and Upper Jurassic non-marine sedimentary strata from the Jiulongshan and Yixian Formations of northeast China. The species Karatavocoris asiatica Becker-Migdisova, 1963, which was considered to be a member of the family Coreidae is transferred to the Pachymeridiidae. A new map of all known and newly discovered fossil pachymeridiid localities is given. The diagnosis of the family is modified.     

A new caraboid larva from the Middle Jurassic of China (Insecta: Coleoptera)

A new species of caraboid larva (Coleoptera, Adephaga), Carabilarva gongi sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved specimen from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou deposits (in the upper part of Jiulongshan Formation) of Inner Mongolia, China. It is the fourth caraboid larva from the Mesozoic, and differs from the other three Mesozoic species mainly in having a longer body with shorter mandibles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) show that this Daohugou fossil is preserved as carbonaceous compressions that lost the micro-structure, such as macrochaetae.     

The Jurassic Coast Story Book: An approach to geoheritage interpretation from the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

The World Heritage status of the Jurassic Coast has important implications for how the geoheritage of the site is communicated to audiences. UNESCO defines World Heritage Sites as places with Outstanding Universal Value to all people that must be preserved for future generations. Building relationships between people and place is key to conservation and on the Jurassic Coast that is delivered by providing audiences with physical, intellectual and emotional access to the Site. Heritage interpretation offers an effective way to develop these connections and create diverse ways for people to engage with the unique Earth Science stories that underpin the World Heritage Status of the Dorset and East Devon Coast. This paper reflects on the approach to interpretation taken by the Jurassic Coast Team and explores the ways in which geoheritage is a challenging subject to interpret. Practitioners on the Jurassic Coast have more recently developed an interpretive approach to help overcome these difficulties. Three categories of geoheritage stories were identified (Landscape, Cultural geology and Earth History) and three interpretive principles were devised (perspective, intimacy and imagination) as a way of scoping out a relevant emotional context for interpretive content. This approach laid the foundation for the development of a new interpretation framework for the Jurassic Coast – The Jurassic Coast Story Book, which will be subject to ongoing testing and evaluation by the new organisation leading on the protection and promotion of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site; Jurassic Coast Trust.     

A New Mamenchisaurid Dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Yuanmou, Yunnan Province, China

A new mamenchisaurid dinosaur, Eomamenchisaurus yuanmouensis gen et sp. nov. is erected based on an incomplete skeleton from the Zhanghe Formation, the Middle Jurassic of Yuanmou, Yunnan Province. The new taxon is characterized by absence of pleurocoels in dorsal vertebrae and the dorsal verterbrae with slightly convex anterior articular surfaces, moderately concave posterior articular surfaces; the fourth trochanter is developed posteromedially on the femur; length ratio of the tibia to the femur is approximately 0.64; and the shaft of the ischium is rod-like. Two fused centra of the posterior dorsal vertebrae （the presumed 9th and the 10th dorsal vertebrae） are similar to those in other mamenchisaurid dinosaurs, including Mamenchisaurus hochuanesis, M. youngi and Chuanjiesaurus anaensis. Therefore, fusion of centra of the ninth and the tenth dorsal vertebrae can be recognized as a synapomorphic character of the Mamenchisauridae.     

新疆沙尔湖煤田中侏罗世植物化石

首次报道了新疆东部沙尔湖煤田中侏罗世17 属27 种植物大化石和35 属50 种孢粉化石。该植物群以蕨类、苏铁类及本内苏铁类、银杏类为主要组成成分,时代可能为中侏罗早期。其地质古生物特征表明,该植物群生长的古环境可能为温暖潮湿并具季节性变化的暖温带的湖沼地区。     

甘肃侏罗纪植物化石Ginkgo huttonii角质层地球化学特征

对甘肃民和盆地侏罗纪植物化石Ginkgo huttonii(Sternb．)Heer的角质层与现生银杏Ginkgo biloba的角质层进行了地球化学特征对比分析,结果表明植物化石角质层有机物特征符合石油形成中沥青的演化特点。通过有机物组分含量分析,它们相当于中国中、新生代油源岩有机质类型中的腐泥型一腐殖腐泥型。对烃组分三角图进行投点,落入Ⅱ型干酪根范围内。通过有机质中的一些指标分析,发现Ginkgo huttonii的角质层处于低成熟阶段,与煤中显微组分角质体的成烃模式基本一致。另外,角质层的可溶有机质分布特征表明,植物化石角质层对陆相高蜡原油的形成有一定的作用,证明高等植物对蜡质有贡献。当前研究及古植物学资料表明,银杏是一种有利于煤成油的植物。