辽宁北票尾羽龙(Caudipteryx)一新种

１９９８年夏,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所辽西野外考察队在北票上园张家沟采集到一块保存相当完整的、属于尾羽龙的头后骨架。该材料被订立一新种,对尾羽龙的已知特征作了重要的补充和修订。本文是对这一新材料的初步记述,并简单讨论了尾羽龙的系统位置和习性。 尾羽龙科（新科）Ｃａｕｄｉｐｔｅｒｉｄａｅ ｆａｍ． ｎｏｖ． 尾羽龙属 Ｃａｕｄｉｐｔｅｒｙｘ Ｊｉ ｅｔ ａｌ． １９９８ 董氏尾羽龙（新种） Ｃａｕｄｉｐｔｅｒｙｘ ｄｏｎｇｉ ｓｐ． ｎｏｖ． （图１～３;图版Ｉ～Ｖ） 词源种名谨献给我国杰出的恐龙学家董…     

我国学者在兽脚类恐龙研究方面取得重要进展

１９９９年９月１６日的英国《自然》杂志刊登了我国青年学者徐星、汪波林和吴肖春在兽脚类恐龙研究方面取得的最新成果。中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所辽西课题组在１９９８年度的野外工作中,从辽西义县组下部页岩中采集到一批珍贵的脊椎动物化石,其中包括一块保存有皮肤衍生物的兽脚类恐龙化石标本。这件标本代表兽脚亚目驰龙科的一个新属种,被命名为中国鸟龙（Ｓｉｎｏｒｎｉｔｈｏｓａｕｒｕｓ）。中国鸟龙和另外四种保存有皮肤衍生物的兽脚类恐龙,即中华龙鸟、原始祖鸟、尾羽鸟和北票龙一样,都产自我国著名的中生代化石产地…     

辽西下白垩统九佛堂组尾羽龙类—新属(英文)

记述了一件采自辽西热河群九佛堂组一新的窃蛋龙类:义县似尾羽龙(Similicaudipteryx yixianensis gen.et sp.nov.),并依据其和尾羽龙属的相似特征,及其匕首状的尾综骨,肠骨、踱骨和脚趾的形态等将其归入窃蛋龙类的尾羽龙科,但其所具有的一些特征也不同于该科已建立的尾羽龙属,如尾综骨的形态和较大的个体等。该化石具有许多典型的窃蛋龙类的特征,如短尾、较短的前肢等,有别于其他窃蛋龙类的特征还包括耻骨和肠骨的长度比为1.46,背椎上发育2个大而深的椎体下突、背椎侧部具孔等。义县似尾羽龙是又一类具有真正尾综骨的恐龙,表明尾综骨这一曾经被认为是鸟类特有的结构可能是在恐龙中独自演化的。它具有一些进步的特征如具尾综骨等,但同时也具有一些原始的特征如5个愈合的荐椎,耻骨联合长,表明在窃蛋龙类中存在着特征的镶嵌进化现象。似尾羽龙与驰龙类、其他窃蛋龙类等恐龙一样,脚趾并没有对握,已有的证据说明完全的对握目前还只是出现于鸟类中。根据其短尾、中部收缩的趾骨和灵巧的身体等都表明它是一类适于快速奔跑的动物。目前为止,已知的尾羽龙类化石均发现于北票四合屯地区的义县组下部尖山沟层(段),距今约125Ma。新标本发现于义县西二虎桥地点,属于九佛堂组,距今约120Ma,这也是迄今为止在九佛堂组发现的惟一一件尾羽龙类化石,对研究早白垩世窃蛋龙类的演化和热河生物群恐龙组合的特征具有重要的意义。     

早白垩世手盗龙类郝氏中鸟(恐龙:兽脚类)归入非鸟类似擅攀鸟龙类的再研究及擅攀鸟龙类和基干窃蛋龙类形态相似的讨论（英文）

手盗龙类郝氏中鸟(Zhongornis haoae)的标本只有一件,并且为幼年个体,其最初被归入鸟类。然而对其解剖学的重新研究显示,郝氏中鸟与窃蛋龙下目(Oviraptorosauria)和擅攀鸟龙科(Scansoriopterygidae)具有很多相似的形态特征。中鸟的尾部虽然有所退化,但仍然很长,本文认为其约有20枚尾椎,其尾部的形态和比例都与尾羽龙(Caudipteryx)和耀龙(Epidexipteryx)相似。中鸟与基干窃蛋龙类的相似之处还包括:头骨短而高,小手指退化。在小翼掌骨的大小、手指的比例、坐骨不发育背侧和腹侧突起方面,中鸟与擅攀鸟龙类相似,而明显区别于中生代的鸟类。基于上述相似的形态特征以及基干窃蛋龙类和擅攀鸟龙类共有的其他特征,提出了窃蛋龙类和擅攀鸟龙类之间具有较近亲缘关系的假说。分支系统学的研究表明,相比于窃蛋龙类,中鸟与擅攀鸟龙科之间的亲缘关系更近,中鸟和擅攀鸟龙类都具有伸长的前肢和脚爪。有关中鸟的分类位置及其与擅攀鸟龙科之间确切关系的研究,还需要新标本的发现;本文对中鸟分类位置的讨论,也说明了基于幼年个体进行新种命名时所存在的问题。     

贵州中三叠世长颈龙属(原龙目:长颈龙科)一幼年个体

记述了贵州兴义法郎组竹杆坡段（中三叠世拉丁期）长颈龙属未定种（Tanystropheus sp．）一幼年个体的不完整骨架。这是该属在欧洲和中东以外的首次发现。新材料仅保存部分颈椎、躯干和前肢。根据特殊的颈椎形态将该标本归入长颈龙属,而区别于另一种长颈的海生原龙类——东方恐头龙（Dinocephalosaurus orientalis）。新标本的腕骨形态简单,骨化程度弱,表明长颈龙是终生水生的动物。“长颈、长颈肋”见于多种不同海生爬行动物（如原龙类、初龙类）,它们很可能都以“吞吸”的方式捕食。长颈龙化石在我国的发现进一步验证了中国南方三叠纪海生爬行动物群与欧洲西特提斯动物群（western Tethyan fauna）之间的密切关系。     

A NEW BASAL BEAKED ORNITHURINE BIRD FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF WESTERN LIAONING, CHINA

根据发现于辽宁西部建昌早白垩世九佛堂组一件保存较为完好的标本,描述了原始今鸟类一新属种,李氏叉尾鸟(Schizooura lii gen.et sp.nov.).系统发育分析表明,它较建昌鸟和古喙鸟进步,但又较热河生物群中其他已知的今鸟类原始.这一新种叉骨呈Ⅴ型,且具有一短的叉骨突,这是这一特征首次在早白垩世今鸟中发现.其胸骨加长,后缘无窗孔,且无很深的凹口.肱骨三角肌脊膨大,近乎达到肱骨长的一半.新鸟的头骨保存较好,显示其具喙的特征,前颌骨直接与额骨相关节.值得关注的是,这件标本首次展示了在中生代鸟类中,除扇形尾羽之外的第二种尾羽类型.新标本具叉形尾羽,中间分隔明显.对现生鸟类的研究表明,叉尾型的空气动力学效率比扇尾型要低,但在性选择方面具有优势.这一新的发现说明,在热河生物群生活的森林环境中,今鸟类的基干种类在尾羽性状上或许已经存在着不同的选择策略.     

辽西早白垩世今鸟类一基干有喙新属种(英文)

根据发现于辽宁西部建昌早白垩世九佛堂组一件保存较为完好的标本,描述了原始今鸟类一新属种,李氏叉尾鸟(Schizooura lii gen.et sp.nov.)。系统发育分析表明,它较建昌鸟和古喙鸟进步,但又较热河生物群中其他已知的今鸟类原始。这一新种叉骨呈Ⅴ型,且具有一短的叉骨突,这是这一特征首次在早白垩世今鸟中发现。其胸骨加长,后缘无窗孔,且无很深的凹口。肱骨三角肌脊膨大,近乎达到肱骨长的一半。新鸟的头骨保存较好,显示其具喙的特征,前颌骨直接与额骨相关节。值得关注的是,这件标本首次展示了在中生代鸟类中,除扇形尾羽之外的第二种尾羽类型。新标本具叉形尾羽,中间分隔明显。对现生鸟类的研究表明,叉尾型的空气动力学效率比扇尾型要低,但在性选择方面具有优势。这一新的发现说明,在热河生物群生活的森林环境中,今鸟类的基干种类在尾羽性状上或许已经存在着不同的选择策略。     

山西柳林孙家沟组锯齿龙类新材料及其分类学意义(英文)

记述了产自山西柳林县薛村镇附近上二叠统孙家沟组的锯齿龙类新材料,包括两个单独的上颌齿和一个保存有牙齿的不完整齿骨。这两颗上颌齿与柳林黄河龙(Huanghesaurus liulinensis)正型标本来自同一地点同一层位且大小相当,由于同一地点没发现过其他的锯齿龙类,推测它们是同种甚至可能是同一个体而且应归入黄河龙;然而在形态特征上这两颗牙齿与矮小三川龙(Sanchuansaurus pygmaeus)正型标本上的牙齿完全相同,可以归入三川龙。新发现的齿骨与矮小三川龙和薛村山西龙(Shansisaurus xuecunensis)正型标本产自同一地点,层位与三川龙相同,低于山西龙的层位,推测很可能也属于三川龙,但是也不排除属于山西龙的可能性;在形态特征上与黄河龙正型标本在齿骨及其下颌齿的形态特征上未见明显差异,可以归入黄河龙。由于柳林黄河龙与薛村山西龙头后骨骼特征也基本一致,认为柳林薛村仅有一个属种的锯齿龙,矮小三川龙和柳林黄河龙应为薛村山西龙的晚出同义名。     

贵州三叠纪海龙类化石一新材料(英文)

记述了贵州关岭晚三叠世早期法郎组瓦窑段新的海龙标本：一个基本完整的侧向挤压头骨及下颌（中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所标本编号Ｖ １１８６０）。根据图版,它与尹恭正等（２０００）建立并归入鱼龙目Ｃｙｍｂｏｓｐｏｎｄｙｌｉｄａｅ科的孙氏“新铺鱼龙”（Ｘｉｎｐｕｓａｕｒｕｓ　ｓｕｎｉ）极为相似。但是由于从文章中得不到头部关键性状的描述,并且本文第一作者到贵阳也不被允许观察标本,目前只有依据与正模图版的对比将Ｖ１１８６０标本暂定为孙氏新铺龙相似种（Ｘｉｎｐｕｓａｕｒｕｓ ｃｆ． Ｘ ｓｕｎｉ）。由于系统分类位置的改变,建议将该属的中文名称由“新铺鱼龙”改为新铺龙。 迄今为止,在所有海龙类头骨中此标本提供了最多可以观察到的性状,包括脑颅侧面的特征。这是一类小型的海龙,吻部中等长度,微微向腹面倾斜;上颌骨前端背向弯曲,此处牙齿扩大且向前平伏;头骨前部的牙齿（前颌骨、上颌骨前部、齿骨）圆锥形,较突出,而靠后部的牙齿可能较圆钝（保存不完整）;前颌骨与上颌骨牙齿间无明显间隙;犁骨和翼骨具齿;下颌细长,齿骨联合部窄。长的齿骨大约占下颌长度的２／３。 基于１８个性状进行了初步的支序分析,结果表明新铺龙与北美的Ｎｅｃｔｏｓａｕｒｕｓ?     

中国中三叠世富源巨胫龙(主龙型小纲,长颈龙科)的骨骼学再描述(英文)

过去数十年里,中国西南地区的中三叠统产出了越来越多的爬行动物化石。以海龙类、鱼龙类和鳍龙类为主的海生爬行动物,广泛分布于整个特提斯洋周边。甚至有一些物种在这古海洋的东、西两侧,即现在的中国和欧洲都有报道。最近发现的富源巨胫龙(Macrocnemusfuyuanensis)是较为罕见的陆生物种,该种最初发现于云南中三叠统。瑞士南部的世界遗产地圣乔治山动物群中发现的一零散标本也曾被初步推断属于该物种(作为归入种:Macrocnemus aff. M. fuyuanensis)。由于最初对富源巨胫龙模式标本的解剖学记述有限,这一归入仅基于肢骨比例而不是骨骼特征。本文对富源巨胫龙的模式标本进行了重新描述,并与已知归入标本进行了比较。研究发现,富源巨胫龙模式标本的肩带保存比从前报道的更加完整,间锁骨形态可以被明确,而这一结构在中国唯一归入标本中只是部分暴露,但在欧洲归入标本中保存完好。在区别巨胫龙属的不同种时,推测除了肢骨比例之外,间锁骨的形态特征最为重要:富源巨胫龙间锁骨的后突短且呈纺锤状,间锁骨前缘有一对棒状的突起,从前缘中间的V形凹槽处延伸而出,以此可与巴氏巨胫龙(Macrocnemus bassanii)相区别。此外,进一步详细研究了富源巨胫龙模式标本的颅骨解剖特征,发现与巴氏巨胫龙完全相同。以往对巨胫龙的腭部知之甚少,保存精美和精心修理的标本为了解该部形态特征增加了重要的信息。     

L’origine et l’évolution des oiseaux : 35 années de progrès

The origin and evolution of birds: 35 years of progress. Birds are dinosaurs – specifically, small feathered and flighted theropod dinosaurs that probably originated in Laurasia during the Late Jurassic over 140 million years ago. They are most closely related to other small theropods such as dromaeosaurs and troodontids, terrestrial predators that were fleet-footed hunters. The origin of birds is a classic example of two kinds of macroevolution: the phylogenetic origin of the group, and the sequential assembly of adaptations such as flight that are indelibly associated with birds. These adaptations were not assembled all at once. Rather, a great many characteristics associated with birds and flight first appeared in non-avian dinosaurs, where they were used for many purposes other than flight. These included insulation, brooding, and probably display and species recognition. Birds diversified steadily but gradually after their origin, which is identified with the origin of flight (Archaeopteryx); forelimb and other flight-associated features evolved more rapidly than features associated with the posterior skeleton. The first birds grew more slowly than extant birds do, and more like other small Mesozoic dinosaurs; like them, they probably matured sexually well before they completed their active skeletal growth. The origin of flight is not a problem of “trees down” or “ground up,” but rather an examination of the order in which diagnostic flight characters evolved, and what each stage can reveal about the functions and habits of bird outgroups at those evolutionary junctures.     

The morphological basis of hallucal orientation in extant birds

The perching foot of living birds is commonly characterized by a reversed or opposable digit I (hallux). Primitively, the hallux of nonavian theropod dinosaurs was unreversed and lay parallel to digits II-IV. Among basal birds, a unique digital innovation evolved in which the hallux opposes digits II-IV. This digital configuration is critical for grasping and perching. I studied skeletons of modern birds with a range of hallucal designs, from unreversed (anteromedially directed) to fully reversed (posteriorly directed). Two primary correlates of hallucal orientation were revealed. First, the fossa into which metatarsal I articulates is oriented slightly more posteriorly on the tarsometatarsus, rotating the digit as a unit. Second, metatarsal I exhibits a distinctive torsion of its distal shaft relative to its proximal articulation with the tarsometatarsus, reorienting the distal condyles and phalanges of digit I. Herein, I present a method that facilitates the re-evaluation of hallucal orientation in fossil avians based on morphology alone. This method also avoids potential misinterpretations of hallucal orientation in fossil birds that could result from preserved appearance alone.     

Vestigial skeletal structures in dinosaurs

The existence of vestigial structures is one of the main lines of evidence for macroevolution. Here I introduce a phylogenetic bracketing approach to the identification of vestigial structures and apply it to Dinosauria. According to this approach, a structure is considered vestigial if, in comparison with its homolog in at least three successive outgroups, it is reduced to one-third or less its size relative to adjacent structures and if at least distally it has lost the specialized morphology present in the three outgroups. This approach identifies fingers IV and V as vestigial in dinosaurs in general, II–V in sauropods, III in Tyrannosauridae and Caudipteryx , II and III in Shuvuuia and I and III in modern birds. The entire forelimb distal to the elbow is vestigial in Abelisauridae. Vestigial parts of the pelvic girdle and hindlimb include the pubic shaft in Iguanodontia and Ceratopsia, the entire pubis in Ankylosauria, the first metatarsal in derived Iguanodontia, the first metatarsal shaft in Theropoda and the fifth toe in dinosaurs in general. Derived Centrosaurinae and some Chasmosaurus exhibit vestigial supraorbital horns. Some centrosaurines have a vestigial nasal horn. The antorbital cavity is vestigial in Thyreophora, Iguanodontia and Ceratopsidae. I recommend that this information be exploited to increase public awareness of the evidence for macroevolution.     

The ornithologist Alfred Russel Wallace and the controversy surrounding the dinosaurian origin of birds

Over many years of his life, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) explored the tropical forests of Malaysia, collecting numerous specimens, including hundreds of birds, many of them new to science. Subsequently, Wallace published a series of papers on systematic ornithology, and discovered a new species on top of a volcano on Ternate, where he wrote, in 1858, his famous essay on natural selection. Based on this hands-on experience, and an analysis of an Archaeopteryx fossil, Wallace suggested that birds may have descended from dinosaurian ancestors. Here, we describe the “dinosaur-bird hypothesis” that originated with the work of Thomas H. Huxley (1825–1895). We present the strong evidence linking theropod dinosaurs to birds, and briefly outline the long and ongoing controversy around this concept. Dinosaurs preserving plumage, nesting sites and trace fossils provide overwhelming evidence for the dinosaurian origin of birds. Based on these recent findings of paleontological research, we conclude that extant birds indeed descended, with some modifications, from small, Mesozoic theropod dinosaurs. In the light of Wallace’s view of bird origins, we critically evaluate recent opposing views to this idea, including Ernst Mayr’s (1904–2005) arguments against the “dinosaur-bird hypothesis”, and document that this famous ornithologist was not correct in his assessment of this important aspect of vertebrate evolution.     

鸟类起源于基干的初龙类

中亚三叠纪和中国早白垩世的新的重要化石发现或许可以帮助解决有关鸟类起源的争议。鸟类的飞行可能起源于三叠纪一些小型的、四脚滑翔的初龙类。羽毛的起源最初是为了滑翔而不是保温。“手盗龙类”实际上起源于鸟类 ,并至少发育了初级飞羽 ,具备滑翔的能力     

Do feathered dinosaurs exist? Testing the hypothesis on neontological and paleontological evidence

The origin of birds and avian flight from within the archosaurian radiation has been among the most contentious issues in paleobiology. Although there is general agreement that birds are related to theropod dinosaurs at some level, debate centers on whether birds are derived directly from highly derived theropods, the current dogma, or from an earlier common ancestor lacking suites of derived anatomical characters. Recent discoveries from the Early Cretaceous of China have highlighted the debate, with claims of the discovery of all stages of feather evolution and ancestral birds (theropod dinosaurs), although the deposits are at least 25 million years younger than those containing the earliest known bird Archaeopteryx. In the first part of the study we examine the fossil evidence relating to alleged feather progenitors, commonly referred to as protofeathers, in these putative ancestors of birds. Our findings show no evidence for the existence of protofeathers and consequently no evidence in support of the follicular theory of the morphogenesis of the feather. Rather, based on histological studies of the integument of modern reptiles, which show complex patterns of the collagen fibers of the dermis, we conclude that "protofeathers" are probably the remains of collagenous fiber "meshworks" that reinforced the dinosaur integument. These "meshworks" of the skin frequently formed aberrant patterns resembling feathers as a consequence of decomposition. Our findings also draw support from new paleontological evidence. We describe integumental structures, very similar to "protofeathers," preserved within the rib area of a Psittacosaurus specimen from Nanjing, China, an ornithopod dinosaur unconnected with the ancestry of birds. These integumental structures show a strong resemblance to the collagenous fiber systems in the dermis of many animals. We also report the presence of scales in the forearm of the theropod ornithomimid (bird mimic) dinosaur, Pelecanimimus, from Spain. In the second part of the study we examine evidence relating to the most critical character thought to link birds to derived theropods, a tridactyl hand composed of digits 1-2-3. We maintain the evidence supports interpretation of bird wing digit identity as 2,3,4, which appears different from that in theropod dinosaurs. The phylogenetic significance of Chinese microraptors is also discussed, with respect to bird origins and flight origins. We suggest that a possible solution to the disparate data is that Aves plus bird-like maniraptoran theropods (e.g., microraptors and others) may be a separate clade, distinctive from the main lineage of Theropoda, a remnant of the early avian radiation, exhibiting all stages of flight and flightlessness.     

Parallel evolution of theropod dinosaurs and birds

The hypothesis of the direct origin of birds from theropod dinosaurs has recently become widespread. Direct sisterly relationships between theropods and birds were assumed in the basis of random and formal synapomorphies, such as the number of caudal vertebrae, relative length of the humerus, and flattening of the dorsal margin of the pubis. In essence, this hypothesis is supported by the characters of theropods and birds, such as the presence of feathering, furcula, uncinate processes of ribs, pygostyle, double-condyled dorsal joint of the quadrate, and posteriorly turned pubis, which are recognized as homologies. Until recently, these characters have been regarded as avian apomorphies; however, they are presently known in various coelurosaurian groups. At the same time, they occur in various combinations in the Dromaeosauridae, Troodontidae, Oviraptoridae, Therizinosauridae, and Tyrannosauridae. None of the theropod groups possesses the entire set of these characters. This suggests that theropods and birds acquired them in parallel. Theropod dinosaurs and Sauriurae (Archaeornithes and Enantiornithes) show a number of important system synapomorphies, which indicate that they are closely related. Ornithurine birds lack such synapomorphies; however, their monophyly is supported by a large number of diagnostic characters. The hypothesis of independent origin of Sauriurae and Ornithurae is substantiated; the former are considered to have evolved from theropods in the Jurassic, while the latter deviated from a basal archosauromorph group in the Late Triassic. The hypothesis that birds existed in the Early Mesozoic is supported by the findings of small avian footprints in the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic of different continents.     

Autopodial skeleton evolution in side-necked turtles (Pleurodira)

Carpal and tarsal anatomy was documented based on the observation of dry skeletons of adult specimens representing 25 species in 15 genera and on data taken from the literature. In addition, histological sections and cleared and double‐stained autopodia of recently hatched and juvenile specimens representing seven chelid and pelomedusoid species were studied. There is much more morphological diversity in the manus than in the pes. Variation in autopodial skeletons includes: the astragalus and calcaneum are either separated or fused; fusion of distal carpals 3–4−5 or just 4–5; number of centralia in the carpus; and presence/absence of a pisiform and of an accessory radial element. The widespread and probably basal phalangeal formula for Pleurodira is 2.3.3.3.3. Deviations are Pelomedusa subrufa, exhibiting a reduction to 2.2.2.2.2, Pelusios spp. with one phalanx less in digit I and for one species in digit V as well, and Acanthochelys pallidipectoris with an additional phalanx in the fourth finger. Six discrete characters itemizing some of the morphological variation observed were plotted on a composite pleurodire phylogeny, revealing not only homoplastic patterns but also the utility of some characters in supporting the monophyly of several clades. The pisiform is the last carpal element to ossify in Chelus fimbriatus. We hypothesize that the so‐called fifth hooked metatarsal represents the fusion of distal tarsal 5 with metatarsal V. The accessory radial element that was occasionally present in the turtles examined may represent an atavism of the otherwise lost radiale of turtles.     

Latest Cretaceous hadrosauroid (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) remains from Bulgaria

Disarticulated dinosaur bones have been discovered in a fossiliferous lens in the Labirinta Cave, southwest of the town of Cherven Bryag, in NW Bulgaria. This cave is formed within marine limestones belonging to the Kajlâka Formation of Latest Cretaceous age. Associated fossils and Sr isotopy suggest that the fossiliferous sediments belong to the uppermost part of the Upper Maastrichtian. The dinosaur bones discovered in this lens include the distal portion of a left femur, a right tibia, the proximal part of a right fibula, a left metatarsal II, the second or third phalanx of a left pedal digit IV, the proximal end of a second metacarpal, and a caudal centrum. All the bones undoubtedly belong to ornithopod dinosaurs and more accurately to representatives of the hadrosauroid clade. All belong to small-sized individuals, although it cannot be assessed whether they belong to juveniles or small-sized adults, pending histological analyses. Hadrosauroid remains have already been discovered in Late Maastrichtian marine sediments from western, central and eastern Europe, reflecting the abundance of these dinosaurs in correlative continental deposits. Indeed, hadrosauroids were apparently the dominating herbivorous dinosaurs in Eurasia by Late Maastrichtian time.