湖北松滋早始新世一鸟化石

本文记述了采自湖北松滋县王家桥区黑档口早始新世洋溪组页岩中一保存较好的鸟化石。依其形态特征归于鹤形目内,但它与已知鹤形目各科又有某些明显的区别,与秧鸡科比较接近。建立一新科:松滋鸟科Songzidae fam. nov.代表我国已知鹤形目化石最早的记录。这一发现还证明始新世早期亚洲东部北纬30°左右已有比较原始的小型鹤形目鸟类分布。本文还讨论了松滋鸟的某些形态功能。     

我国新发现古新世秧鸡化石

本文记述了产自安徽潜山古新世痘姆组一鹤形目鸟类化石。依据其肱骨、胫跗骨和跗骨等具有的不同于已知鹤形目鸟类的特征,订一新属种,隶属于秧鸡科,它既填补了鹤形目在古新世的空白,也是秧鸡科最早和形态比较原始的代表。     

山东临朐的鸟化石

本文记述了产自山东临朐解家河硅藻土矿(中新世中期)中的两件鸟类化石。一件保存完整,鉴定为雁形目鸭科的新属种——硅藻中华河鸭,其特征与河鸭属最为近似。这是我国雁形目中迄今所知保存最完整的化石记录,也是该目中我国已知的最早代表。另一件只部分保存,骨骼均甚粗大。从完整的后肢骨骼特征看,应属鸡形目中的大型鸟类,归雉科,名为硕大临朐鸟,新属,新种。     

长脚秧鸡重新在新疆发现

长脚秧鸡 (Ｃｒｅｘｃｒｅｘ)属于鹤形目秧鸡科长脚秧鸡属 ,是国内唯一在新疆有分布的珍稀候鸟 (旅鸟或繁殖鸟 )。最初由Ｌｕｄｌｏｗ等 ( 1934)报道了该种在中国新疆和西藏的分布。之后的半个多世纪 ,国内一直无人记录或采集到标本。各种论著均沿袭和引用Ｌｕｄｌｏｗ等的原始报告 ,乃至所有的文献记录都大同小异。该种已被列为濒危物种 ,纳入 1989年版的中国国家重点保护名录 (Ⅱ级 ) ,同时也被国际鸟盟(ＢｉｒｄＬｉｆｅＩｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ)纳入 1998年公布的世界濒危鸟种名单。1998年 5～ 6月和 1999年 6～ 7月笔者多次在新疆伊…     

四川省再次采获花田鸡

我们于１９９８年９月２１日在成都捕获一只雄鸟,经鉴定是花田鸡（ＰｏｒｚａｎａｅｘｑｕｉｓｉｔａＳｗｉｎｈｏｅ）,属鹤形目秧鸡科。鉴于此鸟在四川省前后发现相间８６年,甚为难得,现将其形态描述如下。衡量度：体重２５６ｇ;体长１５５,翅长８３,尾长４３,...     

秧鸡科部分鸟类线粒体基因组的比较及系统发育关系分析

秧鸡科鸟类的系统发育关系尚不明确,本研究通过对秧鸡科11属共17种鸟类的线粒体基因组中各基因进行变异位点和简约信息位点分析。选取变异位点和简约信息位点含量均较高的CR、ND2、ND4、ND5及线粒体基因组分别作为分子标记,采用NJ法、ML法和贝叶斯法分别构建系统发育树。通过对各系统树进行比较分析,结果表明:红胸田鸡、小田鸡、紫水鸡、南秧鸡、黑水鸡、白骨顶鸡、新西兰秧鸡、粟腹秧鸡、红眼斑秧鸡、冲绳秧鸡和奥岛秧鸡的系统发育关系明确;考虑将董鸡属划入苦恶鸟属、粟腹秧鸡划入到纹秧鸡属;支持侏秧鸡科独立成科;完整的线粒体基因组是解决秧鸡科鸟类系统发育关系的最优分子标记。研究结果将为后续增加种属,进一步解决秧鸡科鸟类的系统发育关系提供指导。     

鹳形目和鹤形目8种鸟类的核型研究

本文报道了鹳形目鹭科的黄嘴白鹭,紫背苇鸦、黄斑苇鳽和绿鹭4种,鹤形目秧鸡科的黑水鸡,斑胁田鸡和小田鸡3种及三趾鹑科的黄脚三趾鹑的核型。鹭科2种染色体数目为2n=66,另2种为2n=62,秧鸡科3种染色体数目均为2n=78。黄脚三趾鹑的染色体数目为2n=88。     

化石鸭和北京鸭

山东临朐解家河硅藻土矿真是个“化石的宝库”,出产过许多优美的生物化石,连一般罕见的鸟类化石,这里也有。1977年,《化石》曾报道过这里出产的第一只鸟化石——山旺山东鸟,1978年,这里又先后发现两件鸟化石。一件个体很大,有点像现生的孔雀,保存不全。另一件个体中等,保存非常完整,甚至连蹼的印痕还隐约可见。经研究,认为是雁形目鸭科的新属种,取名硅藻中华河鸭。中华河鸭除头骨前端和右足部损坏外,其它各部都很完整。头侧视,眼眶、枕骨、顶骨清楚可辨。下颚已错位,向后推移。颈略长而微弯,两翅左右展开,两脚后伸。由于在躯干部的表面可以看到肩胛骨,我们判断,这只鸟的身体基本上是背腹平压的,背部朝上。可能因为挤压时受力不匀,以致把位于腹面的胸骨,推到躯干的右侧边缘上去了。从肢骨的保存姿势和骨架的完整性推测,想必这只鸟是因为偶遇不幸较快致死的,没有经过太长时间的剧烈挣扎便“呜呼哀哉”了。死亡后,没经搬运或搬运不远很快就被埋藏起来。     

云南鸟类新纪录——长脚秧鸡

2011年10月15日夜间,云南省南涧县凤凰山鸟类环志站(地理坐标24°53’57.65″N,100°19’47.98″E)的环志工作人员用粘网通过灯光诱捕到一只鹤形目Gruiformes秧鸡科Rallidae鸟类——长脚秧鸡Crexcrex,身体测量值为喙长20mm,翅长140mm,体长255mm,尾长49mm,跗蹠42mm。     

云南鸟类目的新记录(鹱形目:鹱科:纯褐鹱)

据悉,2005年9月28日晚9时左右,3只鸟飞至云南省红河州金平县城分水岭自然保护区管理局的建筑工地上方,其中一只撞到墙壁后受伤落地,经管理局工作人员饲养两天后死亡。管理局人员将此鸟交给正在当地工作的硕士研究生倪庆永带回昆明动物研究所。经鉴定,该鸟为纯褐鹱(Bul-weria bulwerii),属鹱形目(Procellariiformes)鹱科(Procellariidae)鸟类,为云南省鸟类目、科、属、种的新记录,特此报道。纯褐鹱Bulweria bulweriiJardine and Selby俗名:燕鹱(Cheng,1987)英文名:Bulwer s PetrelProcellaria bulweriiJardine and Selby,1828,Orn.,pt.…     

辽西中生代鸟类跗跖骨测量数据的统计分析及意义

跗跖骨是鸟类后肢骨骼的重要组成之一,其形态特征对恢复鸟类的行为和习性具有重要的指示意义。本文以鸟类的跗跖骨为研究对象,共观察了200余例有代表性的现生鸟类标本,并对其中15个目中的154例标本进行了多组数据的测量。还将跗跖骨各形态特征进行量化分析研究,引入相关分析和因子分析等统计分析方法。对现生鸟类跗跖骨5组(12个)变量进行分析,研究各变量间的相关程度,对变量进行主成分分析,提取出2个主成分,其中第1主成分包括第Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ三个跖骨的宽度变量;第2主成分包括第Ⅱ跖骨滑车相对于第Ⅲ跖骨滑车的上下及前后位置两变量,以及第Ⅳ跖骨滑车相对于第Ⅲ跖骨滑车的前后位置变量。对这6个变量的分析表明,它们对于区别鸟类的栖息习性具有显著的指示作用。通过对在中国(辽西为主)已发现的25例中生代鸟类跗跖骨远端4个变量的统计分析,表明它们同样具有区别树栖和地栖鸟类的显著意义,而且分析的结果与参考鸟类其他特征(如爪的形态、脚趾的比例等)所得出的结论基本一致。     

山东临朐雉类化石的新材料

本文记述了山东临朐山旺组中出产的几件鸟类化石的新材料。从标本保存的骨骼特征看,这些化石应属一个个体,且与山旺组中先前出产的雉科鸟类——山旺山东鸟(shandongornis shanwanensis Yeh)近似,但又不完全一样,被鉴定为似山旺山东鸟(Shandongornis cf. shanwanensis Yeh).     

The skin of birds' feet: Morphological adaptations of the plantar surface

The skin of the foot provides the interface between the bird and the substrate. The foot morphology involves the bone shape and the integument that is in contact with the substrate. The podotheca is a layer of keratinized epidermis forming scales that extends from the tarsometatarsus to the toe extremities. It varies in size, shape, amount of overlap and interacts with the degree of fusion of the toes (syndactyly). A study of toe shape and the podotheca provides insights on the adaptations of perching birds. Our analysis is based on micro‐CT scans and scanning electron microscopy images of 21 species from 17 families, and includes examples with different orientations of the toes: zygodactyl (toes II and III forward), anisodactyl (toes II, III, and IV forward), and heterodactyl (toes III and IV forward). We show that in these three groups, the skin forms part of a perching adaptation that involves syndactyly to different degrees. However, syndactyly does not occur in Psittacidae that use their toes also for food manipulation. The syndactyly increases the sole surface and may reinforce adherence with the substrate. Scale shape and toe orientation are involved in functional adaptations to perch. Thus, both bone and skin features combine to form a pincer‐like foot.     

Another charadriiform-like bird from the lower Eocene of Denmark

We describe an exceptionally well-preserved partial skeleton of a new bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Like other fossils from these marine deposits, the partial skeleton is three-dimensionally preserved and articulated. This new Danish specimen consists of a skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and hindlimbs. Concerning characters of the pelvis, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus, the new fossil bears morphological affinities to charadriiform birds (shorebirds and relatives). A phylogenetic analysis of higher neomithine (modern birds) taxa also supports a close relationship between the new specimen and modern Charadriiformes. The morphologies of the skull and vertebrae, however, distinguish the new fossil from all recent charadriiform families.     

A new fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous of Gansu Province,northwestern China

We report on the discovery of an Early Cretaceous bird from northwestern Gansu Province, in northwestern China. Represented by a nearly complete left wing and shoulder girdle the size of a rock dove, the new bird was quarried from laminated yellowish mudstones of the Xiagou Formation (Xinminpu Group) near Changma, in the Jiuquan area. These deposits have previously yielded the only known specimen of Gansus yumenensis, a basal ornithuromorph represented by the distal half of a hind limb with long and slender digits. Several derived characters of the new occurrence supports its allocation within Enantiornithes: (1) a convex lateral margin of the coracoid, (2) a minor metacarpal that projects distally more than the major metacarpal and (3) a proximal phalanx of the major digit longer than the intermediate (second) phalanx. The general proportions of the wing suggest it was a flier comparable to most other known enantiornithine birds. Although, direct comparisons between the new fossil and Gansus are not possible, phylogenetic based inferences supports their placement into two different clades. While the new fossil falls definitively within the enantiornithines, G. Yumenensis falls within the ornithuromorphs. The new occurrence thus adds to the taxonomic diversity of Early Cretaceous birds from Gansu Province in particular and central Asia in general.     

Experimental Investigation into Soil-Cutting Performance of the Claws of Mole Rat (Scaptochirus moschatus)

The geometrical characteristics of the fore claw toes of mole rats Scaptochirus moschatus were analyzed. It was found that the middle three toes play the major role in soil-cutting performance. So the middle three toes were selected as the prototype for designing the biomimetic specimens. The biomimetic specimens were manufactured using reverse engineering and rapid prototype technology. The scales of the second toe (one of the middle three toes) and the angle between the back side and the palm side of the second toe were taken as the main geometrical structure parameters for designing the comparative specimen. The horizontal soil-cutting tests were conducted to examine the effects of the biomimetic geometrical structure on the soil-cutting resistance. The results show that the resistance of the biomimetic specimen is 12.80% smaller than the comparative specimen, which indicates that the toe geometry has a significant effect on its soil-cutting performance. The investigation into the effect of toe arrangement suggests that the tip positions of the middle three toes in arc curve arrangement is helpful to reduce soil-cutting resistance.     

江苏泗洪下草湾中中新世脊椎动物群——6.鸟纲

本文记述了近年来在江苏泗洪下草湾组中补采到的6种鸟类,其中包括天岗琵鹭 Platalea tiangangensis sp. nov.和松林庄古石鸡 Palaeoalectoris songlinensis gen. et sp. nov.,前者系琵鹭属迄今最早的记录,后者为雉科鹑族目前已知最早的成员.     

A putative upupiform bird from the Early Oligocene of the Central Western Carpathians and a review of fossil birds unearthed in Slovakia

An isolated hind limb of a miniature bird from an Early Oligocene locality (30–34 Ma) near Bystré (Slovakia) is described and analyzed. The tarsometatarsus (TMT) of the specimen is remarkably short relative to the tibiotarsus. When relative length ratios of the bones are compared with a sample of 29 extant and extinct birds with short metatarsi, the specimen variably clusters with some alcedinids, coraciids and trochilids. Log‐clusters give less ambiguous results and indicate significant proximity of the Bystré specimen to the extinct messelirrisorids (Upupiformes) and the recent acledinids (Coraciiformes). With regard to morphological details, such as those of the first metatarsal, II‐IV metatarsal trochleae, intertrochlear incisurae and phalanges, the Slovak specimen shows a combination of features, which are distributed among recent upupiforms and coraciiforms as well as extinct upupiforms (Messelirrisor) and apodiforms (Eocypselus, Parargornis). Taken together, the metric and morphological data sets suggest that the specimen from Bystré is a coraciiform sensu lato rather than an apodiform bird. Within the Coraciiformes, the robust trochlea of MT‐I with expanded dorsal shelf, the large medial and slit‐like lateral intertrochlear incisura, and the long hindtoe suggest upupiform rather than alcedinid relationships.