长期耕耘,多点开花

杨钟健在古脊椎动物学中最早接触的是小哺乳动物,他研究了中国北方的啮齿类化石,从而在1927年获得博士学位,并发表了国人古脊椎动物学研究的第一部专著.他早期主要研究新生代哺乳动物化石,后来研究重心转向中生代的四足类,尤其是恐龙为代表的主龙类.他是中国许多中生代类群的第一个研究者,在主龙型类、兽孔类方面做出了突出的贡献.     

长期耕耘,多点开花——杨钟健先生在古两栖、爬行动物领域的贡献

<正>杨钟健在古脊椎动物学中最早接触的是小哺乳动物,他研究了中国北方的啮齿类化石,从而在1927年获得博士学位,并发表了国人古脊椎动物学研究的第一部专著。他早期主要研究新生代哺乳动物化石,后来研究重心转向中生代的四足类,尤其是恐龙为代表的主龙类。他是中国许多中生代类群的第一个研究者,在主龙型类、兽孔类方面做出了突出的贡献。今年是他诞辰120     

山西省襄汾县丁村发现原始人类化石和石器

中国科学院古脊椎动物研究室的发掘队从1954年9月22日到11月12日在山西省襄汾县丁村发现了三枚人类牙齿的化石和二千多件石器,以及三十多箱包括至少26种脊椎动物的化石。这一发现,对于研究人类的起源和发展以及研究中国古代文化将有重要贡献。据中国科学院古脊椎动物研究室的研究确定:这个丁村化石人,是属于黄土时期以前和泥河湾时期以后在汾河下流居住的原始人类。它的地质时代,和北京附近周口店所发现的“中国猿人”的时代大致相同。经过中国科学院古脊椎动物研究室主任杨钟健换算结果,认为这是大约十五万年到六十万年前的原始人类。据人类学家吴汝康的初步观察,丁村化石人比“中国猿人”较为进步。这种人使用的石器,用一种黑色的火成岩制成。据中国科学院古脊椎动物研究室研究员裴文中的初步研究,认为石片制作方法简单,形式很原始。和这种人类化石同时发现的还有犀牛、象、牛和马的化石。(人民日报)     

河北泥河湾盆地山神庙咀遗址发现直隶狼新材料

中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所同号文研究员等于2006～2011年期间的4次野外发掘中,在泥河湾盆地的山神庙咀遗址发现了大量犬科直隶狼(Canis chihliensis)化石新材料,包括残破颅骨、前颌骨、上颌骨、若干下颌骨及头后骨骼的主要部件,其中的头后骨骼是迄今在中国发现的犬属化石中最为完整的.2012年11月出版的《古脊椎动物学报》(50卷4期)刊发了该项发现,为解决我国早期犬类与拟豺的分类及演化关系提供了新的研究对比材料.     

哺乳类化石的酸浸和冲洗处理法

用酸类浸溶化石的方法过去在处理中生代和上古生代爬行类化石方面应用比较广泛。最近拉柔卡特(Larocot)在北非摩洛哥把中新统石灰岩用醋酸处理,得到了数以千计的两栖类、爬行类和哺乳类化石。哺乳类牙齿中包括兔形类、啮齿类、食虫类、翼手类、食肉类、蹄兔类和原始偶蹄类的大量牙齿。另外,过去在古脊椎动物化石上很少应用的水洗法近年来在英国(中生代)、法国(古新世)、北美(古新世、始新世     

孢子花粉与植物大化石:地质记录的差异及其古植物学意义

分散孢粉与植物大化石地质记录的不一致是常见现象,基本上是受孢粉的高产量及其外壁的较强抗腐蚀性,以及沉积环境的影响所致。主要根据我国古、中生代孢粉及植物化石资料,举例说明其地质记录的差异和其导致的不同解析和结论,及其古植物学意义。涉及的问题包括：1．新疆北部石炭二叠纪和塔里木盆地二叠纪的植物区系性质,2．我国古、中生代的主要成煤植物,3．古植代／中植代界线和植物在二叠纪末有无群体灭绝,4．某些植物类群的最早化石记录或起源,5．某些地层的地质时代问题。本文对此等问题提出的与古植物学家不甚一致的结论,如塔里木自早二叠世已属亚安加拉区,我国古、中生代主要成煤植物是真蕨类尤其是树蕨,而非鳞木类、科达类,或中生代裸子植物;如果将盾籽类作为中植代植物,则古植代／中植代界线在亚安加拉区要下降到Bashkirian之内或Bashkirian—Moscovian之交,等等,是否正确,有待检验。     

世界各地琥珀中的脊椎动物包裹体

琥珀是一种经过石化作用形成的天然树脂化石,亦是一种有机宝石。琥珀在全球范围分布较广,尤其在欧洲的波罗的海、中美洲的多米尼加-墨西哥、亚洲的缅甸等区域有着大量的发现。全球各地琥珀中,昆虫包裹体最为常见,脊椎动物包裹体数量较少。但相对保存于沉积岩中的传统脊椎动物化石来说,保存于琥珀中的脊椎动物包裹体可以额外提供生物体的软组织、原始死亡状态、生存环境等信息,且可以保存比传统骨骼化石更直观、立体、精细的生物形态学信息,为研究生物演化、恢复古环境、古生态和古行为学等方面提供了重要的依据。文中主要总结了来自全球各琥珀产区迄今为止发现的各种脊椎动物包裹体,包括了非鸟恐龙、鸟类、哺乳类、爬行类、两栖类等,以及它们背后隐藏的演化信息,并对未来的研究方向与趋势做了初步的展望。     

程政武先生——杰出的化石猎人

<正>最近得知程政武先生去世,不由回想起多年来与他交往中的点点滴滴,脑中不时浮现他的音容笑貌。程先生生前供职于中国地质科学院地质研究所,工作重点是二叠纪以及中生代的陆相地层及脊椎动物。他一生走遍祖国大江南北,发现了大量重要的脊椎动物化石地点,包括最早的蝾螈化石以及甘肃省玉门的大山口动物群,为古脊椎动物学事业做出了卓越的贡献。我以此短文表达自己的感谢之情,也借此纪念这位杰出的     

西北及山东中生代淡水软体动物化石*

本文所记述的中生代淡水软动物化石包括山东、陕西、甘肃三处材料。山东的标本是古脊椎动物研究室修理莱阳恐龙化石时,由恐龙骨骼堆中修出的;西北的材料是石油管理总局各野外地质队1952年在陕西北部及甘肃潮水盆地所采。西北的材料较多,除淡水腹足类及斧足类外,尚有许多鱼类、昆虫及甲殼类化石在一起发现话阒猩舐较喑粱牡夭隳?淡水斧足类及腹足类常是最易被找到的化石,并且保存也常较完整,对地层层位的确定和沉积环境的了解上都很     

古鸟类研究的几个热点问题

1我国古鸟类化石的基本情况中国的古鸟类的研究在过去的10多年中取得较大的进展。这主要得益于该时期大量早期鸟类以及与鸟类起源研究相关的带毛恐龙的发现。这些化石材料的发现速度是空前的,以此带来的概念和理论上的更新速度也是前所未有的。古鸟类通常是指生活在新生代(6500万年前至今)和中生代(6500万年前至14500万年前间)已经灭绝的鸟类。在上个世纪80年代前,我国的古鸟类的发现和研究均局限在新生代的古鸟类,这些鸟类包括鸵鸟目、鹳形目鸟类(表1),它们中的许多都归入到了现生鸟类的目、科中。这些新生代化石材料既包括一些已经完全石化(骨骼的有机成分已经完全被无机的     

脊椎动物古病理学研究现状及其中国中生代化石记录

中国长江流域沿岸的洞穴和裂隙堆积物中常含有属种丰富的更新世哺乳动物群, 其中小哺乳动物化石由于标本数量多且演化速率快, 因此在第四纪生物地层对比方面具有重要的作用。本文系统研究了产自长江下游南岸的安徽繁昌癞痢山东裂隙的鼠科化石, 包括: Apodemus cf. A. asianicus、Micromys minutus、Chiropodomys cf. C. primitivus、Vandeleuria sp.、Niviventer cf. N. preconfucianus、Leopoldamys sp.、Berylmys cf. B. bowersi 和 Rattus sp., 共计 8 属 8 种, 其中绝灭种和现生种的比例分别为 37.5%和 25%。依据化石属种的形态差异和演化水平, 东裂隙鼠科动物群的性质比安徽繁昌人字洞和重庆巫山龙骨坡都要明显进步, 比湖北建始龙骨洞的鼠科组合也显得稍进步, 兼具早—中更新世的特点, 但更偏向早更新世, 其地质时代很可能为早更新世晚期。此外, 本文还初步建立了长江流域早更新世鼠科动物群的层序, 从早到晚依次为: 安徽繁昌人字洞(距今约 220–256 万年)和重庆巫山龙骨坡(距今约 220–250 万年)—湖北建始龙骨洞(距今约 120–160 万年)—安徽繁昌癞痢山东裂隙(估计距今约 78–120 万年)。     

中国中生代哺乳类化石

本文对迄今所知的中国中生代哺乳类的化石地点、层位、时代、化石材料和系统分类位置作了总结和讨论。     

虔州豫俊兽(Yubaatarqianzhouensissp.nov.):江西赣州盆地首例晚白垩世哺乳动物化石*

本文报道了产自江西省赣州市上白垩统赣县河口组的一件多瘤齿兽类标本, 这是江西省报道的首例中生代哺乳动物化石。此标本头骨后部横向扩展, 额骨较小, 后端尖并构成眼眶的内侧边缘, M1具三列齿尖, 系统发育分析支持其归入纹齿兽超科。与河南晚白垩世的中原豫俊兽形态较为相似, 但是两者间也存在一些明显的区别, 因此建立一个豫俊兽属新种——虔州豫俊兽(Yubaatar qianzhouensis sp. nov.), 鉴定特征为: m1齿尖式为7︰6; M2齿尖式为1︰3︰3; m1颊侧后部存在一道小脊; 虔州豫俊兽m2和m1的长度比例小于中原豫俊兽; 冠状突呈楔状, 末端尖。虔州豫俊兽的发现不仅扩展了晚白垩世多瘤齿兽类在东亚地区的地理分布和物种多样性, 并且也扩展了中生代哺乳动物的地理分布。     

中国中生代昆虫化石研究新进展

回顾了1990年以来中国中生代昆虫化石研究的新进展,简述了我国学者在古昆虫分类学、昆虫内部形态学、昆虫系统学、古生态学、昆虫生物地层学、昆虫区系的历史演变、生物古地理学、昆虫与植物的关系等8个方面取得的突出贡献,并给出了我国发现的世界最低层位昆虫科级类群表。     

中国东北中生代时期的传粉昆虫与虫媒植物

昆虫与植物的相互作用在昆虫与植物协同进化和发展中起着至关重要的作用。化石记录中发现了昆虫取食花粉、授粉滴、访问中生代裸子植物具胚珠的繁殖器官等多方面的昆虫化石证据。20世纪90年代以来,研究和报道了大量采自中国东北地区保存良好的昆虫与植物化石。例如发表于Science上的2篇具有长喙的双翅目和长翅目昆虫化石文章,暗示着它们很可能参与各种裸子植物的授粉。在本篇文章中,作者回顾了已报道的中国东北晚中生代时期的昆虫化石,并把它们与授粉或访"花"相联系。另外,作者对采自同一层位的同时代的植物化石进行了初步研究并介绍了可能涉及到与昆虫相互作用的代表性植物。今后将进一步深入研究,以期在化石中找到昆虫授粉和访花的直接证据。     

Evidence-based palaeopathology: Meta-analysis of PubMed-listed scientific studies on ancient Egyptian mummies

There is a plethora of published scientific studies on ancient Egyptian mummies. Surprisingly, hitherto there is no systematic review of this research, which would help to assess the quality of this vast body of published literature and thus to increase “evidence” in palaeopathological research. The aim of this study was to review all PubMed-listed scientific studies performed on Ancient Egyptian mummies. A total of 131 studies were found in the database for the selected time period, 1977-2005. Our “meta-analysis” showed that the number of publications per year varies enormously. The majority of mummies examined date to the third intermediate and Ptolemaic periods; data from other time periods were lacking. Identification of the cause of death and ¹⁴C-dating of the mummy or funeral goods were rarely addressed. There was a tendency towards an increased use of non-invasive examination methods in more modern times. Our meta-analysis addressed both scientific content (e.g. palaeopathological findings/examination methods) and publication issues (e.g. location of the first author or year of publication) in these studies. Based on our experience, we recommend some minimum publication standards for palaeopathologic studies on ancient mummies, which shall improve evidence-based research in palaeopathology in general.     

Diverse Dinosaur-Dominated Ichnofaunas from the Potomac Group (Lower Cretaceous) Maryland

Until recently fossil footprints were virtually unknown from the Cretaceous of the eastern United States. The discovery of about 300 footprints in iron-rich siliciclastic facies of the Patuxent Formation (Potomac Group) of Aptian age is undoubtedly one of the most significant Early Cretaceous track discoveries since the Paluxy track discoveries in Texas in the 1930s. The Patuxent tracks include theropod, sauropod, ankylosaur and ornithopod dinosaur footprints, pterosaur tracks, and miscellaneous mammal and other vertebrate ichnites that collectively suggest a diversity of about 14 morphotypes. This is about twice the previous maximum estimate for any known Early Cretaceous vertebrate ichnofauna. Among the more distinctive forms are excellent examples of hypsilophodontid tracks and a surprisingly large mammal footprint. A remarkable feature of the Patuxent track assemblage is the high proportion of small tracks indicative of hatchlings, independently verified by the discovery of a hatchling-sized dinosaur. Such evidence suggests the proximity of nest sites. The preservation of such small tracks is very rare in the Cretaceous track record, and indeed throughout most of the Mesozoic.

This unusual preservation not only provides us with a window into a diverse Early Cretaceous ecosystem, but it also suggests the potential of such facies to provide ichnological bonanzas. A remarkable feature of the assemblage is that it consists largely of reworked nodules and clasts that may have previously been reworked within the Patuxent Formation. Such unusual contexts of preservation should provide intriguing research opportunities for sedimentologists interested in the diagenesis and taphonomy of a unique track-bearing facies.     

Diversity variation and tempo-spatial distributions of the Dipteridaceae ferns in the Mesozoic of China

The extant family Dipteridaceae is a remarkable leptosporangiate fern because it includes only one genus with a restricted distribution to tropical regions. The fossil record of this family has been widely reported from the Mesozoic strata in Eurasia, America, Australia, and Greenland. In China, numerous fossils of the Dipteridaceae have been documented, in total, about 74 species of 6 genera. Geographically, they are distributed both in the Southern and Northern Floristic Provinces, and were particularly well developed in the Southern Floristic Province during the Late Triassic and the Early Jurassic intervals. Fossil diversity of Dipteridaceae varies in the different episodes of the Mesozoic in China. It is shown that Dipteridaceae has undergone a diversity development process and a distinct turnover during the Mesozoic. They appear to have diversified in the warm and humid Late Triassic–Early Jurassic, but declined sharply as aridity developed in the Middle Jurassic, and became extinct at the end of the Early Cretaceous. The diversity variation and tempo-spatial distribution pattern is suggested to be linked with paleoclimatic variations during the Mesozoic.     

Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs

Background

Mineralized and permineralized bone is the most common form of fossilization in the vertebrate record. Preservation of gross soft tissues is extremely rare, but recent studies have suggested that primary soft tissues and biomolecules are more commonly preserved within preserved bones than had been presumed. Some of these claims have been challenged, with presentation of evidence suggesting that some of the structures are microbial artifacts, not primary soft tissues. The identification of biomolecules in fossil vertebrate extracts from a specimen of Brachylophosaurus canadensis has shown the interpretation of preserved organic remains as microbial biofilm to be highly unlikely. These discussions also propose a variety of potential mechanisms that would permit the preservation of soft-tissues in vertebrate fossils over geologic time.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This study experimentally examines the role of microbial biofilms in soft-tissue preservation in vertebrate fossils by quantitatively establishing the growth and morphology of biofilms on extant archosaur bone. These results are microscopically and morphologically compared with soft-tissue extracts from vertebrate fossils from the Hell Creek Formation of southeastern Montana (Latest Maastrichtian) in order to investigate the potential role of microbial biofilms on the preservation of fossil bone and bound organic matter in a variety of taphonomic settings. Based on these analyses, we highlight a mechanism whereby this bound organic matter may be preserved.

Conclusions/Significance

Results of the study indicate that the crystallization of microbial biofilms on decomposing organic matter within vertebrate bone in early taphonomic stages may contribute to the preservation of primary soft tissues deeper in the bone structure.