内蒙一兽齿类爬行动物

这一新兽齿类爬行动物,是从内蒙准格尔旗魏家圪卜三迭纪二马营组底部红色岩层中发现的。根据犬齿相当发育、门齿细弱、后部颊齿横宽,眶下孔大,颈椎两侧具滋养孔,距骨形状特殊等,定一新科:鄂尔多斯兽科。归于包氏兽形次亚目。为我国首次发现的此类动物。     

山西寿阳二叠系上部的锯齿龙类和二齿兽类化石(英文)

中国二叠纪四足类的研究由来已久,在新疆和内蒙古大青山发现了大量二齿兽类(Dicynodontia)化石,而在华北地层区则以锯齿龙类(Pareiasauria)化石为主,还没有发现二齿兽类。近年来,在山西寿阳二叠系中发现了产自上石盒子组中的锯齿龙类和产自孙家沟组中的二齿兽类化石。根据髂骨的形态特征,相较于二叠石千峰龙(Shihtienfenia permica),新的锯齿龙类化石与多齿河南龙(Honania complicidentata)更相似。这表明济源动物群(河南龙组合带)可能在山西的上石盒子组中也有分布。根据头骨的特征,新二齿兽类化石属于隐齿兽目(Cryptodontia),可能是其中的某个支系在中国的第一个代表。     

天山北麓二齿兽属一新种

这里介绍的是我国发现的第二个二迭纪二齿兽类化石,它和杨钟健记述的第一个二齿兽头骨一样,是袁复礼新疆搜集品中的一个,两者在形态上相差很大,但化石的确切地点和层位同样不清楚。二齿兽属中除了极少数生存到三迭纪初期,绝大多数都生活在上二达世。到三迭纪开始,其地位便为水龙兽和后期的肯氏兽类所代替。由于它在划分二、三迭纪地层里代上是一个较好的标志,因此虽然产地层位不清,仍有必要加以记述。这一头骨比前一二齿兽要小得多(长约120毫米),连同下颌一起被保存在一灰绿色粉砂岩结核里。所有露出部分,如吻端、间颞部、两侧颧弓均因风化而不同程度地受损,但其他部分保存完好。     

山东早始新世五图组的一种古有蹄类Olbitherium millenariusum gen.et sp.nov.(哺乳动物纲,"伪齿兽集目")

记述了在山东省五图盆地下始新统发现的一种“伪齿兽集目”化石 :千禧福兽 (Olbither iummillenariusumgen.etsp .nov.)。千禧福兽其颊齿形态基本上与原始奇蹄类相似 ,同时也具有伪齿兽类的一些特征 ,如m1～ 2下次尖没有与下内尖直接连接的下次脊。千禧福兽的M3次尖具前、后棱 ,这一点似与原始的蹄兔Seggeurius相似。因此 ,新种在目一级的归类有困难 ,暂置于McKenna ( 1 975 )创立的“伪齿兽集目”(“MirorderPhenacodonta”)。千禧福兽的发现进一步证明了奇蹄类可能起源于亚洲和北非类似伪齿兽类 (phenacodontids)的古有蹄类 ,福兽仅是类似伪齿兽类的古新世古有蹄类向奇蹄类进化过程中的一叉支的代表。     

安徽潜山古新世一种似钝脚目的哺乳类

本文记述了在安徽潜山盆地中古新世望虎墩组下部发现的一块具完整颊齿的头骨化石,并据此建立了—新科——丰齿兽科 (Plethorodontidae fam. nov.).包括—新属新种—潜山丰齿兽 (Plethorodon chienshanensis gen. et sp. nov.).根据上颊齿特点,笔者认为它与翼齿兽比较接近,因而暂被放入钝脚目.文中还对这两类动物的有关分类阶元提出了初步意见.     

广东南雄晚古新世蹠行类化石

这里记述了广东南雄盆地晚古新世浓山组的四种蹠行类,其中有两新种。在亚洲古新统中,蹠行类分布相当广泛,一直延存到晚始新世。亚洲蹠行类从臼齿形态上看,可分为Bemalambda型和Archaeolambda型,前者包括阶齿兽科,还有翼齿兽科;后者有古脊齿兽科、牧兽科和全脊齿兽科。这两个类群可能在古新世早一中期已分化,或许可代表两个超科。我国古哺乳类工作者一般认为冠齿兽的起源与伪脊齿兽类有关,而伪脊齿兽类的牙齿形态与踝节类有某些共同之处,因此,在系统上与可能源出于Deltatheridium状动物的Pantolambda状动物不同。而裂齿类和蹠行类之间分化早,形态差异明显,另为目也许较好。所以,这里使用蹠行目(Taligrada)做于Pantolambda状动物的目名。这里将弗辽洛夫等订的Archaeolambdatrofimovi归入周明镇等创建的Convallisodon。     

角齿鱼与大陆漂移

“大陆漂移”学说在古生物学上的证据很多,其中已绝灭了的古代爬行动物水龙兽的例子,早已被人们所熟悉,然而,许多人对角齿鱼可能还不大了解。早在1941年,在我国四川威远红层中发现了一块奇特的化石。它那棕黑色的表面闪烁着珐琅质光泽,为数不多的几行齿稜排列成扇形,基部互相愈合在一起。原来这是角齿鱼类的齿板化石。这种牙齿,不生长在口的边缘,而着生于口腔内上腭的内翼骨和下颌的夹板骨上,上下各一对,十分坚硬。经过研究,这块化石被命名为“杨氏角齿鱼”。这个名称是为了赠献予首先发现和研究我国肺鱼类化石的古生物学家杨钟健教授。从此,这类化石在亚洲的记录除了印度地区之外,又增加了新产地。以后,在我国     

内蒙古石拐群古鳕类一新属

内蒙古石拐地区石拐群召沟组中的长腹鳍大青山鳕(新属、新种) Daqingshaniscus longiventralis gen. et sp. nov. 是在我国中侏罗世地层中发现的一比较原始的古鳕类.其头骨眶后部分短,鳃盖骨大于下鳃盖骨,背鳍位于腹鳍与臀鳍之间,腹鳍基线长,鳍条都从基部分节、远端分叉,棘鳞仅见于尾上叶,全歪型尾,鳞片呈菱形.大青山鳕既与苏联南哈萨克斯坦 Karatau 地区的 Pteroniscus 很接近,又与我国新疆的维吾尔鳕 Uighuroniscus 及西德北部的 Stadthagen 地区的 Indaginilepis 相似.     

记裂齿目(哺乳动物纲)一新属——豫裂兽(Yuesthonyx gen.nov.)

古新世晚期裂齿类———丁氏豫裂兽 (新属、新种 ) (Yuesthonyxtingaegen .etsp .nov.)的发现表明了裂齿目在亚洲古新世已相当分化 ,在臼齿形态上有与北美始新世Esthonyx相近的小尖兽 (Meiostylogon)和中间兽 (Interogale) ,也有与北美Megalesthonyx接近的豫裂兽等。根据豫裂兽、Megalesthonyx、和亚洲的Adapidium的上臼齿都具有明显的中附尖等特征可与其他裂齿类相区别 ,新建了豫裂兽科 (YuesthoncidaeFam .nov.)。     

中国肯氏兽-山西鳄组合带的新发现之二:山西二马营组幻阔齿兽(兽孔类:兽头类)一新种(英文)

记述了2012年在山西柳林三交二马营组上部采集的一个兽头类下颌标本,将其命名为幻阔齿兽三交种(Nothogomphodon sanjiaoensis sp.nov.)。新种以下列特征区别于属型种N.danilovi:齿骨下缘起伏,犬齿基部卵圆形,犬齿与第一犬后齿间有显著间隙,犬后齿后缘无辅助齿尖。幻阔齿兽以其特殊的犬后齿形态与具裂齿的基干犬齿兽相似,它也是已知的唯一一类具有这种复杂裂齿齿系的兽头类。将俄罗斯的引鳄动物群与中国的肯氏兽-山西鳄组合带进行比较发现,幻阔齿兽是二者唯一共有的属,而中国的二马营组与克拉玛依组却没有共享的属。     

四川自贡大山铺蜀龙动物群——简报Ⅴ 两栖类

本文对扁头中国短头鲵(新属新种) (Sinobrachyops placenticephalus gen. et sp. nov.) 的形态特征和分类位置进行简述.标本得自著名的恐龙化石产地——自贡大山铺,产出时代为中侏罗世.中国短头鲵是目前迷齿类中在地史上最年轻的一个属.它的发现使迷齿类在地球上生存时代的上限推移到中侏罗世.     

A new specimen of Biseridens qilianicus indicates its phylogenetic position as the most basal anomodont

A new well-preserved basal therapsid skull from the Xidagou Formation, Middle Permian of China, is identified as Biseridens qilianicus. The following synapomorphies distinguish Biseridens as an anomodont and not an eotitanosuchian as previously described: short snout; dorsally elevated zygomatic arch and septomaxilla lacking elongated posterodorsal process between nasal and maxilla. The presence of a differentiated tooth row; denticles on vomer, palatine and pterygoid; contact between tabular and opisthotic; lateral process of transverse flange of pterygoid free of posterior ramus and absence of mandibular foramen exclude it from other anomodonts. Our cladistic analysis indicates Biseridens to be the most basal anomodont, highlights separate Laurasian and Gondwanan basal anomodont clades and suggests that dicynodonts had their origins in the Gondwanan clade. The co-occurrence of the most basal anomodont (Biseridens) together with the most basal therapsid (Raranimus), basal anteosaurid dinocephalians, bolosaurids and dissorophids suggests that the earliest therapsid faunas are from China.     

Anatomical study of the skull of amphisbaenian Diplometopon zarudnyi (Squamata,Amphisbaenia)

This study investigates the amphisbaenian species skull which includes cranium, lower jaw and hyoid apparatus. The medial dorsal bones comprise the premaxilla, nasal, frontal and parietal. The premaxilla carries a large medial tooth and two lateral ones. The nasals are paired bones and separated by longitudinal suture. Bones of circumorbital series are frontal, orbitosphenoid and maxilla. The occipital ring consists of basioccipital, supraoccipital and exooccipital. Supraoccipital and basioccipital are single bones while the exo-occipitals are paired. The bones of the palate comprise premaxilla, maxilla, septomaxilla, palatine, pterygoid, ectopterygoid, basisphenoid, parasphenoid, orbitosphenoid and laterosphenoid. Prevomer and pterygoid teeth are absent. Palatine represent by two separate bones. The temporal bones are clearly visible. The lower jaw consists of the dentary, articular, coronoid, supra-angular, angular and splenial. The hyoid apparatus is represented by a Y-shaped structure. The mandible is long and is suspended from the braincase via relatively short quadrate. There is an extensive contact between the long angular and the large triangular coronoid. Thus inter-mandibular joint is bridged completely by the angular and consequently, the lower jaws are relatively rigid and kinetic. The maxillae are suspended from the braincase largely by ligaments and muscles rather than through bony articulation. In conclusion, the skull shape affects feeding strategy in Diplometopon zarudnyi. The prey is ingested and transported via a rapid maxillary raking mechanism.     

Cranial morphology of an Early Cretaceous Monjurosuchid (Reptilia: Diapsida) from Liaoning Province of China and evolution of the choristoderan palate

A new specimen of Philydrosaurus proseilus from the Early Cretaceous Chiufotang (Jiufotang) Formation preserves the first complete palate of a monjurosuchid choristodere. As in other choristoderes, the palate of Philydrosaurus is akinetic, extended by a broad contact between the vomer and maxilla, and equipped with multiple batteries of palatal teeth. This specimen provides phylogenetically significant information and clarifies the distribution of many apomorphies within Choristodera. Philydrosaurus is primitive relative to the Neochoristodera in that it exhibits only a moderate degree of posterior displacement of the choanae and retains a relatively large interpterygoid vacuity. However, Philydrosaurus also exhibits several derived features previously considered diagnostic of the Neochoristodera, including establishment of a long midline contact of the pterygoids and development of a distinct nasopalatal trough extending from the choana. The choristodere palate exhibits significant modification of the primitive diapsid condition, including elongation of the vomers, establishment of a vomer–maxilla contact, posterior displacement of the choanae, development of the nasopalatal trough, and reduction of the interpterygoid vacuity.     

华北铜川组爬行动物化石的首次发现及其地层意义

１９９２年,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所从人民来信中得知,在山西永和县桑壁镇附近的河沟中发现了陆生四足动物化石。不久古脊椎所的专业人员就到化石产地进行了实地调查,并发掘出了几具保存较好的爬行动物化石。化石保存在坚硬的细砂岩中,已经修理出其中一个头骨（如图１所示）。经初步鉴定,这批化石是一类初龙形类动物,与产自新疆吐鲁番盆地中三叠世克拉玛依组的达板吐鲁番鳄（Ｔｕｒｆａｎｏｓｕｃｈｕｓｄａｂａｎｅｎｓｉｓ）（Ｙｏｕｎｓ,１９７３）关系较近,但是其内颈动脉孔位于基蝶骨侧面,而不是位于腹面,这表明…     

Endothiodont dicynodonts from the Late Permian Kundaram Formation,India

The Kundaram Formation, a Lower Gondwana unit of the Pranhita-Godavari valley, contains the only known Permian dicynodonts in India. This dicynodont assemblage is dominated by Endothiodon. Two species (Endothiodon mahalanobisi sp. nov and Endothiodon uniseries Owen 1879) are described here. This is the first detailed study of Endothiodon from outside Africa. The study shows that Endothiodon jaw articulation permitted propalinal action when the opposing serrations in the upper and the lower jaw teeth occluded with the horn covered areas and helped in shearing and mastication. The presence of oblique wear facets on the upper and lower jaw teeth and a masseter-like muscle suggest a slightly lateral movement of the lower jaw which enhanced slicing of plant matter. A robust stapes with posterolateral notch constitutes the middle ear region though Endothiodon depended mainly on ground vibrations for hearing. Other features included a reduced olfactory sense and large eyes for vigilance and ease of detecting predators. Based on its vertebrate fauna, this fossiliferous Gondwana horizon of the Pranhita-Godavari valley is broadly correlated with the Tropidostoma and/or Cistecephalus Assemblage Zones of the Beaufort Group, Karoo Supergroup, South Africa. It indicates a probable Tatarian age for the Kundaram Formation.     

Biomechanics of cranial kinesis in birds: Testing linkage models in the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Cranial kinesis in sparrows refers to the rotation of the upper jaw around its kinetic joint with the braincase. Avian jaw mechanics may involve the coupled motions of upper and lower jaws, in which the postorbital ligament transfers forces from the lower jaw, through the quadrate, pterygoid, and jugal bones, to the upper jaw. Alternatively, jaw motions may be uncoupled, with the upper jaw moving independently of the lower jaw. We tested hypotheses of cranial kinesis through the use of quantitative computer models. We present a biomechanical model of avian jaw kinetics that predicts the motions of the jaws under assumptions of both a coupled and an uncoupled mechanism. In addition, the model predicts jaw motions under conditions of force transfer by either the jugal or the pterygoid bones. Thus four alternative models may be tested using the proposed model (coupled jugal, coupled pterygoid, uncoupled jugal, uncoupled pterygoid). All models are based on the mechanics of four-bar linkages and lever systems and use morphometric data on cranial structure as the basis for predicting cranial movements. Predictions of cranial motions are tested by comparison to kinematics of white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) during singing. The predicted relations between jaw motions for the coupled model are significantly different from video observations. We conclude that the upper and lower jaws are not coupled in white-throated sparrows. The range of jaw motions during song is consistent with a model in which independent contractions of upper and lower jaw muscles control beak motion. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A NEW TEMNOSPONDYL FROM THE PERMO-TRIASSIC BUENA VISTA FORMATION OF URUGUAY

Abstract:  A partial skull recovered from conglomerates of the Permo-Triassic Buena Vista Formation in Uruguay belongs to a new species, Uruyiella liminea gen. et sp. nov. This species is characterized by a broadly triangular skull with laterally projecting posterior corners, rhytidosteid-like dermal sculpturing, and orbits positioned close to the skull margin. Uruyiella liminea is distinguished from other temnospondyls by a combination of primitive and derived character states, such as the anterior extent of the palatine ramus of the pterygoid, which excludes the ectopterygoid and most of the palatine from the lateral border of the interpterygoid vacuity, and the absence of both tabular horns and otic notches. A phylogenetic analysis places Uruyiella and the enigmatic Early Triassic Laidleria in a clade to which we attach the family name Laidleriidae. The Plagiosauridae and the Laidleriidae form a clade at the base of Dvinosauria, which is the sister group of a clade that includes Stereospondyli and Archegosauroidea. This result is unexpected because Laidleria and Plagiosauridae are nested deeply within Stereospondyli in most phylogenies. The sister-group relationship of Uruyiella and Laidleria suggests that a ghost lineage for the latter genus extends down into the earliest Triassic and perhaps even into the Late Permian, which in turn would suggest survivorship of the Laidleriidae through the Permo-Triassic extinction event.     

A rhinesuchid-like temnospondyl from the Permo-Triassic of Uruguay

A new temnospondyl species, Arachana nigra, from the Permo-Triassic Buena Vista Formation of Uruguay is described. The holotypic and only known specimen consists of an almost complete skull lacking most of the snout, the tabular horns and the posterolateral corners of the skull table. As with other specimens from the same unit, Arachana shows a transitional morphology. It shares several characters with rhinesuchids, such as the large size and the general shape of the skull, orbits positioned slightly posterior to the skull roof mid-length, a coarsely pitted dermal ornamentation lacking pustules, and a smoothly convex cheek contour. The palatal ramus of the pterygoid suturing with the vomer, and excluding the palatine and ectopterygoid from the margin of the interpterygoid vacuity, and the presence of a small basioccipital, visible in both occipital and ventral view, also resemble the conditions found in rhinesuchids and other basal temnospondyls. Other characters present in Arachana, however, are commonly found in lydekkerinids, but are absent in almost all rhinesuchids: supratemporal excluded from otic notch; supraorbital and infraorbital sensory sulci encroaching the lacrimal, although lacking a step-like lacrimal flexure; otic notch not deeply incised; post-temporal fenestra large and rounded; occipital condyles well-separated from each other; palatine tooth row behind the palatine tusk reduced; pterygoid corpus slightly ornamented; and presence of an interorbital depression. This combination of primitive and derived characters is consistently present in most components of the Buena Vista fauna, which could thus be transitional between typical Permian and Triassic tetrapod communities found elsewhere. The location of the PTB in the Uruguayan sequence is controversial, mainly due to the lack of clear faunal correlations with other well-known sequences, such as those of southern Africa and Russia. Moreover, the mosaic-like character combinations in most of the recorded tetrapods ally them to both Triassic and Paleozoic groups, and this has complicated even more the possibility of age assignment. Transitional faunas associated with the PTB, such as the Russian Uppermost Permian faunas, could be equivalent to the unique Colonia Orozco fauna. If true, this scenario will substantially change estimates about survivorship rates, suggesting a speciation rate increase in temnospondyls after the Permian-Triassic event. Based on taxonomic, phylogenetic, and geochronologic data, the Buena Vista fauna allows us to quantify faunal turnover across the PTB and in the aftermath of the end Permian extinction event.