三叠纪胎生主龙型海洋爬行动物（英文）

现代爬行动物的生殖方式包括卵生、卵胎生和"胎生"三种类型。总体而言,卵生即母体在陆地上产出羊膜卵,并依靠外界环境加以孵化;卵胎生系指羊膜卵在母体内孵化,随即产出幼子,其间胚胎的营养来源和代谢废物均限于羊膜卵内;所谓"胎生",是指某些类群的卵在母体内孵化后没有立刻产出,胚胎与母体建立了某种程度的营养乃至气体交换关系,此后再以幼体的形式娩出。卵胎生和"胎生"见于有鳞类。在化石中,由于无法识别胚胎与母体的营养联系等信息,通常只以"生产方式"加以定义,即除卵生以外,所有"含胚胎的化石"都统称为"胎生",目前"胎生"已有的准确记录包括鱼龙类、鳍龙类、沧龙类和离龙类。近期报道的"怀孕恐头龙"显示原龙类可能也有此种生殖方式,但标本的保存状态显示不能排除其"同类相食"之可能。本文记述了产自云南罗平地区中三叠系内一独立保存的、完整的圆胚状化石,标本的大小、形态、姿态和埋藏环境显示这是一个处于孵化后期、因某种原因而流产的胚胎。头后骨骼显示该标本代表了一种全新类型的海生原龙类,但是由于在个体发育中很多性状特征会有较大变化,因此胚胎乃至幼体标本不宜作为正型标本而建立新属种。这也是又一个主龙型爬行动物胎生的确切证据;同时这也进一步反映了盘县-罗平动物群中原龙类的高度多样性。     

中国三叠纪海生爬行动物化石研究的回顾与进展

中国三叠纪海生爬行动物化石研究始于20世纪50年代,近10年来取得了重要的进展。此类化石在华南分布广泛,已见于多个省区的十余处地点,涉及自下三叠统奥伦尼克阶至上三叠统诺利阶的至少7个层位,并显示出由东向西产出层位逐渐升高的趋势。我国的三叠纪海生爬行动物化石门类齐全,属种丰富,已知类群包括鱼龙类、海龙类、檐齿龙类、始鳍龙类、原龙类、初龙类和湖北鳄类,显示出典型的西特提斯动物群特征,同时也体现了与东太平洋动物群的某些联系,以及一定的地方色彩。这些化石为研究三叠纪海生爬行动物各个类群的起源、演化和绝灭以及海洋环境的变迁提供了新的材料。     

湖北三叠纪海生爬行动物的层位及时代

通过对化石点的实地调查证实 ,湖北南漳、远安发现的海生爬行类除孙氏南漳龙 (大冶组顶部或嘉陵江组底部 )外都产自嘉陵江组 ,它们的时代同为早三叠世奥伦尼克期。由孙氏南漳龙、南漳湖北鳄、湖北汉江蜥和远安贵州龙形成的这一海生爬行动物组合 ,是上扬子地区层位最低的 ,生存时代早于其他海生爬行动物组合。与产自欧洲的肿肋龙类有密切亲缘关系的贵州龙和汉江蜥 ,是该科最早的代表 ,也是鳍龙类最早的代表之一 ,为探讨鳍龙类和肿肋龙类的起源及传播提供了新的证据。     

中国三叠纪海生爬行类综述

三叠纪海生爬行类化石广泛分布于中国南方的安徽、湖北、贵州、云南、广西和西藏。它们不仅包括有世界性分布的鱼龙类、鳍龙类、海龙类、原龙类等,而且还有仅出现于扬子海区的湖北鳄类。简单回顾了中国三叠纪海生爬行类的研究历史。根据化石的地史分布确认了自早三叠世晚期至晚三叠世早期的7个海生爬行类组合带。它们是奥伦尼克期的 Chaohu- saurus-Keichousaurus-Hupehsuchus 组合带,安尼期的 Chinchenia-Sanchiaosaurus 组合带和 Dino- cephalosaurus-Mixosaurus 组合带,拉丁期的 Dingxiaosaurus 带和 Keichousaurus-Nothosaurus 组合带,卡尼期的 Anshunsaurus-Qianichthyosaurus-Sinocyamodus 组合带和诺利期的 Himalayasaurus 带。对化石的古地理环境分析表明,中国早三叠世晚期的海生爬行类主要分布于扬子海区东部(安徽、湖北)的浅海开阔台地和局限海台地。中三叠世由于东部地区的抬升,鱼龙类和鳍龙类向西扩散,在扬子区西部(贵州、云南)辐射发展,在拉丁期达到个体数量和种类的高峰。晚三叠世卡尼期动物的数量依然很多,个体有增大的趋向,但高级分类阶元的数量减少,它们埋藏于海水相对较深的浊积岩相中。晚三叠世诺利期的化石发现于西藏的定日和聂拉木,这是中国惟一属于冈瓦那特提斯区的三叠纪海生爬行类组合带,仅含大型的鱼龙类。受动物的生存环境和埋藏条件的影响,中国三叠纪海生爬行类化石记录并不完整。目前尚有相当数量的化石未经研究,已记述的化石也需要在研究程度上进一步深化。     

极北鲵与胎生蜥蜴 寒温带两栖爬行动物的典型代表

温度是影响动物生存的重要生态因子之一。两栖爬行动物属于体温不恒定的变温动物,其分布受温度的影响较大。一般来讲,常年温度较高的热带和亚热带地区,两栖爬行动物的物种多样性较为丰富,而在温带和寒温带则逐渐减少。汗马自然保护区(以下简称汗与)地处北方高寒地区,由于气候寒冷干燥,两栖爬行动物种类较少。但     

胎生蜥泄殖系统的解剖

对胎生蜥Lacerta vivipara的排泄和生殖系统进行了解剖观察.胎生蜥的排泄系统由肾脏、输尿管和泄殖腔组成,左肾较右肾稍大,但在位置上没有明显差别;雄性生殖系统由精巢、输精管、附睾和半阴茎组成,左侧精巢位置较右侧稍接近身体前部且稍大;雌性生殖系统南卵巢和输卯管组成,左右卵巢在大小上无明显差别,但左侧卵巢比右侧卵巢略接近身体前部.对繁殖期和繁殖期后的生殖系统比较显示,生殖腺在繁殖期明显增大.胎生蜥的生殖系统与其他卵生和卵胎生类蜥蜴无明显差别.     

小兴安岭北部胎生蜥蜴春季的栖息生境

分别于2005年5-7月和2006年5月在黑龙江省孙吴县境内方圆15 km的范围内采用样线法对胎生蜥蜴(Lacerta vivipara)春季的栖息生境进行了初步研究.通过对胎生蜥蜴栖息生境中的15个生境因子进行的频次百分比分析可以看出,在小兴安岭北部胎生蜥蜴春季的最适栖息生境是处于山体半阴半阳坡的中、下坡位,且坡度平缓的蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica).黑桦(Betula davurica)林中,林间落叶层较厚,具有适中的湿度和光照强度,且土质疏松,人为和天敌的干扰小.结果表明,胎生蜥蜴在春季一般选择具有良好的食物与隐蔽条件,以及能够提供充足热量的栖息生境,这是该物种对高纬度低温环境的一种适应.     

红树胎生现象及其对潮间带生境适应性研究进展

热带亚热带海岸潮间带的高盐、淹水、土壤缺氧和潮水冲击等不良环境因子导致了红树植物在形态、生理和生态方面的特异性 ,尤其是其独特的胎生现象。从红树植物胎生繁殖体在母体的发育过程和繁殖体落地后对潮间带生境的适应两个角度探讨了红树植物胎生现象的适应意义。红树植物的胎生现象是对潮间带盐胁迫、淹水、土壤缺氧和潮水冲击等综合生境的适应 ,而不是单独其中一种胁迫因子的适应。红树植物胎生繁殖体在母体的发育过程中通过能量积累、渗透调节、形态完善等过程为掉落以后适应潮间生境做准备 ,掉落的胎生繁殖体依靠从母体获得的能量和营养克服潮间带的盐胁迫、淹水、土壤缺氧和潮水冲击等多重胁迫。红树植物胎生繁殖体落地后的能量收支平衡是决定繁殖体定居成功与否的关键 ,而胎生现象的意义正是通过胎生繁殖体在母体发育过程中积累足够的能量和营养来适应潮间带生境。红树植物胎生繁殖体落地后苗木在潮间带滩涂的生长发育过程中存在一个能量“阈限”,能阈的高低决定于潮间带生境的恶劣程度 ,而突破能阈能力决定于胎生繁殖体所携带的能量与营养的数量。这为红树林湿地恢复提供了理论基础 ,但还需要更多的证据来支持该理论     

黑龙江省产胎生蜥蜴的染色体组型研究

本文采用骨髓细胞制片法对分布在黑龙江省孙吴县的胎生蜥蜴染色体组型进行了研究,结果表明其雄性的二倍体染色体数是36,性染色体为ZZ型,2n=34＋ZZ;雌性的二倍体染色体数是35,性染色体为W型,2n=34＋W;所以胎生蜥蜴的性别决定机制为ZZ/W型.胎生蜥蜴的染色体全部为顶端着丝点染色体（除雌性的第5号染色体为亚端着丝点染色体外）,根据其染色体的形态、大小将其配成18对,按照染色体的相对长度把它们分成3组,第Ⅰ组只有第1对染色体（相对长度＞9.0%）,第Ⅱ组包括第2、3和4对染色体（9.0%＞相对长度＞7.0%）,第Ⅲ组包括第5～18对染色体（相对长度＜7.0%）.     

解密植物世界里的胎生

植物也能胎生？ 是的。 有花植物的种子成熟后多是在脱离母体植物后再萌发,这是我们最常见、最熟悉的植物繁殖方式。然而令人惊奇的是,在植物界有少数植物具有类似动物的胎生繁殖方式。想像—下,动物的受精卵能够在母体子宫发育为胚胎,吸收母体的营养直到胎儿出生时为止。而这些奇异的植物,也在开花、传粉、受精和结实后,     

The marine diapsid reptile Endennasaurus from the Upper Triassic of Italy

Abstract:  The marine reptile Endennasaurus from the Upper Triassic Zorzino Limestone of northern Italy is redescribed and reassessed. New details of the skull and postcranial skeleton are revealed, confirming the attribution of this genus to the diapsid reptile clade Thalattosauriformes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Endennasaurus was related to the European genus Askeptosaurus and the Chinese Anshunsaurus . Despite a rather conservative postcranial morphology, Endennasaurus clearly occupied a highly specialized dietary niche as it combined a slender tapering premaxillary rostrum with a complete absence of either marginal or palatal teeth.     

New insights from bone microanatomy of the Late Triassic Hyperodapedon (Archosauromorpha,Rhynchosauria): implications for archosauromorph growth strategy

Bone microanatomy of multiple postcranial skeletal elements of several individuals of Hyperodapedon collected from India is reported. This reveals that fibrolamellar bone tissue is predominant in the mid‐ and inner cortices, whereas the peripheral region of the cortex is composed of either parallel‐fibred and/or lamellar bone. The pattern of primary osteons mostly ranges between laminar and subplexiform. Such predominance of fibrolamellar bone tissue in the cortex suggests an overall fast growth, which slowed down considerably later in ontogeny. Four distinct ontogenetic stages are identified based on the bone microstructure. During the juvenile stage, growth was fast and continuous, but it became punctuated during the early and late sub‐adult stages. In adult individuals, growth was slow and showed periodic interruption but did not stop completely, suggesting that Hyperodapedon had an indeterminate growth strategy. Interelemental histovariations affecting cortical thickness, organization of the vascular network, incidence of growth rings and extent of secondary reconstruction are noted. Throughout ontogeny, the femora show higher cortical thickness than humeri and tibiae, suggesting differential appositional growth rate between the skeletal elements. Differences in cortical thickness are noted in the ribs, which suggest differential functional constraints based on anatomical site‐specific occurrences. Although fibrolamellar bone tissue became progressively more dominant towards the archosaurs, there are considerable variations in the growth patterns of the archosauromorphs. This is exemplified by the bone microstructure of Hyperodapedon, which deviates from the generalized slow‐growth pattern proposed for all basal archosauromorphs, suggesting that rapid growth was already present in the archosauromorphs. The cortical thickness of various long bones of Hyperodapedon bears similarity with that of several extant terrestrial quadrupeds, suggesting that Hyperodapedon was essentially a terrestrial quadruped.     

Viviparity as a constraint on sex-ratio evolution

Abstract In polytocous mammals, the sex ratio during gestation can influence a variety of morphological, physiological, and life-history traits because of steroid leakage between fetuses. Similar phenomena have also recently been described for a viviparous lizard. Some of these effects have important fitness consequences by influencing reproductive success later in life. Thus, biasing the sex ratio toward one sex may lead to a decreased fitness for the other sex, and therefore constrain the evolution of skewed sex ratios. By incorporating effects of sex ratio on offspring fitness in a simple sex-allocation model, I show that, under some circumstances (1) skewed sex ratios are predicted to evolve, and (2) this cost can constrain the evolution of skewed sex ratios.     

Bone-eating Osedax worms lived on Mesozoic marine reptile deadfalls

We report fossil traces of Osedax, a genus of siboglinid annelids that consume the skeletons of sunken vertebrates on the ocean floor, from early-Late Cretaceous (approx. 100 Myr) plesiosaur and sea turtle bones. Although plesiosaurs went extinct at the end-Cretaceous mass extinction (66 Myr), chelonioids survived the event and diversified, and thus provided sustenance for Osedax in the 20 Myr gap preceding the radiation of cetaceans, their main modern food source. This finding shows that marine reptile carcasses, before whales, played a key role in the evolution and dispersal of Osedax and confirms that its generalist ability of colonizing different vertebrate substrates, like fishes and marine birds, besides whale bones, is an ancestral trait. A Cretaceous age for unequivocal Osedax trace fossils also dates back to the Mesozoic the origin of the entire siboglinid family, which includes chemosynthetic tubeworms living at hydrothermal vents and seeps, contrary to phylogenetic estimations of a Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic origin (approx. 50–100 Myr).     

Increased viviparity of marine parasites at high latitudes

For the first time, Thorson's rule, that non-pelagic development increases with latitude, is shown to apply to a group of marine parasites. Relative and absolute numbers of species of viviparous Monogenea, gill parasites of fish, increase with increasing latitude. The gradient can be explained by the inability, in cold waters, of (a) free larvae to locate suitable habitats (hosts) and/ or (b) small invertebrates to produce pelagic larvae in sufficient numbers. Viviparous Monogenea are also more common in cold than in warm freshwater, but have not been fund in the deep sea.     

Implications of flexible-shelled eggs in a Cretaceous choristoderan reptile

Flexible, or soft-shelled, eggs are almost unknown in the fossil record, leaving large gaps in our knowledge of the reproductive biology of many tetrapod clades. Here, we report two flexible-shelled eggs of the hyphalosaurid choristodere Hyphalosaurus baitaigouensis from the Early Cretaceous of China, one containing an embryo and the second associated with a neonate. Choristoderes are an enigmatic group of aquatic reptiles that survived the K–T extinction but died out in the Miocene. Hyphalosaurids, a specialized clade of Choristodera, resemble miniature plesiosaurs and are considered to be primarily aquatic in habit. Scanning electron microscopy of samples from the eggs reveals a thin, non-columnar external mineralized layer characterized by rounded nodes and tentatively identified poorly structured irregular pores, with an underlying amorphous layer presumably representing decomposed protein fibrils. While the relationships of Choristodera remain controversial, eggshell microstructure more closely resembles that of Lepidosauromorpha (the lineage including lizards) as opposed to that of Archosauromorpha (the lineage including birds and crocodiles).     

Thermal effects on reptile reproduction: adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in a montane lizard

Interspecific comparisons suggest a strong association between cool climates and viviparity in reptiles. However, intraspecific comparisons, which provide an opportunity to identify causal pathways and to distinguish facultative (phenotypically plastic) effects from canalized (genetically fixed) responses, are lacking. We documented the reproductive traits in an alpine oviparous lizard, and manipulated thermal regimes of gravid females and their eggs to identify proximate causes of life‐history variation. Embryonic development at oviposition was more advanced in eggs laid by females from high‐elevation populations than in eggs produced by females from lower elevations. In the laboratory, experimentally imposed low maternal body temperatures delayed oviposition and resulted in more advanced embryonic development at oviposition. Warm conditions both in utero and in the nest increased hatching success and offspring body size. Our intraspecific comparisons support the hypothesis that viviparity has evolved in cold‐climate squamates because of the direct fitness advantages that warm temperatures provide developing offspring. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100 , 642–655.