本文记述了发现于宁夏六盘山地区的恐龙足迹化石.共计5个化石点,分别位于宁夏六盘山地区固原市隆德县和泾源县,赋存地层为下白垩统六盘山群和尚铺组、李洼峡组和马东山组,包括蜥脚类和鸟脚类恐龙足迹化石,其中以蜥脚类为主.足迹可识别的有4条行迹,其中,隆德县香水镇行迹所代表的恐龙个体较小,臀高仅1.44 m,其余3组行迹代表的恐龙较大,臀高在2.79～3.27 m之间;鸟脚类恐龙臀高约为0.48 m,为小型鸟脚类恐龙.采用Alexander的速度计算方法对造迹恐龙的速度进行研究,表明六盘山地区蜥脚类造迹恐龙速度为0.34～1.41 m/s之间,复步长与臀高的比值小于2,均为正常行走状态.足迹保存层面岩性主要为粉砂质泥岩、细砂岩,具水平层理、波痕、泥裂、雨雹痕等沉积构造,含植物碎片化石,并发育有大量的无脊椎动物潜穴化石.根据岩性及沉积构造判断,造迹恐龙活动环境为离湖岸较近的浅水地带.

The first discovery of dinosaur eggs from the Late Cretaceous Hongtuya Formation of Laixi area of Qingdao in Shandong Province is reported in this paper. The shape of the egg is round with a diameter of 11 cm. According to the microstructure of the egg shell, they are assigned to the oofamily Dendroolithidae, probably belonging to therizinosauroid dinosaurs. The sedimentary environment and rock geochemistry analysis suggest that the study area was mainly dominated by the river channel and flood plain sedimentary environments, probably a favorable nesting site for dinosaurs under the optimum palaeoclimatic condition. At the meantime, the discovery of therizinosauroid eggs provides a possibility to find therizinosauroid skeletons from this area in the future.

An alvarezsaurid dinosaur skeleton was discovered from the Late Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Luanchuan, Henan Province of centtral China. It represents a new alvarezsaurid dinosaur Qiupanykus zhangi gen. et sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis recovers Qiupanykus nested within the unresolved clade, which includes Asian and north American taxa. The skeleton of the new specimen is preserved in association with eggshells. The eggshell morphologies show that these eggs belong to oviraptorid eggs, skeletal remains of which were discovered from the same area. The alvarezsaurid skeleton associated with eggshell fragments may indicate that these eggs were broken by the strong thumb-claws of the former and that alvarezsaurid dinosaurs may be egg-eaters.

Abstract A new anurognathid pterosaur, Vesperopterylus lamadongensis gen. et sp. nov., is erected based on a complete skeleton with a skull preserved. It is characterized by two short distinct ridges present on the ventral surface of the cervical vertebrae; coracoids slightly longer than scapula; humerus, wing phalanx 3 and tibia nearly the same in length; grooves clearly present on the posterior surface of the wing phalanges 1–3; and the first toe reversed. It is the first anurognathid pterosaur from China with a definitively short tail, and the first pterosaur with a reversed first toe. The reversed first toe of Vesperopterylus indicates that it had arboreal habitats. The discovery of Vesperopterylus lamadongensis from the Jiufotang Formation strongly expands the geological age range for anurognathid pterosaurs.

以往关于窃蛋龙类“偷蛋”的“指责”已经被认为是一个冤案.但是,一直没有找到真正的凶手.最新研究表明,阿尔瓦兹龙类恐龙可能是真正的盗窃龙蛋者. 20世纪20年代,美国自然历史博物馆组织的中亚考察团在蒙古国西南戈壁的火山崖首次发现窃蛋龙类化石,亨利·奥斯本于1924年正式将其命名为食角龙蛋窃蛋龙.此后近半个多世纪,窃蛋龙一直背负着很不光彩的“盗贼”恶名.有一部分进步的窃蛋龙类牙齿退化缺失,且上颌中部具有假牙状突起,人们猜测这种假牙状突起是用来压碎恐龙蛋的,似乎找到了它们“作案”的把柄,然而并没有找到它们“偷蛋”的直接化石证据.事实上,迷你豫龙和南康龙等窃蛋龙类的肢骨比例特征及下颌特征显示:它们可能为植食性恐龙.

窃蛋龙属于兽脚类中、长羽毛的手盗龙类恐龙.它们有一些比较特殊的构造,比如一些原始的种类(切齿龙和尾羽龙)都有牙齿,尾羽龙的尾部生有与现生鸟类一样的羽毛;而进步的种类头骨高度气腔化、吻短、没有牙齿,可能有角质喙等,这些特征均类似于现生鸟类.因此,窃蛋龙类曾经被认为是次生的、失去飞行能力的鸟类.但是,现在多数研究者认为这些类似于鸟类的特征是趋同演化的结果.

A new oviraptorid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou, bringing oviraptrotid diversity of this region to seven taxa, is described. It is characterized by a distinct cassowary-like crest on the skull, no pleurocoels on the centra from the second through fourth cervical vertebrae, a neck twice as long as the dorsal vertebral column and slightly longer than the forelimb (including the manus). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the new oviraptorid taxon, Corythoraptor jacobsi, as closely related to Huanansaurus from Ganzhou. Osteochronology suggests that the type specimen of Corythoraptor had not reached stationary growth stage but died while decreasing growth rates. The histology implies that it would correspond to an immature individual approximately eight years old. We hypothesize, based on the inner structure compared to that in modern cassowaries, that the prominent casque of Corythoraptor was a multifunction-structure utilized in display, communication and probably expression of the fitness during mating seasons.

An ornithopod dinosaur was discovered for the first time in Qingdao area, Shandong Province. Based on the morphologi?cal characteristics of caudal vertebrae, humerus, ilium and femur, it is assigned to a small ornithopod dinosaur. It is difficult to deter?mine the exact genus and species, because of the lack of specimens. This discovery plays an important role in the study of distribution and evolution of ornithopod dinosaurs and stratigraphic correlation. The discovery will provide the clue and evidence for finding more dinosaur skeletons in this area in the future.

The abundance of dinosaur eggs in Upper Cretaceous strata of Henan Province, China led to the collection and export of countless such fossils. One of these specimens, recently repatriated to China, is a partial clutch of large dinosaur eggs ( Macroelongatoolithus ) with a closely associated small theropod skeleton. Here we identify the specimen as an embryo and eggs of a new, large caenagnathid oviraptorosaur, Beibeilong sinensis . This specimen is the first known association between skeletal remains and eggs of caenagnathids. Caenagnathids and oviraptorids share similarities in their eggs and clutches, although the eggs of Beibeilong are significantly larger than those of oviraptorids and indicate an adult body size comparable to a gigantic caenagnathid. An abundance of Macroelongatoolithus eggs reported from Asia and North America contrasts with the dearth of giant caenagnathid skeletal remains. Regardless, the large caenagnathid- Macroelongatoolithus association revealed here suggests these dinosaurs were relatively common during the early Late Cretaceous.

A new troodontid,Liaoningvenator curriei gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a complete skeleton from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province. It bears the following characteristics of Troodontidae: numerous and more closely appressed maxillary and dentary teeth; the teeth markedly constricted between the roots and crowns; the nutrient foramina in groove on the external surface of dentary; distal caudal vertebrae having a sulcus on the dorsal midline rather than a neural spine. Unlike other troodontids, Liaoningvenatorexhibits a sub-triangular ischial boot in lateral view and slender ischial obturator process; transition point in caudal vertebrae starts from the seventh caudal vertebra. A phylogenetic analysis recovers LiaoningvenatorandEosinopteryx as sister taxa that belong to the same clade. These two taxa share the following three characteristics: (1) anterior maxillary and dentary teeth lack serrations along the anterior carina; (2) shafts of cervical ribs are longer than vertebral centra with which they articulate; and (3) anterior margin of ilium is straight. The histological study indicates that Liaoningvenator was attaining skeletal maturity and at least four years old when it perished.Liaoningvenator represents the fifth troodontid taxon from the Lower Cretaceous equivalent strata of western Liaoning. It provides much new anatomical information on basal troodontid dinosaurs in this region. It also enhances the diversity of the troodontids in Early Cretaceous of China currently known.

伤齿龙类是手盗龙类中较为独特的一支, 时代从中侏罗世到晚白垩世, 主要分布于亚洲(东部和中部)以及北美地区.本文基于前人的研究成果, 结合新标本, 对中国伤齿龙类的系统分类、骨骼形态、骨组织、系统发育关系和古生物地理等方面进行了全面深入的评估与探讨.

An oviraptorid dinosaurHuanansaurus ganzhouensis, belonging to the derived oviraptorid dinosaur, was discovered from the Late Cretaceous deposits in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province. Its unique skull characteristics provide a new insight into the craniofacial evolution of oviraptorosaurid dinosaurs, paleogeographical distribution and paleoecological environments.Zhenyuanlong suni from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western part of Liaoning Province is a large, short-armed, winged dromaeosaurid dinosaur. It provides the evidence of feather morphologies and distribution in a short-armed dromaeosaurid dinosaur. The discovery ofZhenyuanlong also provides important evidence for the study of the diversity, the origin of feathers and the flight of Liaoning dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. Orientognathus chaoyngensis is the first Late Jurassic pterosaur discovered in western Liaoning and it is the largest rhamphorhynchinae pterosaur. The discovery ofOrientognathus not only fills the temporal gap between the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous pterosaur faunas of China but also plays an important role in the understanding of radiation evolution of rhamphorhynchids from the Late Jurassic. The above-mentioned important discoveries play a key role in our understanding of the hot and difficult issues such as the evolution of oviraptorid dinosaurs, the feather evolution in dromaeosaurid dinosaurs and the origin of bird feathers. In particular, the Ganzhou Dinosaurian Fauna is named based on the discovery ofHuanansaurus.

Although there are nine genera of ctenochasmatoids reported from the Jehol Biota, at present each is known from a specimen that has either a skull or a relatively complete postcranial skeleton. A nearly complete juvenile specimen of Gladocephaloideus from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Sihedang, Lingyuan of Liaoning Province is the most complete ctenochasmatoid preserved to date with a skull and postcranial skeleton. Based on the holotype (IG-CAGS 08-07) and the nearly complete new specimen (JPM 2014-004), the diagnosis of Gladocephaloideus is amended: approximately 50 teeth in total with sharp tips; small nasoantorbital opening, occupying approximately 13% of total skull length; ratio of prenarial rostrum length to skull length approximately 0.63; deep groove along the mid-line of the mandibular symphysis; length to width ratio of the longest cervical vertebra = 4.1; ratio of femur length to tibia length = 0.61; tibia as long as the wing-phalange 1. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Gladocephaloideus within the clade Ctenochasmatidae. Gladocephaloideus has a closer relationship to the Chinese Pterofiltrus rather than to other ctenochasmatid pterosaurs. Microstructure of limb bones implies that JPM 2014-004 represents an early juvenile of Gladocephaloideus jingangshanensis, and that the type specimen is not a fully grown specimen either. We assume that the holotype may equate to the late juvenile or sub-adult developmental stage of Gladocephaloideus.

Oviraptorosaurs are a bizarre group of bird-like theropod dinosaurs, the derived forms of which have shortened, toothless skulls, and which diverged from close relatives by developing peculiar feeding adaptations. Although once among the most mysterious of dinosaurs, oviraptorosaurs are becoming better understood with the discovery of many new fossils in Asia and North America. The Ganzhou area of southern China is emerging as a hotspot of oviraptorosaur discoveries, as over the past half decade five new monotypic genera have been found in the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) deposits of this region. We here report a sixth diagnostic oviraptorosaur from Ganzhou, Tongtianlong limosus gen. et sp. nov., represented by a remarkably well-preserved specimen in an unusual splayed-limb and raised-head posture. Tongtianlong is a derived oviraptorid oviraptorosaur, differentiated from other species by its unique dome-like skull roof, highly convex premaxilla, and other features of the skull. The large number of oviraptorosaurs from Ganzhou, which often differ in cranial morphologies related to feeding, document an evolutionary radiation of these dinosaurs during the very latest Cretaceous of Asia, which helped establish one of the last diverse dinosaur faunas before the end-Cretaceous extinction.

Four carcharodontosaurid teeth from the Cretaceous deposits of Ruyang County, Henan Province of central China are described in detail. The discovery of these large teeth indicates that some of the largest predatory dinosaurs coexisted with the gigantic plant-eating dinosaurs of this fauna, and these predators were likely the top consumers in the food chain. The teeth also further corroborate the biogeographic model by previous researchers that the carcharodontosaurids were broadly distributed rather than restricted to Gondwana, and this report expands the known non-Gondwanan record of the clade. Gigantic sauropod dinosaurs such as Ruyangosaurus and Huanghetitan ruyangensis were also found in the same area.

"Baby Louie" dinosaur fossil embryo, located at the bottom of Upper Cretaceous Gaogou Formation in Xixia Basin, was excavated from Zhaoying Village of Yangcheng Township in Xixia County of Nanyang City, Henan Province. Upper Cretaceous strata of Xixia Basin can be divided from bottom to top into Gaogou Formation, Majiacun Formation and Sigou Formation. "Baby Louie"is embryonic skeleton fossil of Macroelongatoolithus xixaensis. Gaogou Formation is rich in dinosaur egg fossils and little dino?saur bone fossils as well as a few fossil fragments of bivalve, gastropods, Ostracods, Charophyceae, plant pollen, and plant fossil togeth?er with abundant trace fossils. According to geological age of fossils in combination with conformable contact between Majiacun For?mation and Gaogou Formation as well as fossil assemblage of Sigou Formation, angular contact between Gaogou Formation and Low?er Devonian Nanwan Formation and stratigraphic correlation with surrounding basin layers, the authors hold that geological epoch of Gaogou Formation in Xixia Basin should be Late Cretaceous Coniacian. The lower and middle Gaogou Formation seems to be terrig? enous clastic rocks of semi-arid red continental type molasse-like formation belonging to alluvial fan and braided river sedimentation of intermittent muddy waters, whereas the upper part of Gaogou Formation seems to be alluvial fan and traction current deposit. The horizontal paleo-geographic environment of"Baby Louie"is flat and wide alluvial fan facing south at the alluvial end, which can be classified as alluvial fan facies-fan end subfacies-flowing microfacies.

Pangupterus liui gen. et sp. nov. from the Jiufotang Formation of Sihedang, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province is erected based on a nearly complete lower jaw. It is characterized by having a total of 36 slender curved teeth with sharp tips, forming a distinct fish-grabbing mechanism; the teeth are well-spaced and are circular in section; the length ratio of the mandibular symphysis to the whole jaw is 20%; and the ratio of the tooth root width to tooth length is 12%. Toothed pterosaurs make up about 56.3% of the pterosaur assemblage from the Jiufotang Formation, which indicates that toothed forms played a key role in the ecosystem.

本文总结了古神翼龙类的特征,尤其是对中国发现的没有牙齿的翼龙类(包括古神翼龙类、朝阳翼龙类及神龙翼龙类)进行系统总结.通过对比,把中国的古神翼龙类建立两个新的亚科:中国翼龙亚科及华夏翼龙亚科.从古神翼龙类头骨形态变化来看,其演化趋势是头骨由低长向短高变化,这一变化的原因可能与其食性变化有关.根据在辽西凌源四合当九佛堂组发现的一几乎完整的化石骨架建立了中国翼龙新种:凌源中国翼龙(新种),它具有以下特征:鼻眶前孔的长度与高度之比率为3.20;吻部指数为3.03;股骨与胫骨长度之比率约为0.66以及第2翼指骨与第1翼指骨长度之比率为0.85.根据发现于辽西朝阳九佛堂组的另一个体较小的古神翼龙类化石骨架,建立华夏翼龙属一新种:返祖华夏翼龙(新种).虽然它个体较小,但是它具有华夏翼龙类似的头骨脊,然而它的第2和第3翼指骨的后面具有原始喙嘴龙类翼龙的沟状结构,以区别于其它的华夏翼龙类.返祖华夏翼龙的翼指骨后部沟状结构的出现,应为返祖现象的体现.而这一现象,在翼手龙类中为首次报道.

2014年12月,位于北京市天桥南大街的北京自然博物馆广场上赫然出现一具硕大的恐龙骨架,引得过往行人纷纷驻足.只见她四足着地,长长的脖子高高扬起,小小的脑袋竟然伸到博物馆楼顶,尾巴稍微向旁边摆开,整个身躯的占地面积比篮球场还大.人们似乎不敢相信地球上真的生活过如此高大的动物,几乎问同一个问题:“真的?假的?”