河南省义马县中侏罗统义马组兽脚类恐龙足印化石的发现及其意义

The Discovery of Theropod Dinosaur Footprints from the Middle Jurassic Yima Formation of Yima County, Henan Province

本文记述了河南省义马县中侏罗世地层中首次发现的大型兽脚类恐龙足印。该足印虽然与发现于下—中侏罗统的张北足印类似,但是又不完全相同,从而命名为该属的一新种:徐氏张北足印(新足迹种):Changpeipus xuianainchnosp. nov.。它具有以下特征:足印的长度与宽度的比率约为1.9,第Ⅱ趾长度稍短于第Ⅳ趾的长度;第Ⅱ和第Ⅲ趾之间的夹角约为25°;第Ⅲ和第Ⅳ趾之间的夹角约为32°,足印的后部具有蹠骨所留下的印痕。徐氏张北足印的发现,不仅为我国中侏罗世恐龙足印增加了新的成员,而且为将来在该地区中侏罗世的地层中发现大型兽脚类恐龙骨骼化石提供确凿的依据。

Herein described is the first discovery of large sized theropod dinosaur footprints from the Middle Jurassic deposits of Yima, Henan Province of China. Although this footprint is similar to Changpeipus, which was found from the lower-middle Jurassic deposits, it is not identical to Changpeipus. Therefore, a new species of this genus： Changpeipus xuiana inchnosp, nov. is erected. Changpeipus xuiana is characterized by the ratio of length to width of the footprint approximate 1.9, digit Ⅱ slightly shorter than digit Ⅳ, the divarication of digits Ⅱ-Ⅲ about 25°, the divarication of digits Ⅲ-Ⅳ about 32°, and the tarsal impression appearing at the back of the footprint. The discovery of Changpeipus xuiana not only adds the new member of the Middle Jurassic dinosaur footprints in China, but also provides the strong evidence for discovering large sized theropod dinosaur skeletons from the middle Jurassic sediments of this area in the near future.