中国中生代鸟类研究概述

Summarization of Mesozoic birds in China

对最近轰动世界的我国中生代鸟类化石的系统研究结果表明,中国是目前中生代早期鸟类化石产地和化石发现最多的地区。从晚侏罗世到早白垩世存在两个亚纲的鸟类分子:蜥鸟亚纲(Sauriurae)和今鸟亚纲(Ornithurae)。鸟类从爬行动物分化出来不久即分为两大支系向前演化。孔子鸟(Confuciusornis)和辽宁鸟(Liaoningornis)的发现证明,始祖鸟(Archaeopteryx)只是鸟类进化的一个旁支,不是最早的鸟类。孔子鸟代表鸟类向飞行进化的主流。辽宁鸟是目前今鸟亚纲最早的代表。鸟类在进化过程中渐变和突变同时并存。

This paper summaries the works on Chinese Mesozoic birds. China has the most abundant Mesozoic birds and localities. It is also one of the birthplace of birds. There are two subclasses of birds from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous: Sauriurae and Ornithurae. Deriving from reptiles, birds quickly evolved in two lines. The discovery of Confuciusornis and Liaoningornis confirmed that Archaeopteryx just a bypass in avian evolution, and can not be the oldest bird. Confuciusornis is a representative in the main line of avian evolution. Liaoningornis is the oldest known member of Ornithurae. Gradual change and mutation play an equally important role in the avian evolutionary process.