中国鳍龙类(爬行纲:双孔亚纲)研究进展

Study of Sauropterygia(Reptilia:Diapsida) in China: A review

鳍龙类是中生代海洋中的顶级捕食者类群之一。中国关于鳍龙类的研究始于20世纪50年代末,先后在2个阶段内取得重要研究进展。近年来,中国华南地区三叠纪地层中发现了大量鳍龙类的新材料,对以往学界关于鳍龙类的起源、分布以及谱系演化研究构成了一定的挑战,并提出了很多新的科学问题。文章基于对中国的鳍龙类化石和地层信息的概览并与世界其他地方对比,认为鳍龙类可能起源于东特提斯区,且肿肋龙的单系性及其谱系发育位置有待进一步研究。此外,定量古生物学、CT和骨组织学等新方法、新技术的运用也将对中国鳍龙类的研究起到重要的推动作用。

Sauropterygia is one of the most successful top predators in the Mesozoic ocean. The study of Chinese sauropterygians started from 1950 s and has made significant progress since 1990 s. Recently, abundant new material from South China started to challenge previous hypothesis, such as the origin, distribution, and interrelationships of sauropterygians. Based on the review of these new fossils from South China and their stratigraphy, it is proposed that Sauropterygia may originate from eastern Tethyan region and the monophyly and relationships of pachypleurosaurs need further investigations. The application of new methods and techniques such as quantitative analysis, CT scan and bone histology will help to the study of Chinese sauropterygians.