中国河北晚侏罗世蝾螈亚目(两栖纲,有尾目)基干属种干沟青龙螈(Qinglongtriton gangouensis)骨骼高精度μCT三维数据集

Dataset of 3D high-resolutionμCT scan of fossil specimens of Qinglongtriton gangouensis,a basal salamandroid(Amphibia,Urodela)from the Upper Jurassic of Hebei Province,China

古生物学研究正进入数字化时代。与传统的对化石的机械修理和连续切片技术相比,X光射线高精度断层扫描技术(high-resolution X-ray tomography或μCT)以其高精度、高效率和无损探测等优势迅速获得了古生物研究人员的青睐。干沟青龙螈(Qinglongtriton gangouensis)是发现于中国河北晚侏罗世髫髻山组的蝾螈亚目的基干属种,距今约1亿6千万年。本文提供了该属种正型标本(PKUP V0226)和2件归入标本(PKUP V0228、PKUP V0254)的μCT源数据、正型标本上半身骨骼用于3D打印的stl文件以及3件标本的重建效果图和视频文件。这是高精度μCT技术在我国化石蝾螈类研究中的首次尝试。该技术的应用发现了青龙螈的多个独特形态特征,包括眶蝶骨的骨化缺失等,为蝾螈亚目早期特征演化研究提供了重要信息。本数据集为日后μCT扫描在蝾螈类研究中的应用提供了参照,同时其效果图、视频和可用于3D打印的虚拟模型也为公众了解原始蝾螈类化石提供了便利渠道。

It comes the digital era for paleontological research.High resolution X-ray tomography(orμCT)has several advantages(high resolution,high efficiency and non-destructive detection)over traditional mechanical preparation and serial sectioning techniques when used to investigate fossil specimens.Thus,this new technique has been widely used by paleontologists in their study of fossils.This article provides a methodological description ofμCT scanning of fossils of a Jurassic salamander,Qinglongtriton gangouensis,and providesμCT source data of the holotype(PKUP V0226)and two referred specimens(PKUP V0228,PKUP V0254)of this fossil taxon.Qinglongtriton gangouensis is a primitive salamander classified in the suborder Salamandroidea.Specimens of this taxon were discovered from the Upper Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Hebei Province,China,and the fossil beds dated back to^160 million years ago.A 3D printable stl formatted file of the upper body skeleton of PKUP V0226,CT and video images were provided to display the reconstructed skeleton of the three specimens.This is the first attempt of employingμCT technique in study of salamander fossils from China.Several unique osteological features were revealed viaμCT scanning of the specimens;for instance,the absence of an ossified orbitosphenoid provides deep insights in the character evolution of Salamandroidea.This dataset offers a methodological reference for the application ofμCT scanning technique in future research of fossil salamanders,and also opens a window to the public arena for virtual access to the results of our CT scanning of the Jurassic salamander fossils.