This paper studies the Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggshell fossils from the Xixia Basin, Henan Province, by microscopy and carbon isotope method. Careful observation under microscope revealed that all dinosaur eggshell ...This paper studies the Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggshell fossils from the Xixia Basin, Henan Province, by microscopy and carbon isotope method. Careful observation under microscope revealed that all dinosaur eggshell fossils consist of primary calcite and secondary calcite. The content of the former is about 60.5% and the latter 39.5% according to image analysis. The δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of secondary carbonate mineral filling within the dinosaur eggs in the strata range from -5.63‰ to -5.68‰, with an average value of -5.65‰. The δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of sixteen dinosaur eggshell fossils are in the range from -5.88‰ to -7.79‰. Then we calculated the δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of primary carbonate minerals, ranging from -6.03‰ to -9.19‰. Based on the δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of the primary carbonate, the ancient food type and food proportion of dinosaurs were deduced. The dinosaur’s food proportions of C\-3 plant and C\-4 plant are 61% and 39%, respectively. Finally, it is inferred that the palaeoclimate in the Xixia Basin should be a warm—sub\|humid—sub\|arid climate in the subtropical zone of the Xixia Basin.展开更多
1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Muse...1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History to be those of Mesozoic herbivorous dinosaurs （Fig. 1）. Not long before, Yiwu Museum staff had discovered dinosaur eggs close by this place.展开更多
On 28 February 2012, under the close judiciary of and diplomatic cooperation between the United States and China for five years, a fossilized nest containing 22 dinosaur eggs, which was smuggled to America, finally ma...On 28 February 2012, under the close judiciary of and diplomatic cooperation between the United States and China for five years, a fossilized nest containing 22 dinosaur eggs, which was smuggled to America, finally made its way home.展开更多
Fossil microcoryphids are scarce. Silverstri （1912） described two genera and eight species of Machilidae or Machiloidae incertae sedis from Baltic amber （35-40 Myr）. In Cretaceous Myanmar amber （burmite： -99 Myr...Fossil microcoryphids are scarce. Silverstri （1912） described two genera and eight species of Machilidae or Machiloidae incertae sedis from Baltic amber （35-40 Myr）. In Cretaceous Myanmar amber （burmite： -99 Myr） one preserved Machilidae plus five undetermined specimens were reported but with no details by Grimaldi et al. （2002）. In Dominican amber （20-25 Myr） only Neomachilellus （Praeneomachilellus） dominicanus （Sturm ＆ Poinar 1997： Meinertellidae） has been found. Mendes （2013） considered that one undetermined Microcoryphia specimen preserved in burmite belonged to the genus Macropsontus, but did not provide enough argumentation.展开更多
The exquisitely preserved fossil embryos of Markuelia recovered from the limestones of the Middle Cambrian Haoqiao Formation and Upper Cambrian Bitiao formation in western Hunan, South China are described and illustra...The exquisitely preserved fossil embryos of Markuelia recovered from the limestones of the Middle Cambrian Haoqiao Formation and Upper Cambrian Bitiao formation in western Hunan, South China are described and illustrated in detail for the first time. A new species Markuelia elegans sp. nov. is established based mainly on embryos from the Upper Cambrian. A few of animal＇s resting eggs, which are comparable with those of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, have been also found in the Upper Cambrian of western Hunan. The membrane of one egg from the uppermost Cambrian has been replaced by pyrite and the overgrowth of the pyrite crystals exhibits a unique inorganic pattern termed herein ＇Pseudoembryo＇. The taphonomic setting in deeper water with possible strong reducing conditions promoted the excellent preservation for the Markuelia specimens. The study of Markuelia provides not only constraint on the anatomy, affinity, embryonic development and phylogenetic significance of this wormlike animal and but also opens a new window onto the evolution and development of the earliest animals.展开更多
文摘This paper studies the Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggshell fossils from the Xixia Basin, Henan Province, by microscopy and carbon isotope method. Careful observation under microscope revealed that all dinosaur eggshell fossils consist of primary calcite and secondary calcite. The content of the former is about 60.5% and the latter 39.5% according to image analysis. The δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of secondary carbonate mineral filling within the dinosaur eggs in the strata range from -5.63‰ to -5.68‰, with an average value of -5.65‰. The δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of sixteen dinosaur eggshell fossils are in the range from -5.88‰ to -7.79‰. Then we calculated the δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of primary carbonate minerals, ranging from -6.03‰ to -9.19‰. Based on the δ\{\}\+\{13\}C values of the primary carbonate, the ancient food type and food proportion of dinosaurs were deduced. The dinosaur’s food proportions of C\-3 plant and C\-4 plant are 61% and 39%, respectively. Finally, it is inferred that the palaeoclimate in the Xixia Basin should be a warm—sub\|humid—sub\|arid climate in the subtropical zone of the Xixia Basin.
文摘1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History to be those of Mesozoic herbivorous dinosaurs （Fig. 1）. Not long before, Yiwu Museum staff had discovered dinosaur eggs close by this place.
文摘On 28 February 2012, under the close judiciary of and diplomatic cooperation between the United States and China for five years, a fossilized nest containing 22 dinosaur eggs, which was smuggled to America, finally made its way home.
基金supported by the China Geological Survey(Grant No.12120115054101)
文摘Fossil microcoryphids are scarce. Silverstri （1912） described two genera and eight species of Machilidae or Machiloidae incertae sedis from Baltic amber （35-40 Myr）. In Cretaceous Myanmar amber （burmite： -99 Myr） one preserved Machilidae plus five undetermined specimens were reported but with no details by Grimaldi et al. （2002）. In Dominican amber （20-25 Myr） only Neomachilellus （Praeneomachilellus） dominicanus （Sturm ＆ Poinar 1997： Meinertellidae） has been found. Mendes （2013） considered that one undetermined Microcoryphia specimen preserved in burmite belonged to the genus Macropsontus, but did not provide enough argumentation.
基金supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.40772008 and 40572003)the Research Fund for DoctoralProgram of High Education(Grant No.20060001059)State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy,Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,ChineseAcademy of Sciences(Grant No.083101)
文摘The exquisitely preserved fossil embryos of Markuelia recovered from the limestones of the Middle Cambrian Haoqiao Formation and Upper Cambrian Bitiao formation in western Hunan, South China are described and illustrated in detail for the first time. A new species Markuelia elegans sp. nov. is established based mainly on embryos from the Upper Cambrian. A few of animal＇s resting eggs, which are comparable with those of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, have been also found in the Upper Cambrian of western Hunan. The membrane of one egg from the uppermost Cambrian has been replaced by pyrite and the overgrowth of the pyrite crystals exhibits a unique inorganic pattern termed herein ＇Pseudoembryo＇. The taphonomic setting in deeper water with possible strong reducing conditions promoted the excellent preservation for the Markuelia specimens. The study of Markuelia provides not only constraint on the anatomy, affinity, embryonic development and phylogenetic significance of this wormlike animal and but also opens a new window onto the evolution and development of the earliest animals.
