Table of Content

15 June 2014, Volume 52 Issue 2

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Tooth crown formation time in three Asian coryphodontids, and its implications for identifying living analogues

MAO Fang-Yuan, WANG Yuan-Qing, MENG Jin, JIN Xun 

2014, 52(2):  153-170. 

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Molar enamel samples of three Asian coryphodontid species,Asiocoryphodon conicus Xu, 1976, Heterocoryphodon flerowi (Chow, 1957) and Eudinoceras mongoliensis Osborn, 1924, were histologically studied in order to investigate the patterns of formation of their multi-cusped tooth crowns and estimate their tooth crown formation times. The third upper molar crown formation times of A. conicus, H. flerowi and E. mongoliensis were estimated to have been 2.99 ± 0.1, 3.63 ± 0.11 and 3.68 ± 0.22 years, respectively, suggesting slow growth and a long life span. In combination with the inferred body sizes, the estimated crown formation times indicate that the life history of H. flerowi is most comparable to that of Hippopotamus amphibius among extant large herbivores, that the life history of E. mongoliensis is most properly compared with that of Ceratotherium simum, and that the life history of A. conicus was slightly shorter and faster-paced than that of Hippopotamus amphibius. Appropriate extant analogues for which data on intraspecific variation are available can potentially helpful in better understanding the classification and phylogeny of coryphodontids, a highly diverse group of Cenozoic early mammals. 

A new species of crown-antlered deer Stephanocemas(Cervidae, Artiodactyla) from the Middle Miocene of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China

DENG Tao, LU Xiao-Kang, SHI Qin-Qin, SUN Bo-Yang, WANG Shi-Qi

2014, 52(2):  170-182. 

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A new species of the crown-antlered deer, Stephanocemas guangheensis sp. nov. is described based on an adult antler, three cheek teeth, an astragalus, and a calcaneum. These specimens were discovered from the early Middle Miocene Dongxiang Formation of the Linxia Basin in Gansu Province, northwestern China. S. guangheensis is a small-sized crown-antlered deer, and its antler is broadly palmate, with six tines in the adult. It combines characters different from other species of the genus Stephanocemas, such as a moderately large palm, and superiorly orientated lateral tines. Its palmar base is a short semicircular column with a straight lateral margin and a shedding scar. This unclosed shedding scar is a shallow depression with dense spongy pores. S. guangheensis is more derived than S. aralensis and S. actauensis of the late Early Miocene, but more primitive than S. palmatus of the Middle Miocene. In the Linxia Basin, the Dongxiang Formation is poorly fossiliferous, so the discovery of S. guangheensis provides new evidence for the age estimation of this formation. 

Gomphotherium inopinatum, a basal Gomphotheriumspecies from the Linxia Basin, China, and other Chinese members of the genus

WANG Shi-Qi

2014, 52(2):  183-200. 

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An incomplete right dentary retaining m2 and m3 was recovered from the upper Lower Miocene of Ganchiliang, in the Linxia Basin. The part of the corpus anterior to the molars is strongly elongated, but not inclined or deflected downward. The mandibular angle of the ramus is in a low position. The molars are small and morphologically primitive. The interlophids are moderately anteroposteriorly open. Clear indications of further subdivision are absent in the posttrite half lophids and in the pretrite central conules. The major characters of the partial dentary correspond to those of Gomphotherium inopinatum from the Lower Miocene of the Turgai region of Kazakhstan, and the new Ganchiliang specimen is accordingly referred to this species. This is the first report of G. inopinatum from China, and G. inopinatum in turn represents the most basal species of Gomphotherium so far known in the Chinese record. Among other Gomphotherium species known from China, G. wimani represents a derived east Eurasian form that appears to be closely related to the European species G. steinheimense. Gomphotherium connexumseems to be a member of the “G. angustidens group”, given its strong morphological resemblance to G. angustidens. G. subtapiroideum may represent another evolutionary branch of the “G. angustidens group”, distinct from G. angustidens. “G. shensiensis” may represent a variation of G. subtapiroideum.

New materials of Hippopotamodon (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from southern China 

Dong Wei, Zhang Li-min

2014, 52(2):  201-216. 

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New materials of Hippopotamodon ultimus associated withGigantopithecus have been collected in the systematic excavations carried out at Chongzuo since 2004. The taxonomic position of the former “Dicoryphochoerus” ultimus from Guangxi, Guizhou and Chongqing has been revised from Dicoryphochoerus to Hippopotamodon based on the study on both new and old materials, and H. ultimus is a valid species of Hippopotamodon. It is a suid larger than all known Sus with elongated snout, developed diastema between the P1 and the P2, short and narrow third lobe of the M3, verrucosustype lower canine, the main cusp of the p4 cleft at the tip into twin summits, double cusped third lobe of the m3. H. ultimus ranges only in South China. Its chronological distribution is limited from the early to the middle stages of the Early Pleistocene. It is an ultimate representative of Hippopotamodon.

New Information on Hongshanornithidae (Aves: Ornithuromorpha) from a new subadult specimen 

ZHENG Xiao-ting, Jingmai K. O’CONNOR, WANG Xiao-li, ZHANG Xiao-mei, WANG Yan

2014, 52(2):  217-232. 

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We report on a new species of basal ornithuromorph bird,Tianyuornis cheni gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete and articulated subadult individual from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in the eastern region of Nei Mongol, China. The new specimen shows features characteristic of the Hongshanornithidae (Hongshanornis longicresta,Longicrusavis houi, and Parahongshanornis chaoyangensis), such as small body size and elongate hindlimbs relative to their forelimbs, but it also possesses some unique features that support the erection of a new genus and species, including a straight dentary (a sigmoidal dentary was previously considered an autapomorphy of hongshanornithids), teeth preserved on both the upper and lower jaws, sternal caudolateral trabecula has a distinct fan-shaped expanded distal end. With the addition of this new taxon, Hongshanornithidae represents the most diverse recognized clade of Early Cretaceous ornithuromorphs. The new specimen reveals new important morphological information regarding the Hongshanornithidae and confirms the controversial presence of teeth in this clade.

Changpeipus (theropod) tracks from the Middle Jurassic of the Turpan Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China: review, new discoveries, ichnotaxonomy, preservation and paleoecology

XING Li-da, Hendrik Klein, Martin G. Lockley, Andreas Wetzel, LI Zhong-dong, LI Jian-jun, Gerard D. Gierliński, Zhang Jian-ping, Masaki MATSUKAWA, Julien D. Divay, ZHOU Long？

2014, 52(2):  233-259. 

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Theropod footprint assemblages from the Sanjianfang Formation (Middle Jurassic) at the Shanshan tracksite, Turpan City, Xinjiang, northwest China are documented and re-described in detail. Together with new discoveries from this locality, they shed light on the different preservation and extramorphological variation of a total of 143 footprints. Ichnotaxonomically, they are assigned to the ichnospecies Changpeipus carbonicus, well known from other Jurassic tracksites of China. The presence of two distinct morphotypes, as has been proclaimed in earlier studies, is related to extramorphological variation on surfaces that indicate a soft, wet and slippery substrate. Anatomically based features supporting different ichnospecies are not present. Furthermore, the comparison with similar footprints from other localities suggests a monotypic ichnogenus Changpeipus with the type speciesC. carbonicus. Footprint lengths of 12.2 cm (a few isolated examples) to 47 cm at the Shanshan tracksites reflect small to medium-sized trackmakers that can be interpreted either as different age classes or different biological species. Peculiar preservational features include a footprint that documents slipping movement of the pes by three parallel bands obviously reflecting digits II, III and IV. An associated “normally” impressed tridactyl footprint suggests that both constitute a single step. The depositional environment was a gradually expanding and deepening lacustrine setting. This is also supported by the co-occurrence of abundant invertebrate trace fossils. Contrary to earlier interpretations resulting in an assignment to Lockeia the invertebrate traces are re-assigned here to the ichnogenus Fuersichnus that can be attributed to deposit-feeding insect larvae or other invertebrates. Fuersichnus is a characteristic dwelling and/or feeding burrow of muddy floodplains or lake margin settings.