中国早白垩世热河生物群中大型霸王龙类化石的发现

    First large tyrannosauroid theropod from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota in northeastern China

    • 摘要: 一件包括部分头骨、下颌、肠骨等的不完整兽脚类恐龙骨架发现于辽宁喀左早白垩世九佛堂组中,估计身体全长可达9~10m。其前颌骨主体部分高、肠骨外侧面具显著的直立的嵴等特征表明该化石应归霸王龙类。它以外鼻孔大、上颌骨背缘前部略内凹、上颌骨孔向前达眶前窝前缘、腹缘与眶前窝腹缘存在较大距离等特征不同于晚白垩世的霸王龙科分子,故被命名为一新属种——喀左中国暴龙(Sinotyrannus kazuoensis gen. et sp. nov.),或许代表了最早的霸王龙科类型。该属种是已知个体最大的前晚白垩世霸王龙类,也是辽西及周边地区热河生物群中个体最大的兽脚类恐龙。它的发现不仅表明东亚是霸王龙类最主要的演化地区之一,而且为探讨霸王龙科的起源、热河生物群的组成与生态系统等提供了重要依据。

       

      Abstract: An incomplete theropod skeleton including partial skull, mandibles, ilia was collected from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Kazuo County, western Liaoning Province. It can be estimated that this theropod may reach 9~10 meters in total length. It should be classified within Tyrannosauroidea by its tall premaxillary body, median vertical ridge on the external surface of ilium. It differs from the Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids by much large external naris, slightly concave anterior portion of maxillary dorsal margin, maxillary fenestra reaching past the rostral margin of antorbital fossa but keeping apart from the ventral margin of antorbital fossa. Thus, Sinotyrannus kazuoensis gen. et sp. nov. is erected, perhaps representing the earliest member of Tyrannosauridae. This is the largest known pre-Late Cretaceous tyrannosauroid, and also the largest theropod from the Jehol Biota of western Liaoning and the adjacent regions. The discovery of this taxon not only suggests that East Asia should be one of the most important evolutionary centers of tyrannosauroids, but also provides the significant evidences for studying the origin of Tyrannosauridae, and the composition and ecosystem of the Jehol Biota.

       

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