Article
Geography, Physical
Zhixin Ma, Shixue Hu, Huaichun Wu, Xiting Liu, Changyong Zhou, Wen Wen, Qiyue Zhang, Jinyuan Huang, Xiao Min
Summary: This study reveals the relationship between exceptional preservation of the Luoping biota and high primary productivity through geochemical analysis. The findings suggest that nutrient supply from the open ocean, combined with bottom water anoxia, played a crucial role in the preservation of macrofauna in the Luoping area.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Zhixin Ma, Huaichun Wu, Shixue Hu, Qiang Fang, Xiting Liu, Changyong Zhou, Wen Wen, Qiyue Zhang, Jinyuan Huang, Xiao Min
Summary: The Middle Triassic Luoping biota has been dated to 244.5 +/- 2.2 Ma, and its duration is estimated to be about -340 +/- 71 kyr. Spectral analyses and cyclostratigraphy analysis reveal sedimentary cycles that may be caused by eccentricity, obliquity, precession, and sub-Milankovitch cycles. The intensified monsoonal climate and high nutrient input into the Luoping area are believed to have fueled primary productivity in surface water and contributed to the exceptional preservation of the Luoping biota.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiling Liu, Tinglu Yang, Long Cheng, Michael J. Benton, Benjamin C. Moon, Chunbo Yan, Zhihui An, Li Tian
Summary: A new specimen of the predatory marine reptile Diandongosaurus from the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota in southwest China is reported, indicating recovery from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The specimen, larger than most other known pachypleurosaurs, shows affinities with Diandongosaurus acutidentatus and was predated by an unknown hunter.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhixin Ma, Shixue Hu, Xiting Liu, Changyong Zhou, Wen Wen, Qiyue Zhang, Jinyuan Huang, Xiao Min
Summary: The Luoping Biota represents the recovery of marine ecosystems after the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction. Sedimentary analysis and multi-geochemical proxies were used to understand the paleoenvironmental background. Anoxic conditions played a key role in the exceptional fossil preservation.
GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Guang-Hui Xu, Xin-Ying Ma
Summary: A new fossil ginglymodian, Diandongichthys ocellatus gen. et sp. nov., is described based on well-preserved specimens from the Early-Middle Triassic marine deposits in China. It is one of the oldest and smallest ginglymodians discovered from the Middle Triassic and provides new insights into the origin and early diversification of this group.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Wen Wen, Qiyue Zhang, Juergen Kriwet, Shixue Hu, Changyong Zhou, Jinyuan Huang, Xindong Cui, Xiao Min, Michael J. Benton
Summary: Hybodont sharks were successful chondrichthyan lineages that existed from the Devonian to the Late Cretaceous. The article describes three taxa of hybodontid sharks and provides information on the tooth replacement rate in the Mesozoic of China.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Diying Huang, Marina Hakim, Yanzhe Fu, Andre Nel
Summary: The new sternorrhynchan Triassopsyllidiida pectinata gen. et sp. nov. is described from the latest Middle Triassic Tongchuan biota of China. Its forewing venation is unique among this superfamily, but its exact position in the group remains uncertain due to the weak diagnostic value of wing venation characters in these insects. The phylogenetic relationships of the Protopsyllidioidea are discussed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Artai A. Santos, Xin Wang
Summary: The study introduces a cone-like organ named Combina gen. nov., which shows similarities to carpels in angiosperms, indicating a possible connection between Triassic plants and early angiosperms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jia Jia, Jason S. Anderson, Ke-Qin Gao
Summary: A newly referred specimen to the stem hynobiid, named Neimengtriton daohugouensis, was reported and found to predate the previously estimated origination time of Hynobiidae by at least 8 million years. This new species is interpreted as semiaquatic at the adult stage, revealing an unknown association between caudosacral vertebrae and fertilization modes in early urodele evolution. Cladistic analyses based on morphological characters identified several stem hynobiids and established Panhynobia nomen cladinovum for the total-group hynobiids, shedding light on the sequential evolution of morphological features in this primitive urodele clade.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guang-Hui Xu, Qing-Hua Shang, Wei Wang, Yi Ren, Hong Lei, Jun-Ling Liao, Li-Jun Zhao, Chun Li
Summary: A new pachypleurosaurid, Luopingosaurus, with a long snout and hyperphalangy in the manus, is discovered in China, providing new insights into the evolution and biogeography of this group. The reduction of hyoid length to mandibular length ratio and the increase of snout length in pachypleurosauroids suggest a gradual recession of suction feeding. Phylogenetic analysis supports a western Tethyan origin for this family.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Dongyang Liu, Chunju Huang, James G. Ogg, David B. Kemp, Mingsong Li, Meiyi Yu, William J. Foster
Summary: The study conducted a cyclostratigraphic analysis of a Middle Triassic marine platform succession in South China, revealing significant cycles in elemental proxies and lithofacies. By establishing a new astronomical time scale, the age of Anisian environment and the timing of early marine ecosystem recovery were determined, with possible deoxygenation events identified during the Anisian period.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Yifei Sun, Xuheng Du, Jiajia Cao, Hong Pang, Tong Bao
Summary: Juramordella asperula gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) is a newly described beetle species from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Biota, Nincheng County, Inner Mongolia of China. It is distinguished from other Praemordellinae by its roughly punctate elytra, absence of subapical or lateral ridges on all tibiae and tarsi, simple, not bilobed protarsi and mesocoxa distant from procoxa, epicoxa not anterior to metacoxa, well-developed metafemur, and absence of elongated pygidium. The morphology of Juramordella asperula suggests that early mordellid-like beetles had adopted their body shape and way of movement since the Middle Jurassic, long before their flower-visiting behavior evolved.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yuangeng Huang, Zhong-Qiang Chen, Siqi Wu, Xueqian Feng
Summary: This study documents new stromatolite deposits in the Boyun section of eastern Yunnan Province, China. The stromatolites are characterized by undulating laminations and indicate a different environment compared to the Lower Triassic stromatolites. The study also reveals a possible link between the diameter of cyanobacteria filament and marine deoxygenation in the Triassic.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guang-Hui Xu, Yi Ren, Li-Jun Zhao, Jun-Ling Liao, Dong-Hao Feng
Summary: In this study, a new pachypleurosaurid species, Honghesaurus longicaudalis, from Yunnan, China is reported. This discovery fills the morphological gap in pachypleurosaurs and provides new evidence and insights into this group. The study also reveals the role of the Tethys Ocean in the dispersal of pachypleurosaurs from Europe to South China.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yunfei Huang, Jinnan Tong, Li Tian, Haijun Song, Daoliang Chu, Xue Miao, Ting Song
Summary: This study analyzed the shell-size changes in bivalve fossils from South China during the end-Permian mass extinction and Early-Middle Triassic recovery. The results showed a significant reduction in shell size immediately after the extinction event, followed by a quick rebound and growth in the late Griesbachian. The variations in bivalve size were mainly influenced by factors such as competition, predation, and climatic and oxygen changes.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)