A newly discovered Gigantopithecus fauna from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China

Among the most important faunas in the Late Cenozoic, the Gigantopithecus faunas have received a good deal of attention. The Gigantopithecus fauna recently discovered in Sanhe Cave consists of more than 80 mammal species, including cf. Hominidae, Pongo sp., Hylobates sp., Sinomastodon yangzien-sis, Stegodon preorientalis, Cervavitus fenqii, Dicoryphochoerus ultimus and Sus xiaozhu. It is the southernmost Gigantopithecus fauna found so far in China. Its geological age is estimated to be Early Pleistocene bas...     

New discoveries from the classic Quaternary mammalian fossil area of Yanjinggou, Chongqing, and their chronological explanations

Yanjinggou in Wanzhou District of Chongqing is one of the earliest reported and most famous Quaternary mammalian fossil areas in China. The fauna from this area used to be taken as a benchmark for the biochronological comparison of Quaternary paleontology of South China, but the chronology of this fauna has many controversies for the lack of exact locational and stratigraphical records. The present article, on the basis of recent investigations and discoveries, discusses and explains the distribution and biochronology of the mammalian faunas in the Yanjinggou area. The newly discovered Dayakou fissure fauna, including Rhizomys troglodytes, Homotherium sp., Panthera pardus, Stegodon orientalis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Hesperotherium sinense, Sus sp., Cervavitus fenqii, Cervus sp. and Muntiacus sp., is correlated to the middle Early Pleistocene. The presence of Early Pleistocene mammalian fauna in the Yanjinggou area is therefore confirmed. The “Wanhsien fauna” or “Yenchingkou (=Yanjinggou) fauna” as a Mid-Late Pleistocene biostratigraphical datum should be abandoned. The Dayakou fauna and the Upper Cave fauna of Pingba, both in the Yanjinggou area, are correlated to the middle Early Pleistocene and the early Middle Pleistocene in age, respectively.     

Periodicity of Retzius lines in fossil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pongo</Emphasis> from South China

Periodicity of Retzius lines is a key factor in dental development. In this study, we examined the periodicity of Retzius lines in fossil Pongo from South China using polarized light microscope observation of dental ground sections. The periodicities all of the 15 teeth were 9 d. Comparisons of periodicity were made with extant primates, fossil apes and hominins. Periodicity of fossil Pongo from South China was relatively long but fell within the variation of extant Pongo, Gorilla and modern human, and longer than periodicity of Pan and other extant primates. Fossil Pongo from South China was similar to Lufengpithecus and Sivapithecus, shorter than Gigantopithecus and longer than European and African fossil apes and most early hominins in periodicity. Generally, the periodicities of Asian large-body fossil apes were longer than the periodicities of European and African large-body fossil apes in Miocene. Difference among species and trend of evolution in periodicity were analyzed and discussed. We found that periodicity might gradually increase from Proconsul in early Miocene to several fossil apes in Miocene and then Gigantopithecus in Pleistocene. In addition, this study made correlate analysis between periodicity and body mass respectively in males and females of six extant apes and five fossil apes, and found that periodicity positively correlated with body mass.     

The Homo sapiens Cave hominin site of Mulan Mountain, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo, Guangxi with emphasis on its age

One of the most hotly debated and frontal issues in paleoanthropology focuses on the origins of modern humans. Recently, an incomplete hominin mandible with a distinctly weaker mental protuberance than modern human and a great variety of coexisting fossil mammals were unearthed from the Homo sapiens Cave of Mulan Mountain, Chongzuo, Guangxi. The mammalian fauna from the Homo sapiens Cave characterized by the combination of Elephas kiangnanensis, first occurring Elephas maixmus, and Megatapirus augustus, and strikingly different from the Early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus fauna and the Middle Pleistocene Ailuropoda-Stogodon fauna of South China could be regarded as an early representive of the typical Asian elephant fauna. Faunal analysis, biostratigraphic correlation, and, most importantly, U-series dating all consistently support an estimate of ca. 110 ka for the age of the fossil Homo sapiens and coexisting mammalian fauna, that is, the early Late Pleistocene. The fauna is mainly made up of tropical-subtropical elements, but grassland elements have a much greater variety than forest elements, which probably indicates a drier climate at that time. This discovery of early Homo sapiens at the Mulan Mountain will play a significant role in the study of the origin and its environmental background of modern humans.     

海南岛金波地区发现杜内早期腕足动物群

白沙县金波附近的Spirifercf.,subgrandisRotai ,Neospirifersp .,Fuselacf.tornacensis (Koninck) ,Punc tospirifersp .,Mucrospirifersp .,Eumetriacfserpentina (Koninck) ,Palaeochoristiessp .,Megachonetessp .,Pli chonetessp .,Orthotetessp .,Chonetipustulasp .,Marginatiasp .,Curithyrissp .,Rhipidomellasp .是海南岛首次发现的最丰富的杜内早期腕足动物群。据此 ,该地区含化石的原南好组第四段确定为下石炭统岩关阶。该动物群以石燕贝类最繁盛、长身贝类数量少为特征 ,与华南其它地区同期腕足动物群不同     

The first Sinomastodon (Gomphotheriidae, Proboscidea) skull from the Quaternary in China

The first Sinomastodon(Gomphotheriidae,Proboscidea) skull of the Early Pleistocene,collected from the Renzidong Cave deposits in Anhui Province,Eastern China,is described here as S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.As the only brevirostrine trilophodont gomphotheriid known from the Old World,Sinomastodon was mainly indigenous to China from the Early Pliocene to the Pleistocene.Compared with a few single Pleistocene teeth previously found in China,S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.is represented by a relatively complete skull,mandible and dentition,which is the first discovery of a Quaternary Sinomastodon skull from China.With a brevirostrine,elephant-like skull,no lower tusks,and simple bunodont and trilophodont intermediate molars,the new species is morphologically distinct from other gomphotheres and should belong to the genus Sinomastodon.The new species is more progressive than S.hanjiangensis and the Pliocene type species S.intermedius in its skull and mandible morphology,but is evidently more primitive than the Pleistocene S.yangziensis in its molar morphology.The faunal analysis suggests that the emergence of S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.in Jiangnan area and its southward migration may have been related to a cooling event at the beginning of the Quaternary in Eastern China.     

First discovery of fossil Diplothrix (Muridae, Rodentia) outside the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

The first Diplothrix (Muridae, Rodentia) fossils of the early Early Pleistocene are described as D. yangziensis sp. nov., which were collected from the Renzidong Cave deposits in Anhui Province, Eastern China. Diplothrix was previously represented by a single species, D. legata, whose geographical distribution during the Late Pleistocene is restricted to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. With straight chevrons on M1, distinct t3 and t9 on upper molars, primitive M3, mlc on m1, and developed a-lab on m2 and m3, the new species is morphologically distinct from other large murids in East Asia, and should belong to the genus Diplothrix. There are also differences in molar morphology between the new species and D. legata, the type species of Diplothrix, as well as other known fossils. For example, D. yangziensis sp. nov. has a smaller size, a more elongated crown, developed precingulum and pc on M1, more primitive M3, weaker mlc and more primitive pc on m1, and stronger plc and pc on m3. In short, Diplothrix yangziensis sp. nov. is evidently more primitive than D. legata, suggesting that the former is likely the ancestor of the latter. Diplothrix yangziensis sp. nov. is the first discovery of the genus outside the Ryukyu Islands, Japan and is also the earliest and most primitive species of the genus in Eurasia. Its discovery has significant implications for reconstructing the evolution and dispersal pattern of Diplothrix, as well as for discussing its palaeoecological variation.     

广东乐昌第四纪大熊猫--剑齿象动物群

广东乐昌第四纪大熊猫-剑齿象动物群计有5目15属16种,主要属种有大熊猫洞穴亚种、东方剑齿象、中国犀、中国黑熊、水鹿和水牛等,这些都是南方大熊猫-剑齿象动物群的典型分子,与曲江马坝动物群、封开黄岩洞动物群比较接近,时代为中更新世末期或晚更新世早期.动物群反映的当时的生态环境除了森林比较茂密外,水草也比较丰富,气候温凉而不很干燥.该动物群是广东粤北地区继曲江马坝动物群、罗坑动物群以及灵溪暗岩动物群之后又一重要发现,对研究华南地区第四纪动物群的分布、变迁以及当时的古气候和古环境等具有一定意义.     

陕西蓝田锡水洞哺乳动物群的意义

在分析了锡水洞化石哺乳动物群的性质及其所反映的古气候环境后，通过对该时期古人类分布及活动的推断，确定出该动物群的时代为中更新世，进而推算出了第四纪中期以来秦岭大约抬升了１１０ｍ。     

Mesozoic giant fleas from northeastern China (Siphonaptera): Taxonomy and implications for palaeodiversity

The recently discovered definite giant fleas from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou fauna and the Early Cretaceous Jehol fauna of northeastern China represent significant evidence for understanding ectoparasitism in the Mesozoic as well as the evolution of these giant blood feeders with their putative hosts (i.e. hairy or feathered vertebrates). On the basis of seven well-preserved specimens from Daohugou and Huangbanjigou we analyse the systematic classification of these primitive fleas, establishing two new genera and three new species as Pseudopulex wangi sp. nov., Hadropsylla sinica gen. et sp. nov., and Tyrannopsylla beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. All of them are assigned to the extinct siphonapteran family Pseudopulicidae, while the Early Cretaceous genus Tarwinia is transferred to Tarwiniidae fam. nov. The basal morphological disparities of Siphonaptera in the Mesozoic are evidenced by the occurrence of at least three distinct groups (pseudopulicids, tarwiniids, and saurophthirids). These disparate morphologies likely indicate adaptations to different hosts.     

Age and paleoenvironment of Xiaogushan fauna at Haicheng,Liaoning Province

A mammalian fauna composed of 40 species associated with Xiaogushan Man was unearthed during the archaeological excavations from 1981 to 2007 at Xiaogushan Paleolithic Site, Haicheng, Liaoning Province. The analyses of the fauna and comparison with other related faunas indicate that Xiaogushan fauna is very similar to that of Shanchengzi, Gulongshan and Yushu. It is a typical fauna of Northern Region. Its age is within the middle to late stages of the Late Pleistocene (80–20 ka). Influenced by cold period MIS4, the cold forms appeared in the fauna. Nevertheless the decrease in temperature was not very much and the climate was still a temperate one. The fauna’s environment was generally humid, with large forest, some water areas and grasslands. It is suitable for prehistoric human habitation during temperate seasons with considerable food and water resources. The cold period MIS4 might push prehistoric human southward to temperate areas or stimulate them to develop fire using and making techniques.     

New fossil elaterids （Insect： Coleoptera： Polyphaga： Elateridae） from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

A new genus with a new species of fossil elaterid, Paraprotagrypnus superbus gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou Village (N41°18.979′, E119°14.318′), Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China is described and illustrated. The genus Paraprotagrypnus belongs to the family of Elateridae, subfamily of Protagrypninae and tribe of Protagrypnini. Some primitive characters of the new genus and new species shed light on the ages between the Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia and the Yixian Formation in the western Liaoning Province of China. The habitat of the new species is briefly discussed.     

重庆合川三汇坝晚更新世哺乳动物群

对三汇坝牛尾洞发现的19种哺乳动物化石应用数理统计分析、铀系和含氟量测年分析、孢粉分析进行了研究.论证了它们是一个晚更新世时生活于亚热带暖热湿润气候中的乔木林-灌木林-湿草地动物群.通过它与四川盆地第四纪的几个典型动物群相比较,证明其性质仍是我国南方广义“大熊猫-剑齿象动物群”之一员.其特点鲜明,是该动物群演化发展过程中的一环,介于歌乐山与资阳两动物群之间.     

中国的三叠纪海生爬行动物化石及其层位

对中国三叠纪海生爬行动物化石及其产出层位、产地进行了较为系统的分析研究和总结,划分出4个相关的海生爬行动物群:早三叠世南漳海生爬行动物群、中三叠世兴义海生爬行动物群、晚三叠世关岭海生爬行动物群、晚三叠世定日海生爬行动物群.进一步的研究表明,中国三叠纪海生爬行动物化石数量比较丰富,种类多样;特别是贵州关岭地区三叠纪海生化石数量多、保存完整,基本上为原地埋藏,实属国内外同期地层之罕见.中国三叠纪海生爬行动物化石地史分布从早三叠世奥伦尼克期到晚三叠世诺利期都有分布;地理分布主要分布于古东特提斯海域,具有明显的区域性.     

Early Pleistocene hominid teeth recovered in Mohui cave in Bubing Basin, Guangxi,South China

Since the 1950s, researchers who examine the issue of human beginnings often turn to Africa where there is a picture of human origins and evolution based on African hominid fossils with ages that are constantly revised to be older and older. However, there are many other unsolved problems about early human origins and evolution that may be solved by looking outside Africa. Over seventy years ago, Asia was described as a dispersal center of the earliest human industry, and a key arena for huma…     

Enamel carbon isotope evidence of diet and habitat of Gigantopithecus blacki and associated mammalian megafauna in the Early Pleistocene of South China

Enamel stable carbon isotope analyses were conducted on the large fossil ape Gigantopithecus blacki and an associated mammalian megafauna from Longgudong Cave in Jianshi and Juyuandong Cave in Liucheng, South China. The range in δ13C values (-18.8‰ to -14.1‰) indicates that G. blacki and other large mammals fed on solely C3 biomass, and lived in forest habitats, and not open country or savannas. These results are consistent with other faunal and floral analyses for that time. The diet and habitat of G. blacki were significantly different from those of early hominins (Australopithecus and Paranthropus) from South and East Africa. Extinction of G. blacki probably was a result of forest habitat fragmentation and deterioration.     

广西䗛目3新种记述

记述采自广西的Ｙｏｕ目昆虫３新种,即Ｙｏｕ科的兴安短肛Ｙｏｕ（Ｂａｃｕｌｕｍｘｉｎｇａｎｅｎｓｅｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）异Ｙｏｕ科的广西原异Ｙｏｕ（Ｐｒｏｓｃｅｌｅｓｇｕａｎｇｘｉｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ）和蓝胸蔷Ｙｏｕ（Ａｓｃｌｅｓｃａｅｃｉｕｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）对其形态进行了描述,与近缘种作比较,并附特征图。     

Discovery of Late Cretaceous foraminifera in the Songliao Basin: Evidence from SK-1 and implications for identifying seawater incursions

The Songliao Basin is the largest oil-bearing basin in China.In the absence of sufficient evidence,the possibility of seawater incursion(s) into the Songliao Basin remains controversial.Recently,we discovered relatively abundant foraminifera fossils from units 1 and 2 of the Nenjiang Formation of borehole SK-1.Benthic foraminifera (Gavlinella sp.,Anomalinoides sp.,Pullenia sp.,Haplophragmoides sp.,Karrorulina hokkaidoana,Clavulinoides sp.),as well as planktonic foraminifera (Archaeoglobigerina blowi,Archaeoglobigerina cretacea and Hedbergella flandrini),were identified.These fossils were widely distributed in the marine Cretaceous.According to the global distribution of the above-mentioned planktonic foraminifera,the age of these fossil bearing strata appears to be Late Coniacian to Santonian.More importantly,these foraminifera provide direct evidence for marine water incursions into the Songliao Basin during deposition of the Lower Nenjiang Formation.     

Middle Pleistocene mammalian fauna of Shanyangzhai cave in Qinhuangdao area,China and its zoogeographical significance

The mammalian fauna with clear characteristics of transitional region has been found in the Shanyangzhai cave of the Qin-huangdao area where the three Chinese zoogeographical regions (the Northeast region, the North region and the Mengxin region) join. Abundant fossils mainly are small mammals. The fauna includes typical species derived from three zoogeographical regions and can be compared with the middle Pleistocene faunas found in both the Zhoukoudian (the North region) and the Jinniushan (the Northeast ...