• Synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy reveals histology and internal structure of Galeaspida (Agnatha)

    分类: 地球科学 >> 地质学 提交时间: 2017-08-29 合作期刊: 《古脊椎动物学报》

    摘要: Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy (SRXTM) is a powerful non-destructive method in paleontology, providing ultra-high-resolution 3D insights into the internal structure of fossils. Employing SRXTM, the skull specimens of Shuyu zhejiangensis, a 428 million-year-old galeaspid from the Silurian of Changxing, Zhejiang Province, are investigated. The subsequent analyses indicate that the endoskeletal skull of S. zhejiangensis is composed wholly of cartilage without convincing evidence for the presence of perichondral bone. The cranial anatomy of S. zhejiangensis are unusually preserved in three dimensions largely due to the non-random decay of the cartilaginous braincase and its connecting ‘soft’ tissues. Using Amira or Avizo software, seven virtual 3D endocasts of the skull of S. zhejiangensis were created revealing the gross internal cranial anatomy of galeaspids in great detail for the first time. The preliminary results indicate that during evolution the galeaspid head experienced a fundamental reorganization resulting in the development of jaws. 同步辐射X射线断层显微成像已经成为古生物研究中一种新的重要手段,能够在不损坏化石的前提下,提供化石内部超高分辨率的三维成像。利用瑞士光源最先进的同步辐射X射线断层显微成像技术,研究分析了七个采自浙江长兴志留系(约4.28亿年前)的早期盔甲鱼类浙江曙鱼三维立体保存脑颅化石。同步辐射X射线显微成像结果显示:盔甲鱼脑颅完全由软骨组成,并没有软骨外成骨存在的证据;盔甲鱼脑颅解剖结构能够被精细的保存下来,很大程度上归功于脑颅软骨与周围软组织在埋藏过程中的异时分解。利用AMIRA或AVIZO等计算机三维虚拟复原软件,三维虚拟复原了七个曙鱼脑颅模型,首次揭示出盔甲鱼脑颅内部详细的解剖结构。初步研究结果显示盔甲鱼的脑颅已经发生了显著的重组,具备了颌发育所必需的先决条件。

  • A taxonomical revision of ‘Dongfangaspis qujingensis’from the Lower Devonian of Qujing, Yunnan Province

    分类: 生物学 >> 动物学 提交时间: 2024-03-22 合作期刊: 《古脊椎动物学报》

    摘要: “曲靖东方鱼”(‘Dongfangaspis qujingensis’)的归属长期以来存在争议,其最初被归入 东方鱼属(Dongfangaspis), 之后被归入宽甲鱼属(Laxaspis)。然而,由于宽甲鱼属模式种为 曲靖宽甲鱼(Laxaspis qujingensis), 这一分类学厘定又引起异物同名的问题。描述了来自云 南曲靖早泥盆世洛赫考夫期西山村组的“曲靖东方鱼”和变异坝鱼(Damaspis vartus)的新材 料。“曲靖东方鱼”在头甲长略大于宽,侧横管末端呈二分叉,V字型后眶上管不汇合,以 及至少7条侧横管从侧背管发出等方面与变异坝鱼高度相似。这些相似之处表明,相较于 宽甲鱼属和东方鱼属, “曲靖东方鱼”更接近坝鱼属。因此提出将“曲靖东方鱼”从宽甲鱼属 中移除,归入坝鱼属。新标本表明变异坝鱼多出来第5对长的侧横管是该种的一个鉴别特 征,而正型标本所呈现的非对称感觉管系统应为种内变异所造成。