Issue 1,2025 Table of Contents

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  • 1  Triassic Lagerstätten: A Review
    SONG Hai-jun YUAN Zhi-wei SUN Xiao-yuan LIU Yu-ting Dai Xu CHU Dao-liang CHENG Long XU Guang-hui CHEN Jing JIA En-hao LIU Xiao-kang WU Yu-yang SONG Hu-yue TIAN Li TONG Jin-nan
    2025(1):1-22. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024034
    [Abstract](38) [HTML](0) [PDF 7.75 M](44)
    Abstract:
    Lagerst?tten, exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages in the geological record, hold great scientific value for studying the fine morphology and anatomical structures of fossil organisms, as well as paleoecology, paleophysi ology, and biological evolution. Since the 1970s, research on Lagerst?tten has experienced phased growth, culminating in significant advancements in recent years. This paper reviews the spatial and temporal distribution, current research status, and scientific significance of Triassic Lagerst?tten, which have been discovered in both marine and terrestrial deposits, primarily located in China, Europe, and North America, spanning a broad timeframe from the Early to Late Triassic. These Lagerst?tten have played a crucial role in elucidating the early Mesozoic biota, the recovery and radia tion processes of life following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, the establishment of modern-type marine eco systems, and the Mesozoic marine and lacustrine revolutions. Although a substantial number of Lagerst?tten have been discovered in China – 10 out of the 25 Lagerst?tten documented in this paper – the level of research remains compara tively lower than that of the well-studied European regions. Therefore, Lagerst?tten from China hold great potential for future research, particularly in uncovering new biological groups and their ecological significance. Enhancing related studies will contribute significantly to understanding global Mesozoic biological evolution.
    2  Morphology and taxonomy of Choia from the Qingjiang Biota
    WU Lai-yuan YUN Hao WANG Qing-shan ZHANG Xing-liang
    2025, 64(1):23-38. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024013
    [Abstract](19) [HTML](0) [PDF 12.34 M](27)
    Abstract:
    Choia is one of the representative demosponges that occurred during the Cambrian Explosion. This genus has been discovered in a wide spectrum of the Cambrian biotas. However, the body shape and growth pattern of this sponge group remain controversial. In this paper, two new species of Choia, Choia qingjiangensis sp. nov. and Choia textura sp. nov. along with the common species C. carteri Walcott, 1920 from the Cambrian Stage 3 Qingjiang Biota are studied to reveal their morphology and taxonomy. The body shape and orientation of Choia are reconstructed based on new preservation models for this group. The results indicate that Choia can be categorized into two types based on different height-to-width ratios. The first type has a relatively large height-to-width ratio, making it more prone to lat eral compression, often resulting in fan-shaped or severely damaged specimens. The second type has a smaller height-to-width ratio, and is usually preserved as a round or nearly round shape due to the vertical pressure; the central disks of the specimens are often broken and the coronal spicules (i.e., large radially protruding spicules) are usually missing. The new specimens in this study support the concave side-upward reconstruction of Choia, shedding light on the adaptive strategies of this group.
    3  Biostratigraphy and carbon isotopes of the Annulata Event at the Shuiyuantou section, Xing’an County, Guangxi
    QIN Bin-xian PAN Ming LIN Yu LIAO Jia-fei WU Ji-wen LI Yu-kun SUO Li-zhen ZHOU Jia-ming WEI Wei WEI Ai-chen
    2025, 64(1):39-59. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024017
    [Abstract](18) [HTML](0) [PDF 17.51 M](28)
    Abstract:

    The Late Devonian represents a critical interval in Earth’s history, marked by multiple bio-events. Among these events, the Annulata Event is a short-term bio-event during the Famennian Age. To investigate the biostratigra phy and chemostratigraphy of the Annulata Event within shallow-water carbonate settings in South China, we con ducted integrated conodont biostratigraphic and stable isotopic analyses on upper Famennian strata at the Shuiyuantou section in Xing’an County, northeastern Guilin, Guangxi. A total of six samples were collected, each yielding abundant conodonts. Thirty-three species (including four undetermined taxa) of seven genera were identified, represented by Bispathodus, Icriodus, Nothognathella, Palmatolepis, Pseudopolygnathus, Polygnathus, and Spathognathodus. A re working process probably occurred, as some conodonts exhibit longer stratigraphic ranges than previously recorded; however, potentially reworked specimens were excluded from the establishment of conodont zonation. The conodont assemblages enable us to establish three conodont biozones, in ascending order: the Palmatolepis rugosa trachytera Zone, the Pseudopolygnathus granulosus Zone, and the Polygnathus styriacus Zone. Although the characteristic or ganic-rich black shales and carbonates associated with the Annulata Event in European and South China are absent at the Shuiyuantou section due to coverage, combined biostratigraphic and carbon isotopic evidence places the lower to middle part of Bed 6 within the Pseudopolygnathus granulosus Zone, correlating it with the Annulata Event horizon. This interval exhibits a pronounced positive carbon isotope excursion. A synthesis of previous data suggests that sea-level rise, enhanced marine primary productivity, and expanded marine anoxia collectively drove the observed carbon cycle perturbations during the Annulata Event.

    4  New ankylosaurid material from the Lower Cretaceous of the Ruyang Basin, Henan Province
    ZHANG Ji-ming JIA Lei XU Li YOU Hai-lu GAO Dian-song LIU Di LI Yu WANG Yan-chao
    2025(1):60-73. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024037
    [Abstract](21) [HTML](0) [PDF 8.93 M](29)
    Abstract:
    This study describes new ankylosaurid dinosaur fossil material discovered in the Haoling Formation of the Lower Cretaceous strata in the Ruyang Basin, Henan Province. Based on this material, a new species within the genus Zhongyuansaurus is established: Zhongyuansaurus junchangi sp. nov. This species is characterized by a unique au tapomorphy: at least five caudal armor plates arranged in a shingle-like pattern with a distinctive swallowtail shape. Additionally, it exhibits relatively slender mandibular bones compared to the more robust mandibles of advanced An-kylosaurinae. The anterior tip of the coronoid process extends only to the last two alveoli, differing from Shamosaurus. The distal caudal vertebrae are adorned with small osteoderms, and the humerus has a midshaft circumfer ence-to-total-length ratio of 0.46, distinguishing it from Zhongyuansaurus luoyangensis. The discovery of Zhong yuansaurus junchangi provides new insights into the evolution of ankylosaurs in the Lower Cretaceous strata of Ruyang and enhances the species diversity of the Ruyang dinosaur fauna.
    5  Bulinidae (Gastropoda) from the Paleogene Anjihaihe Formation on the southwest margin of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang
    ZHU Xiang-gen
    2025(1):74-83. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024039
    [Abstract](22) [HTML](0) [PDF 1.40 M](19)
    Abstract:
    Gastropod fossils are abundant in the Anjihaihe Formation of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, northwestern China. In this study, five species were described belonging to the family Bulinidae. The specimens were collected from the mid dle member of the Anjihaihe Formation at the Kuitunhe section on the southwestern margin of the Junggar Basin. These five species, including two new species, belong to two genera of the family Bulinidae: Sinoplanorbis sinensis (Odhner), Sinoplanorbis junggarensis sp. nov., Sinoplanorbis intermedia Yü et Pan, Hopeiella kuitunensis sp. nov., and Hopeiella alticonica Youluo. Both genera, Sinoplanorbis and Hopeiella, are endemic to China and are mainly distributed in the up per Eocene to lower Oligocene strata in the provinces of Shanxi, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Henan, and Hebei, as well as in the coastal areas of the Bohai Sea. The known species Sinoplanorbis sinensis (Odhner), Sinoplanorbis intermedia Yü et Pan, and Hopeiella alticonica Youluo have also been reported from the upper part of the fourth member of the Shahejie For mation and the Dongying Formation (upper Eocene to lower Oligocene) along the coastal areas of the Bohai Sea. Based upon the geographical distribution and stratigraphic occurrence of Sinoplanorbis and Hopeiella, as well as the stratigraph ic range of these species, the geological age of the middle member of the Anjihaihe Formation is inferred to be late Eocene–early Oligocene.
    6  Taxonomy and phylogeny of Polyglyphanodontia (Squamata): a comprehensive review
    JIANG Juan BI Shun-dong DAI Rui-ming DONG Li-ping
    2025(1):84-99. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024035
    [Abstract](19) [HTML](0) [PDF 3.40 M](24)
    Abstract:
    Polyglyphanodontia (Squamata) were widely distributed and represent one of the dominant squamate groups during the Late Cretaceous, exhibiting significant variation in both body size and morphology. Their dental morphologies are particularly diverse, featuring some unique tooth types among squamates, such as the transverse chisel-shaped teeth of Polyglyphanodon and the mammalian molar-like multicuspid teeth of Peneteius. Notably, this highly successful squamate group went extinct together with dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and mosasaurs (Squamata) at the end of the Cretaceous. Recently, scientific interest in polyglyphanodontians has grown, driven by an increasing number of fossil discoveries worldwide. Despite the identification of more than 60 species and the availability of well-preserved fossil materials, controversies remain unresolved regarding their taxonomy, intra-relationships within Polyglyphanodontia, and the phylogenetic position of the group within squamates. These uncertainties stem from their mosaic morphological features, simplistic descriptions, and incomplete or inadequate illustrations of fossils in some early studies. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the species previously reported as polyglyphan odontians, examine the taxonomic history and phylogenetic hypotheses of the group, clarify the definition of the clade Polyglyphanodontia, and summarize its morphological diversity.
    7  Exploring large language models in paleontology: a prototype RAG-based knowledge QA system
    HUANG Bing
    2025(1):100-112. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024047
    [Abstract](14) [HTML](0) [PDF 963.00 K](26)
    Abstract:
    In recent years, AI for Science has profoundly transformed scientific research paradigms. With the rapid ad vancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), an increasing number of researchers have begun integrating these tools into various aspects of their scientific work. However, the potential of LLMs in scientific research extends far beyond basic applications such as literature review. Developing AI systems for scientific research requires a more systematic en gineering approach. This paper presents a case study from graduate paleontology education, demonstrating the implemen tation and application of Naive RAG-based large language models in scientific research and discussing the future devel opment of related systems. The study details the complete workflow of building a domain-specific knowledge base, in cluding data cleaning, text segmentation, vectorization, and the implementation of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Through this practical case, we demonstrate how locally deployed RAG-based open-source LLMs can ensure data security and privacy while effectively facilitating domain knowledge acquisition through interactive Q&A, specifically in teaching paleontological taxonomy. Our experience shows that current developments in Graph RAG systems, Mul ti-agent RAG systems, and AI agents — already demonstrating promising results across various disciplines —could potentially enhance paleontological education and research. As paleontology increasingly embraces interdisciplinary approaches, staying abreast of these technological advancements is crucial for the field's future progress. Based on current technological trends, this paper further explores the application prospects, challenges, and potential strategies of retrieval-augmented generation adaptive reasoning systems that integrate Test-Time Compute (TTC) and Test-Time Scaling (TTS) in the context of paleontology's interdisciplinary development.
    8  Uncertainty in Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using morphological data: A brief overview
    DU Yao-gang DAI Ming-yue LI Qi-jian QI Yong-an
    2025(1):113-125. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024041
    [Abstract](26) [HTML](0) [PDF 3.59 M](30)
    Abstract:
    Phylogenetic analysis reconstructs the evolutionary history of different groups of organisms based on morphological and/or molecular data. Fossils, as the only remaining evidence for most extinct species, offer a direct glimpse into the evolutionary events that have shaped the diversification of life on Earth. Consequently, phylogenetic analysis based on discrete morphological data is essential for understanding the early origins and evolution of various organisms. Over the past decade, phylogenetic analysis has primarily relied on the maximum parsimony method. Re cently, model-based Bayesian inference has gained prominence in paleobiology. The Bayesian method provides robust estimates of phylogeny along with clear measures of phylogenetic uncertainty, making the results both accurate and easily interpretable. In this study, we discuss the likely factors influencing uncertainty in the phylogenetic analysis, such as data set composition, substitution models, and Markov chain parameters, to improve confidence in phyloge netic inference. In a simulation study, we investigated the effects of different versions of the Markov model and the stability of the Markov chain on the phylogenetic tree, using a pubulished bryozoa data set. Results indicate that these factors influence both topology and posterior probabilities, underscoring the need to carefully consider them in phylo genetic analysis.

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