封面故事

封面故事

封面故事：達爾文翼龍（Darwinopterus）正型標本。發現于遼寧建昌中侏羅世髫髻山組。它既有原始類群(非翼手龍類)的特征又有進步類群(翼手龍類)的特征，是目前唯一已知的過渡類型。達爾文翼龍的發現填補了演化進程的空白，為研究生物宏觀演化(模塊演化)機制提供了例證，且有可能打破翼龍類傳統的分類方法。這項由中國地質科學院地質研究所呂君昌博士主持的研究成果，當選 2009年度中國地質科學院十大科技進展，詳見本期第129-136頁。（照片提供：呂君昌）

Cover Story:The holotype ofDarwinopterus. The fossil was discovered in the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Jianchang County, Liaoning Province.It shares the characteristics of both primitive (non-pterodactyloids) and derived pterosaurs(pterodactyloids), and is the only known transitional form at present. The discovery ofDarwinopterusis highly significant, because it fills the gap of the evolutionary process and provides evidence of biological macroevolution mechanism(modular evolution theory). It may challenge the traditional classification of pterosaurs.The research achievement directed by Dr. Lü Junchang, Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, ranks “Top Ten Scientific and Technological Progresses of CAGS in 2009”. For details, see pp.129-136. (Photo by Lü Jun-chang)