封面故事

封面故事

封面故事：达尔文翼龙（Darwinopterus）正型标本。发现于辽宁建昌中侏罗世髫髻山组。它既有原始类群(非翼手龙类)的特征又有进步类群(翼手龙类)的特征，是目前唯一已知的过渡类型。达尔文翼龙的发现填补了演化进程的空白，为研究生物宏观演化(模块演化)机制提供了例证，且有可能打破翼龙类传统的分类方法。这项由中国地质科学院地质研究所吕君昌博士主持的研究成果，当选 2009年度中国地质科学院十大科技进展，详见本期第129-136页。（照片提供：吕君昌）

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)