The Cranial Structure of Chinese Liassic Mammals and Tritylodontids

从爬行动物到哺乳动物的进化转变发生在三叠纪时期，这个时代的高等脊椎动物化石得到了深入的研究。A.W.克朗普顿博士有前所未有的机会研究来自中华人民共和国的早期哺乳动物和哺乳类爬行动物的三叠纪化石。这些标本将被租借到哈佛大学，在那里，头骨的紧密间隔部分将被切割并记录在一个基于计算机的图像分析系统中。这些切片将由计算机整合成三维重建，揭示颅骨内部的新形态学特征。在这项研究中收集的数据将对几个相互竞争的假说产生直接影响，这些假说试图解释哺乳动物从爬行动物起源（或起源）。进化生物学家、脊椎动物解剖学家和古生物学家会对这项研究的结果感兴趣。该项目还将促进中美之间的科学合作与交流。

The evolutionary transition from reptiles to mammals took place during the Triassic Period, and higher vertebrate fossils of this age are studied intensively. Dr. A.W. Crompton has the unprecedented opportunity to study Triassic fossils of early mammals and mammal-like reptiles from the People's Republic of China. The specimens will be taken on loan to Harvard University where closely-spaced sections through the skulls will be cut and recorded on a computer-based image analysis system. The sections will be integrated by the computer into a three- dimensional reconstruction, revealing new morphological features of the cranial interiors. The data to be gathered during this study will have direct impact on the several competing hypotheses that seek to explain the origin (or origins) of mammals from reptiles. Evolutionary biologist, vertebrate anatomists, and paleontologists will find the results of this study of interest. The project will also improve scientific collaboration and exchange between the U.S. and China.