中国始新世有鳞类化石的研究

始新世是有鳞类形成其现代动物群面貌和地理格局的关键时期。相比于欧洲和北美，亚洲始新世有鳞类的化石记录并不完善，且研究程度较低。在已发现的中国始新世有鳞类化石研究的基础上，本项目拟将在湖南衡东盆地、湖北李官桥盆地以及内蒙古二连盆地等地点的始新统地层中系统采集有鳞类化石；并采用高精度micro-CT扫描、SEM观察拍照以及连续切片等技术手段，对已有和新发现的中国始新世有鳞类化石进行详细的形态学、分类学、系统发育学以及骨组织学方面的研究，讨论棘尾飞蜥亚科、巨蜥科等相关类群的早期演化历史。这些工作将帮助恢复中国始新世有鳞类动物群面貌，完善亚洲始新世有鳞类的化石记录，为进一步探讨亚洲地区古新世–始新世极热事件对有鳞类的影响提供信息。

Eocene is the key period for squamates to establish the modern faunal composition and biogeographic distribution. Compared with the European and North American fossil record, the Eocene squamate fossils from Asia are less abundant, and their study has been mostly descriptions. Based on the earlier research on Chinese Eocene squamates, the systematic search for Eocene squamates in Hengdong Basin (Hunan), Liguanqiao Basin (Hubei) and Erlian Basin (Inner Mongolia) will be conducted. Facilitated by the well developed high resolution Micro-CT scan, SEM observation and serial sectioning of fossil samples, we will study the morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny and histology of Chinese Eocene squamates, discuss the early evolutionary history of some groups such as Uromastycinae and Varanidae. This work will help get a more clear picture of Chinese Eocene squamate fauna, enrich the fossil record of squamates from Asia and provide data for the discussion on what influence Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum has on the Asian squamate fauna in Eocene.