江西省赣州市章贡区晚白垩世莲荷组恐龙蛋化石显微结构及古环境意义

doi:10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2024.104

摘要/Abstract

摘要： 赣州作为我国最重要的晚白垩世恐龙蛋化石产地,其化石记录对揭示恐龙繁殖行为与古环境演变具有独特价值。本研究通过多尺度分析(偏光显微镜、扫描电镜及沉积学)对章贡地区莲荷组(K₂l)新发现恐龙蛋化石展开系统研究。结果表明:(1)蛋体外观呈长条状,长径为165~184 mm(均值174 mm),赤道直径为65~79 mm(均值73 mm),蛋身纹饰呈棱脊状,蛋壳柱状层与锥体层厚度之比在6:1左右,确认为大长形蛋(Elongatoolithus magnus)；(2)在扫描电镜下,锥体层整体保存完整、排列整齐,内部较为致密,乳突间隙较小,说明该窝恐龙蛋应处于胚胎孵化的初期;柱状层主要发育垂向微气孔,有利于气体和水分的交换。在柱状层之上有一层孔隙较大的疏松层,可以起到保护蛋壳的作用。蛋壳厚度偏大可能是受晚白垩世末期干旱-半干旱的气候条件影响；(3)根据含恐龙蛋地层岩性及构造,研究区属于冲积扇中-远端辫状河道沉积相,而从蛋窝的保存状态可知该窝蛋化石属于原地埋藏。

关键词: 恐龙蛋, 晚白垩世, 蛋壳结构, 超微特征

Abstract:

As the most important late Cretaceous dinosaur egg fossil producing area in China, Ganzhou’s fossil record has unique value in revealing dinosaur breeding behavior and paleoenvironmental evolution.In this study, multi-scale analysis (polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope and sedimentology) was used to systematically study the newly discovered dinosaur egg fossils in the Lianhe Formation (K₂l) in Zhanggong area.The results showed that: (1) The egg body was elongated in appearance, with a long diameter of 165-184 mm (mean 174 mm) and an equatorial diameter of 65-79 mm (mean 73 mm).The egg body was ridged in shape, and the ratio of the thickness of the shell columnar layer to the pyramidal layer was about 6:1, which was confirmed as Elongatoolithus magnus.(2) Under the scanning electron microscope, the pyramidal layer was intact and neatly arranged, the interior was dense, and the mastoid space was small, indicating that the nest of dinosaur eggs should be in the early stage of embryo hatching.The columnar layer mainly develops vertical micro-pores, which is conducive to the exchange of gas and water.There is a loose layer with large pores on the columnar layer, which can protect the eggshell.The large eggshell thickness may be affected by the arid-semi-arid climatic conditions at the end of the Late Cretaceous.(3) According to the lithology and structure of the strata containing dinosaur eggs, the study area belongs to the sedimentary facies of the middle-distal braided channel of the alluvial fan, and from the preservation state of the egg nest, it can be seen that the egg fossils are buried in situ.

Key words: dinosaur egg, late Cretaceous, structure of eggshell, ultrastructural characteristics

中图分类号:

黎敬, 时国, 楼法生, 杨玲, 许梦园, 于娟. 江西省赣州市章贡区晚白垩世莲荷组恐龙蛋化石显微结构及古环境意义[J]. 现代地质, 2025, 39(02): 350-360.

LI Jing, SHI Guo, LOU Fasheng, YANG Ling, XU Mengyuan, YU Juan. Microstructure and Paleoenvironmental Significance of Dinosaur Egg Fossils from the Late Cretaceous Lianhe Formation in Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province[J]. Geoscience, 2025, 39(02): 350-360.

图/表 6

图1 赣州化石发现点位置与地质简图(根据文献[3]修改) (a)化石发掘点在江西省的位置;(b)化石发现点卫星影像图;(c)化石发现点地质简图。其中图(b)和图(c)的空间范围相同

Fig.1 Location and simplified geographical map of the study area(modified after reference [3])

图2 莲荷组岩性柱状图及野外图片

Fig.2 Lithological column and field photos of Lianhe Formation

图3 恐龙蛋宏观特征及表面纹饰 (a)蛋窝俯视图;(b)单个恐龙蛋宏观形态;(c)恐龙蛋蛋身纹饰;(d)恐龙蛋钝端纹饰

Fig.3 Macroscopic characteristics and surface decoration of dinosaur egg

表1 L1-L8与中国已鉴定的长形蛋科属种的比较

Table 1 Comparison of L1-L8 and known egg genera and species of Elongatoolithidae in China

编号/属种			长径		赤道直径		形状指数		蛋壳厚度		柱状层厚度与锥体层厚度之比
编号/属种			(mm)		(mm)		形状指数		(mm)		柱状层厚度与锥体层厚度之比
L1		165		65		39		0.66~1.70		2.9:1~5.8:1
L2		178		73		41		0.63~1.59		3.8:1~4.9:1
L3		175		77		44		0.62~1.56		2.7:1~5.5:1
L4		184		75		41		0.59~1.63		2.3:1~5.1:1
L5		172		76		44		0.69~1.68		2.6:1~6.6:1
L6		181		79		44		0.73~1.65		2.7:1~6.1:1
L7		166		73		44		0.45~1.57		2.2:1~6.5:1
L8		173		68		39		0.64~1.59		2.6:1~5.6:1
平均值		174		73		42		1.08
Elongatoolithus	Elongatoolithus elongatus	110~149		58~61		45		0.50~1.00		5:1
	Elongatoolithus andrewsi	135~150		63~77		48		1.10~1.50		3:1
	Elongatoolithus magnus	162~172		63~82		44		0.68~0.90		6:1
	Elongatoolithus taipinghuensis	170		60~70		38		未知		未知
Macroolithus	Macroolithus rugustus	165~181		75~85		49		1.44~1.70		3:1
Macroolithus	Macroolithus yaotunensis	190~210		70~90		40		1.40~1.85		3:1
Nanhsiungoolithus	Nanhsiungoolithus chuetienensis	130~145		55~75		53		0.60~1.30		未知
Undulatoolithus	Undulatoolithus pengi	194		84		43		0.78~1.46		3:1~7:1

图4 偏光显微镜下的蛋壳照片和蛋壳结构素描图(根据文献[25-26]修改)及弦切面 (a)蛋壳径切面;(b)蛋壳径切面细节,红色虚线表示锥体层与柱状层的界线;(c)蛋壳结构素描图;(d)靠近蛋壳内表面的弦切面,箭头指向气孔;(e)靠近蛋壳外表面的弦切面,箭头指向气孔

Fig.4 Eggshell photographs of polarizing microscope and the eggshell structure sketches (modified after references[25-26])

图5 扫描电镜(SEM)下的蛋壳照片 (a)蛋壳径向断裂面;(b)蛋壳锥体层,白色箭头表示板状超微特征;(c)蛋壳柱状层,白色箭头表示块状超微特征;(d)蛋壳柱状层和锥体层;(e)蛋壳柱状层顶部,白色箭头表示棱柱体,白色矩形内表示气孔;(f)柱状层,白色箭头表示微气孔;(g)微气孔细节;(h)蛋壳外表面,白色箭头表示海绵状疏松层

Fig.5 Ultrastructural photographs of eggshell under scanning electron microscope (SEM)

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