DOCSLIB.ORG

Internal Fights, Looting Hinder Work in the Field

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Internal Fights, Looting Hinder Work in the Field . NEWS FOCUS 0 0WW0 ijM.ji.n:n focus at IVPP.Ji says the competitionfor * PROBLEMS specimens and scientific recognition "is very good for research, because before Internal Fights, Looting 1996there was only one voice on the origin of birds-IVPP's voice." Hinder Work in the Field Tensionsbetween the two institutions,in- cludingthe sharingof fossils, reachedthe A wealth of opportunities is cheapened by black market sales and breakingpoint early last year. In an articlein internecine squabbles over site access and specimens a Hong Kongnewspaper, Ji criticizedIVPP researchersfor theirwork with the now infa- MAOTIANSHAN,YUNNAN PROVINCE-With to decidewho digs, ownershipof the fossils mous Archaeoraptorfossil, sensationalized its spectacularfossils, a well-trainedcadre of is unclear.A singlesentence in a nationallaw in National Geographicbut laterproved to be researchers,and increasingfunding, China apparentlygives authorityover vertebrate a fraud (Science, 22 December 2000, p. couldbe the idealplace for paleontologyin fossilsto the StateAdministration of Cultural 2221). In particular,Ji said that IVPP re- the 21st century.But scientistsface a trioof Heritage,but a 1998 governmentreshuffling searchershad studied the specimen even problems:squabbles over access to sites and apparentlyshifted control to the Ministryof thoughit hadbeen smuggled out of China,a controlof fossils,a lackof cooperationin the LandResources (MLR). Confusion over the cardinalsin forChinese paleontologists. community,and widespreadfossil looting. extentof its prerogativescan slow downre- Not so, saysIVPP's Xu Xing,who replied "It is a loss not only for China,but for the search,however. Last summer,IVPP lost 2 in the Chinesepress that he beganstudying world,"says ChangMee-Mann, a seniorpa- monthsof workat an exceptionallyrich site Archaeoraptoronly after it wasclear it would leontologistat the Instituteof VertebratePa- in western Liaoning Province after local be returnedto China.That explanationis leontologyand Paleoanthropology (IVPP). MLRrepresentatives halted digging and de- supportedby the magazine'saccount of how A striking,two-story building down the mandedthe returnof fossils previouslycol- it was duped.In the samenewspaper article, road from the world-classsite here offers lectedfrom other sites. Workresumed after Xu notedJi's co-authorship of paperson two mute testimonyto what can happenwhen negotiations,but who will wind up with the allegedlysmuggled specimens of the primi- bureaucraciesdon't see eye to eye. The specimenshas yet to be clarified.Na- Field Station, dorm tional regulationsnow being drafted Chengjiang boasting ' rooms,work spaces, and a grandexhibition may resolve which agencies control . hall,was supposedto be a homeaway from sitesand fossils. home for scientistsfrom the NanjingInsti- tute of Geology and Paleontology(NIGP), Grouprivalry some 2000 kilometersto the northeast.But OutsideChina, one institutiontypically the 2-year-oldfacility has remainedempty takesthe lead in investigatinga site and untilrecently, a victimof disagreementover coordinatingresearch efforts with '; stewardshipof the site. those of otherinstitutions. In return, Local authoritieshave been reluctantto the leadinstitute gives all qualifiedre- permitfurther digging at two of the mostfa- searchersa chanceto studythe collect- , mous and productiveChengjiang sites- ed specimens.In China,such coordi- m_ . ,I=Vt, ./ * .. o-%-* , Maotianshanand Haikou. They want to pre- nationis lacking,and some researchers Self-Iprotection. Zhou Zhongheand other paleontolo- servethe site as a touristattraction and wor- do not respecteach other'sturf. "We gistshope this warningsign will discourage fossil thieves. ry, in the wordsof one scientist,that further onlyknow what other groups are doing digging will leave "nothingfor visitorsto becausewe all hirethe same farmers to do the tivebird Confuciusornis in Germanand Aus- see."For NIGP scientists,however, closing digging,"says Yunnan University's Hou Xian- trianmuseums. off the site meansleaving valuable fossils in guangabout activity at the Chengjiang sites. Recent developments, however, may the ground.A compromiseis beingworked This lack of communicationhas led to have calmedthe waters.This monthJi will out,says NIGP's Sun Weiguo, that would al- embarrassingredundancies. In 1999, Gao stepdown as directorof the GeologicalMu- low diggingunder "a long-termprogram to Keqinand others from IVPP named a newly seumand return to the ChineseAcademy of preservethe sites."Meanwhile, the building discoveredaquatic reptile Hyphalosaurus. At Geological Sciences, which is also under is nowopen and digging at otherChengjiang the sametime, Li Jianjunand colleaguesof the MLR.Ji sayshis new post,principal sci- locationswill soonresume. the BeijingNatural History Museum named entistat the Instituteof Stratigraphyand Pa- Althoughprovincial authorities clearly get its mirrorimage Sinohydrosaurus, complete- leontology,will give him a chance"to reju- ly unawarethat they wereworking venatethe paleontological research work" in with the counterslabof the same the academy.Researchers hope the move specimen."This sort of confusion paves the way towardbetter relations be- arises becausethere are so many tweenthe museumand IVPP. groupsout therenot cooperating," saysHou. Illegal fruits "Notcooperating" doesn't begin A biggerproblem than professional spats over to describe the friction between jurisdictionmay be the factthat many speci- IVPPand Ji Qiang,former director mensare sold illegally to collectors.Scientists of China'sNational Geological Mu- cannever fully know what has been lost from seum. Relations soured after Ji lootingand smuggling, but there are hints. In ' Buildingties. The new Chengjiangfield station sat empty switchedfrom Paleozoic marinelife the early 1990s, dozens of dinosaureggs, for 2 years until authoritiesagreed on how to bcoth pre- and plungedinto the debateover the manywith intact embryos, were unearthed in serve sites and dig. originof birds,a primaryresearch Chinaand soon became hot items at fossiland www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL291 12 JANUARY2001 239 This content downloaded from 142.104.240.194 on Sat, 02 Jan 2016 02:51:46 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions NEWS FOCUS curiomarkets worldwide. Today, says IVPP's nate fossils to the museum,"he explains. monographon Confuciusornisincluded a Zhou Zhonghe,"all the best specimensof "Then, the museum gives them awards." sectionon howto spotdoctored specimens. eggswith embryos are now outside China." The first specimen of Sinosauropteryx, for Some localitieshave gotten serious about The immense value of specimens to example,netted the donor$750 in 1996. protection,with Yunnan officials posting full- farmerseager to escapethe grindingpoverty DirectorZhu Min admitsthat IVPP re- time guardsat some of the most prominent of ruralChina almost ensures that the loot- luctantlyemploys the same tactic,but only Chengjiangsites. In 1997, the secretary- ing will continue,however. Local govern- as a last resort.Staying above the fray,he generalof the localCommunist party person- mentsare hard-pressed to protectthe widely notes, means that "scientificallyvaluable ally supervisedfilling the quarrywith boul- scatteredsites, and police and officials can specimenswill not be in the handsof gen- dersto protectit duringthe off-season.And be bribed.Even the threatof a deathsen- uine researchers."At the sametime, IVPP's in GuizhouProvince, the local government tence, so far levied only againstthose who Chang says that specimens bought from haspaid for highway patrols. have plunderedcultural relics, isn't enough farmers"have lost muchscientific informa- But addedsecurity doesn't eliminate the to deterthe illegaltrade. tion, such as the layer,location, and the as- problem."It meanspeasants now dig less. This presentsscientists with hardchoic- sociationwith otherfossils." Looters rarely But they haven'tstopped," says IVPP'sLi es. Althoughit is illegal to buy specimens save fossil fragments,which may be valu- Jinling, flipping throughphotographs of withgovernment money, Ji saysthat the Ge- able to scientistsbut not to collectors.In- plunderedoutcrops. "I feel verysad for Chi- ologicalMuseum has useda systemof indi- deed,attempts to cementunrelated bits and nese science." -DENNISNORMILE rect payments."We ask the farmersto do- pieces togetherare so commonthat a recent Withreporting by ErikStokstad and Xiong Lei. 6 0 0sss * PARTNERS thingelse," says Will Downs of NorthernAri- zonaUniversity in Flagstaff,who is working Fruitful Collaborations withIVPP on earlymammals. Thedemand from the West is so greatthat Follow a Two-Way Street there is a shortageof top Chinesepaleon- tologistsavailable to workwith. Researchers Chinese scientists now hold many of the cards as foreignersseek access at the IVPP"are just completelyoverbooked, to a buriedpot of fossilizedgold all of them,"says Downs. But not all Chinese scientistsare equippedto enterinto collabo- NANJING-Twentyyears ago, JinYugan was $100,000in annualfunding from the Canadi- rations."First you haveto knowwhat you're one of a handfulof Chinesepaleontologists an Ex TerraFoundation, scientists excavated doing,"says IVPP'sXu Xing, who studies allowedto collaboratewith Western scientists. more than60 tons of fossils and identified feathereddinosaurs. "We don't just wantto It wasn'teasy. A seniorstratigrapher at the manynew species."I felt surethat we could haveour name out [inthe newspapers]." NanjingInstitute of Geologyand Paleontolo- workwith the Canadians on anequal
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A New Raptorial Dinosaur with Exceptionally Long Feathering Provides Insights Into Dromaeosaurid flight Performance
    ARTICLE Received 11 Apr 2014 | Accepted 11 Jun 2014 | Published 15 Jul 2014 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5382 A new raptorial dinosaur with exceptionally long feathering provides insights into dromaeosaurid flight performance Gang Han1, Luis M. Chiappe2, Shu-An Ji1,3, Michael Habib4, Alan H. Turner5, Anusuya Chinsamy6, Xueling Liu1 & Lizhuo Han1 Microraptorines are a group of predatory dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs with aero- dynamic capacity. These close relatives of birds are essential for testing hypotheses explaining the origin and early evolution of avian flight. Here we describe a new ‘four-winged’ microraptorine, Changyuraptor yangi, from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. With tail feathers that are nearly 30 cm long, roughly 30% the length of the skeleton, the new fossil possesses the longest known feathers for any non-avian dinosaur. Furthermore, it is the largest theropod with long, pennaceous feathers attached to the lower hind limbs (that is, ‘hindwings’). The lengthy feathered tail of the new fossil provides insight into the flight performance of microraptorines and how they may have maintained aerial competency at larger body sizes. We demonstrate how the low-aspect-ratio tail of the new fossil would have acted as a pitch control structure reducing descent speed and thus playing a key role in landing. 1 Paleontological Center, Bohai University, 19 Keji Road, New Shongshan District, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province 121013, China. 2 Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA. 3 Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 26 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037, China. 4 University of Southern California, Health Sciences Campus, BMT 403, Mail Code 9112, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Zootaxa, a New Dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda)
    Zootaxa 2403: 1–9 (2010) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2010 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Inner Mongolia, China XING XU1, JONAH N. CHOINIERE2, MICHAEL PITTMAN3, QINGWEI TAN4, DONG XIAO5, ZHIQUAN LI5, LIN TAN4, JAMES M. CLARK2, MARK A. NORELL6, DAVID W. E. HONE1 & CORWIN SULLIVAN1 1Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 142 Xiwai Street, Beijing 100044. E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA 3Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK 4Long Hao Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Hohhot, Nei Mongol 010010, China 5Department of Land and Resources, Linhe, Nei Mongol 015000, China 6Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, 10024, USA Abstract We describe a new dromaeosaurid theropod from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia. The new taxon, Linheraptor exquisitus gen. et sp. nov., is based on an exceptionally well-preserved, nearly complete skeleton. This specimen represents the fifth dromaeosaurid taxon recovered from the Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation and its laterally equivalent strata, which include the Wulansuhai Formation, and adds to the known diversity of Late Cretaceous dromaeosaurids. Linheraptor exquisitus closely resembles the recently reported Tsaagan mangas. Uniquely among dromaeosaurids, the two taxa share a large, anteriorly located maxillary fenestra and a contact between the jugal and the squamosal that excludes the postorbital from the infratemporal fenestra.
    [Show full text]
  • 0195-5373 E-ISSN: 2708-521X Vol . 42 No. 1 Jan/Feb.2021
    ISSN: 0195-5373 e-ISSN: 2708-521X Vol . 42 No. 1 Jan/Feb. 2021 www.at-spectrosc.com Cover Feature: Jinhua Li, Rui Pei, Fangfang Teng, Hao Qiu, Roald Tagle, Qiqi Yan, Qiang Wang, Xuelei Chu , and Xing Xu Micro- XRF Study of the T roodontid Dinosaur Jianianhualong tengi Reveals New Biological and Taphonomical Signals Journal Overview The Atomic Spectroscopy (Print ISSN 0195−5373; Online ISSN 2708-521X) is a peer-reviewed international journal started in 1962 by Dr. Walter Slavin. It is dedicated to advancing the analytical methodology & applications, instrumentation & fundamentals, and the science of reference materials in the fields of atomic spectroscopy. Publishing frequency: Six issues per year. Editor in Chief Editorial Board Xian-Hua Li (China) Beibei Chen (Wuhan University, China) Miguel Ángel Aguirre Pastor (Universidad de Executive Editor Biyang Deng (Guangxi Normal University, Alicante, Spain) Wei Guo (China) China) Mingli Chen (Northeastern University, China) Associate Editors Carsten Engelhard (University of Siegen, Ming Xu (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Germany) Sciences, CAS, China) Michael Dürr (Germany) Chao Li (National Research Center for Muharrem INCE (Munzur University, Turkey) Wei Hang (China) Geoanalysis, China) Mustafa Soylak (Erciyes University, Turkey) Zhaochu Hu (China) Chao Wei (National Institute of Metrology, Qian Liu (Research Center for Editorial Assistants China) Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS, China) Chaofeng Li (Institute of Geology and Anneliese Lust (USA) Qiu-Li Li (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Geophysics, CAS, China) Fadi. Abou-Shakra (USA) CAS, China) Chengbin Zheng (Sichuan University, Kenneth R. Neubauer (USA) Rong Qian (Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS, China) Ming Li (China) China) Érico M.
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Cretaceous Avian-Dominated, Theropod
    Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology Lida Xing1,2, Martin G. Lockley3, Chengkai Jia4, Hendrik Klein5, Kecheng Niu6, Lijun Zhang7, Liqi Qi8, Chunyong Chou2, Anthony Romilio9, Donghao Wang2, Yu Zhang2, W Scott Persons10 and Miaoyan Wang2 1 State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geoscience (Beijing), Beijing, China 2 School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geoscience (Beijing), Beijing, China 3 Dinosaur Trackers Research Group, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, United States 4 Research Institute of Experiment and Detection of Xinjiang Oil Company, PetroChina, Karamay, China 5 Saurierwelt Paläontologisches Museum, Neumarkt, Germany 6 Yingliang Stone Natural History Museum, Nan’an, China 7 Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces & Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China 8 Faculty of Petroleum, China University of Petroleum (Beijing) at Karamay, Karamay, China 9 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 10 Mace Brown Museum of Natural History, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, College of Charleston, Charleston, United States ABSTRACT Rich tetrapod ichnofaunas, known for more than a decade, from the Huangyangquan Reservoir (Wuerhe District, Karamay City, Xinjiang) have been an abundant source Submitted 10 January 2021 of some of the largest Lower Cretaceous track collections from China. They originate Accepted 26 April 2021 from inland lacustrine clastic exposures of the 581–877 m thick Tugulu Group, 28 May 2021 Published variously divided into four formations and subgroups in the northwestern margin of Corresponding author the Junggar Basin.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Biogeography of Iguanodontian Dinosaurs, with Implications from Ontogeny and an Examination of the Function of the Fused Carpal-Digit I Complex
    Phylogeny and Biogeography of Iguanodontian Dinosaurs, with Implications from Ontogeny and an Examination of the Function of the Fused Carpal-Digit I Complex By Karen E. Poole B.A. in Geology, May 2004, University of Pennsylvania M.A. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, August 2008, Washington University in St. Louis A Dissertation submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 31, 2015 Dissertation Directed by Catherine Forster Professor of Biology The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University certifies that Karen Poole has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of August 10th, 2015. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. Phylogeny and Biogeography of Iguanodontian Dinosaurs, with Implications from Ontogeny and an Examination of the Function of the Fused Carpal-Digit I Complex Karen E. Poole Dissertation Research Committee: Catherine A. Forster, Professor of Biology, Dissertation Director James M. Clark, Ronald Weintraub Professor of Biology, Committee Member R. Alexander Pyron, Robert F. Griggs Assistant Professor of Biology, Committee Member ii © Copyright 2015 by Karen Poole All rights reserved iii Dedication To Joseph Theis, for his unending support, and for always reminding me what matters most in life. To my parents, who have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, even those they didn’t understand. iv Acknowledgements First, a heartfelt thank you is due to my advisor, Cathy Forster, for giving me free reign in this dissertation, but always providing valuable commentary on any piece of writing I sent her, no matter how messy.
    [Show full text]
  • About Me Facebook Badge Globe Popular Posts
    Species New to Science: [Mammalogy • 2018] Taxonomic Review of th... http://novataxa.blogspot.com.br/2017/12/cyclopes.html new & recent described Flora & Fauna species from all over the World esp. Asia, Oriental, Indomalayan & Malesiana region Wednesday, December 13, 2017 About Me pskhun View my complete profile Facebook Badge Globe Popular Posts [Botany • 2018] Thismia thaithongiana • A New Species of Mycoheterotroph (Dioscoreaceae: Thismieae) from An Unusual Habitat in Thailand Thismia thaithongiana Chantanaorr. & Suddee in Chantanaorrapint & Suddee, 2018. facebook.com/ ForestHerbarium ... [Botany • 2018] Nephelaphyllum maliauensis • A New Species (Orchidaceae; Collabiinae) from the Maliau Basin, Sabah, Borneo, with A Discussion of the Taxonomic Identities of N. pulchrum, N. latilabre and N. flabellatum Nephelaphyllum maliauensis in Suetsugu, Suleiman & Tsukaya, 2018 DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.336.1.7 Nephelaphyllum is... 1 de 16 31/01/2018 18:06 Species New to Science: [Mammalogy • 2018] Taxonomic Review of th... http://novataxa.blogspot.com.br/2017/12/cyclopes.html [Ichthyology • 2018] Spectracanthicus javae • A New Species of the Genus Spectracanthicus (Loricariidae, Hypostominae, Ancistrini) from the Rio s (Rio Araguaia Basin), with A Description ofיJava Gross Brain Morphology Spectracanthicus javae Chamon, Pereira, Mendonca & Akama, 2018 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13526 Abstract A new species o... [Entomology • 2018] Drepanosticta emtrai • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Vietnam with A Discussion of Drepanosticta vietnamica Asahina, 1997 Drepanosticta emtrai Dow, Kompier & Phan , 2018 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4374.2.7 VNCreatures.net Abstract ... [Paleontology • 2018] Kootenayscolex barbarensis • A New Burgess Shale Polychaete and the Origin of the Annelid Head Revisited Kootenayscolex barbarensis Nanglu & Caron, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.019 Highlights: •An abundant C..
    [Show full text]
  • Download Curriculum Vitae
    MARK ALLEN NORELL CURATOR, DIVISION CHAIR AND PROFESSOR DIVISION OF PALEONTOLOGY HIGHEST DEGREE EARNED Ph.D. AREA OF SPECIALIZATION Evolution of avian dinosaurs EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE Ph.D. in Biology, Yale University, 1988 M.Phil. Yale University, 1986 M.S. in Biology, San Diego State University, 1983 B.S. in Zoology, California State University, Long Beach, 1980 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN DOCTORAL EDUCATION FACULTY APPOINTMENTS Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Yale University, 1995-1999 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Yale University, 1991-1995 Lecturer, Department of Biology, Yale University, 1989 COURSES TAUGHT Richard Gilder Graduate School, Grantsmanship, Ethics and Communication, 2008- present Guest Lecturer- EESC G9668y Seminar in vertebrate paleontology. Origin and evolution of the theropod pectoral girdle, 2007 EESC G9668y Seminar in vertebrate paleontology. A Total Evidence Approach to Lizard Phylogeny, 2006 Columbia University directed research, 2000 Columbia University, Dinosaur Biology, 4 lectures, 1996 Yale University, Evolutionary Biology, 6 lectures, 1995 CUNY, Paleobiological methods, 2 lectures, 1994 GRADUATE ADVISEES Sheana Montanari, Richard Gilder Graduate School, 2008-present Stephen Brusatte, Columbia Universiety, 2008-present Amy Balanoff, Columbia University, 2005- present Alan Turner, Columbia University, Ph.D. candidate, 2004-present Sterling Nesbitt, Columbia University, Ph.D. candidate, 2004-present Daniel Ksepka, Columbia University, Ph.D. candidate, 2002- present Sunny
    [Show full text]
  • Jonah Nathaniel Choiniere
    Jonah Nathaniel Choiniere American Museum of Natural History Division of Paleontology Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024 [email protected] (703) – 403 – 5865 (mobile) (212) – 769 – 5868 (office) Education BA 2002 Anthropology cum laude BS 2002 Geology cum laude University of Massachusetts Amherst Ph.D. 2010 Biology The George Washington University Professional Experience and Appointments 2010–2012. Kalbfleisch Fellow and Gerstner Scholar: American Museum of Natural History 2011-present. Paleontology Advisor: The Excursionist. 2010–2011. Curatorial Assistant, “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs”: American Museum of Natural History 2007—2010. Research Student: National Museum of Natural History 2002–2004. Property Manager: Boston Nature Center 2000. Archaeology Intern: Yosemite National Park Grants 2011. Co-PI Grant in Aid of Research, University of Cambridge: £17,000 2011. Jurassic Foundation Grant, Jurassic Foundation: $3084 2011. Waitt Grant, National Geographic Society: $15,000 2009. Mortensen Fund, The George Washington University: $250 2009. Exploration Fund, The Explorers Club: $1500 2009. Jurassic Foundation Grant, Jurassic Foundation: $2500 2009. Jackson School of Geosciences Travel Grant, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: $1200 J. N. Choiniere 2 2008. East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Grant, National Science Foundation: $10,000 Awards and Fellowships September, 2010–August, 2012. Kalbfleisch Fellowship and Gerstner Scholar, American Museum of Natural History Fall, 2004–Spring, 2010. Weintraub Fellowship for Systematics and Evolution, The George Washington University Fall, 2009. King Fellowship, The George Washington University July, 2007. Cladistics Workshop Fellowship, The Ohio State University May, 2002. L.R. Wilson Award, University of Massachusetts Amherst Fall, 1997–Spring, 2002. Commonwealth Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst Publications 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Inside Dinosaurs
    Press Release 1 - 27 www.insidetheworldofdinosaurs.com Press Release Jan 2012 Media Contact: Matthew Snowden, Founder M5859 Studios +61 402 635 560 (Australia) Email: [email protected] Press Release www.insidetheworldofdinosaurs.com 2 - 27 Forward For centuries dinosaurs have fascinated generations of mankind. In the last couple of centuries palaeontologists have unravelled the mys - teries of many species and have allowed us to gain an insight in to these marvellous prehistoric creatures that once roamed our planet many millions of years ago. My name is Stephen Fry and allow me to accompany you as we delve Inside the World of Dinosaurs™ Stephen Fry, Narrator Inside the World of Dinosaurs TM - The iPad app Press Release www.insidetheworldofdinosaurs.com 3 - 27 Editorial When I started M5859 Studios in 2011, the team wanted to create world-class apps that combined cinematic graphics with the most compelling content - apps that defy our imagination; that take us on magical journeys through science and history. Ever since I was a child I’ve been fascinated, like most children, by di - nosaurs in movies and books. Due to the mystery behind them no other animal has quite captured everyone’s imagination like dinosaurs. And so began the genesis of Inside the World of Dinosaurs™. Using the best available technology, digital artists, world-leading palaeontologists and magical narration by Stephen Fry, our team at M5859 Studios have crafted a fascinating journey through which every child, student and family can truly immerse themselves, in the wonder - ful world of dinosaurs! Matthew Snowden Producer Press Release www.insidetheworldofdinosaurs.com 4 - 27 Press Release www.insidetheworldofdinosaurs.com 5 - 27 M5859 Studios launches iPad App, Inside the World of DinosaursTM An original app hand-made, from concept to completion Inside the World of Dinosaurs™ is the first unique and comprehensive interactive digital dinosaur encyclopedia.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Evaluation of the Haarlem Archaeopteryx and the Radiation of Maniraptoran Theropod Dinosaurs Christian Foth1,3 and Oliver W
    Foth and Rauhut BMC Evolutionary Biology (2017) 17:236 DOI 10.1186/s12862-017-1076-y RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Re-evaluation of the Haarlem Archaeopteryx and the radiation of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs Christian Foth1,3 and Oliver W. M. Rauhut2* Abstract Background: Archaeopteryx is an iconic fossil that has long been pivotal for our understanding of the origin of birds. Remains of this important taxon have only been found in the Late Jurassic lithographic limestones of Bavaria, Germany. Twelve skeletal specimens are reported so far. Archaeopteryx was long the only pre-Cretaceous paravian theropod known, but recent discoveries from the Tiaojishan Formation, China, yielded a remarkable diversity of this clade, including the possibly oldest and most basal known clade of avialan, here named Anchiornithidae. However, Archaeopteryx remains the only Jurassic paravian theropod based on diagnostic material reported outside China. Results: Re-examination of the incomplete Haarlem Archaeopteryx specimen did not find any diagnostic features of this genus. In contrast, the specimen markedly differs in proportions from other Archaeopteryx specimens and shares two distinct characters with anchiornithids. Phylogenetic analysis confirms it as the first anchiornithid recorded outside the Tiaojushan Formation of China, for which the new generic name Ostromia is proposed here. Conclusions: In combination with a biogeographic analysis of coelurosaurian theropods and palaeogeographic and stratigraphic data, our results indicate an explosive radiation of maniraptoran coelurosaurs probably in isolation in eastern Asia in the late Middle Jurassic and a rapid, at least Laurasian dispersal of the different subclades in the Late Jurassic. Small body size and, possibly, a multiple origin of flight capabilities enhanced dispersal capabilities of paravian theropods and might thus have been crucial for their evolutionary success.
    [Show full text]
  • Cranial Osteology of Beipiaosaurus Inexpectus
    第57卷 第2期 古 脊 椎 动 物 学 报 pp. 117–132 figs. 1–3 2019年4月 VERTEBRATA PALASIATICA DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.1000-3118.190115 Cranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria) LIAO Chun-Chi1,2,3 XU Xing1,2* (1 Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100044 * Corresponding author: [email protected]) (2 CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment Beijing 100044) (3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049) Abstract Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of therizinosaurians, has not been fully described since it was briefly reported on by Xu, Tang and Wang in 1999. Here we present a detailed description of the cranial anatomy of the holotype of this theropod dinosaur. B. inexpectus is unique in some of its cranial features such as the postorbital process of the frontal is large and its abrupt transition from the orbital rim, a long and sharp anterior process of the parietal, the elongate ventral ramus of the squamosal process of parietal, and external mandibular fenestra deep dorsoventrally and extremely posteriorly located. A number of plesiomorphic cranial features (such as relatively large dentary and less downturned degree of dentary symphysis) suggest that B. inexpectus is an early-branching Therizinosaurian, as proposed by previous studies. New information derived from our study is not only important for our understanding of the cranial anatomy of B. inexpectus but also significant to the study of the evolution of Therizinosauria.
    [Show full text]
  • Written in Stone
    112 W RITTENIN S TONE had yet been undertaken (the fossil had only come to the attention of Canadian paleontologist Phil Currie and paleo-artist Michael Skrepnick two weeks earlier), the specimen confirmed the connection between dino- saurs and birds that had been proposed on bones alone. The new dino- saur was dubbed Sinosauropteryx, and it had come from Cretaceous deposits in China that exhibited a quality of preservation that exceeded that of the Solnhofen limestone. Sinosauropteryx was only the first feathered dinosaur to be an- nounced. A panoply of feathered fossils started to turn up in the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of China, each just as magnificent as the one be- fore. There were early birds that still retained clawed hands (Confuciu- sornis) and teeth (Sapeornis, Jibeinia), while non-flying coelurosaurs such as Caudipteryx, Sinornithosaurus, Jinfengopteryx, Dilong, and Beipiaosaurus wore an array of body coverings from wispy fuzz to full flight feathers. The fossil feathers of the strange, stubby-armed dinosaur Shuvuuia even preserved the biochemical signature of beta-keratin, a protein present in the feathers of living birds, and quill knobs on the forearm of Velociraptor reported in 2007 confirmed that the famous predator was covered in feathers, too. As new discoveries continued to accumulate it became apparent that almost every group of coelurosaurs had feathered representatives, from the weird secondarily herbivorous forms such as Beipiaosaurus to Dilong, an early relative of Tyrannosaurus. It is even possible that, FIGURE 37 - A Velociraptor attempts to catch the early bird Confuciusornis. Both were feathered dinosaurs. 113 Footprints and Feathers during its early life, the most famous of the flesh-tearing dinosaurs may have been covered in a coat of dino-fuzz.
    [Show full text]