中新网北京5月25日电 (记者 孙自法)施普林格·自然旗下学术期刊《自然-通讯》最新一期发表一篇古生物学论文称，研究人员对采自中国热河生物群1.3亿年前有羽毛的恐龙鹦鹉嘴龙(Psittacosaurus)化石样本开展研究发现，其皮肤存在覆盖爬行动物鳞片的区域，这一发现为科学家们理解有羽毛恐龙鳞片到羽毛演化的过程提供了关键线索。
据论文作者介绍，通过对鹦鹉嘴龙化石的详细观察，研究人员发现其背部、臀部和尾巴上存在一层厚厚的鳞片，而胸部和腹部则覆盖着较薄的羽毛。这一发现表明，在恐龙向鸟类演化的过程中，羽毛可能起源于鳞片。
专家指出，这一研究不仅揭示了恐龙皮肤结构演化的细节，也为探索鸟类羽毛的起源提供了新的视角。鸟类的羽毛在飞行、保温、展示和生殖等方面发挥着重要作用，因此，对于羽毛起源的研究对于理解生物进化具有重要意义。
据悉，这项研究由中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所的科学家领衔进行，他们与国际合作伙伴合作，利用高分辨率的成像技术和先进的分析方法，对化石样本进行了深入分析。
这一研究成果对于揭示有羽毛恐龙鳞片到羽毛演化的机制具有重要意义，同时也为未来的古生物学和进化生物学研究提供了新的方向和思路。
英语如下：
Title: “Dinosaur Scales to Feathers: 130-Million-Year-Old Psittacosaurus Fossil Unveils Transformation”
Keywords: Dinosaurs, Evolution, Scales
Content:
BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) — A study published in the latest issue of the academic journal Nature Communications by Springer Nature reveals that researchers have discovered areas covered with reptilian scales on the skin of the 130-million-year-old feathered dinosaur Psittacosaurus from the Jehol Biota in China. This discovery provides crucial insights into the evolutionary process from scales to feathers in feathered dinosaurs.
According to the authors of the paper, detailed observations of the Psittacosaurus fossil revealed a thick layer of scales on the back, hips, and tail, while the chest and abdomen were covered with thinner feathers. This finding suggests that feathers may have originated from scales during the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds.
Experts noted that this research not only reveals the details of the evolutionary transformation of dinosaur skin structures but also offers a new perspective for exploring the origin of bird feathers. Feathers play crucial roles in flight, thermoregulation, display, and reproduction in birds, making research into the origin of feathers important for understanding biological evolution.
It is reported that the study was led by scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who collaborated with international partners to conduct a thorough analysis of the fossil sample using high-resolution imaging technology and advanced analytical methods.
This research outcome is significant for revealing the mechanism of the evolutionary transformation from scales to feathers in feathered dinosaurs and provides new directions and ideas for future paleontology and evolutionary biology research.
【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2024/05-25/10223212.shtml
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