中国后猫族猫科动物的系统分类、演化及形态功能分析

Metailurine cats are characterized by medium-sized and laterally compressed upper canines coupled with unspecialized jaw joint, the character combination of both the true felines and the saber toothed machairodonts, making their subfamiliar assignment highly controversial. In China, fossil materials of metailurines are relatively abundant. Recently, a large number of well-preserved fossil materials of metailurines have been found from the late Miocene deposits in Linxia Basin, Gansu Province, with even complete skeleton that has never been reported in China, providing valuable new information for further research on this group. In the proposed project, we plan to study all the available fossil materials of metailurines, especially those of the recently found from the Linxia Basin, using high resolution CT scan and 3D image reconstruction technology to deepen our understanding of their basicranial morphology, and then to clarify their systematic position. Using cladistic method to discuss the phylogenetic relationships of metailurines. Based on their geological and paleozoogeographical distribution, we could also discuss the origin and migration of these and other closely related forms. For the well-preserved fossil skeleton of Yoshi, comparative function-morphological analysis will be carried out through the muscle reconstruction. Combined with limb bone ratio, body weight estimation under multi-factors, we could infer the movement mode and ecological adaptability of this animal group.

后猫族猫科动物以发育中长而侧扁的上犬齿以及不特化的上、下颌关节为特征，形态介于猫亚科和剑齿虎亚科之间，其亚科一级的归属一直是一个争议的问题。中国的后猫类化石材料相对较丰富，近年来，在甘肃临夏盆地晚中新世地层中发现了许多保存较好的头骨化石，甚至有国内从未报道过的完整骨架材料，为讨论后猫类的系统演化提供了重要的材料基础。本项目计划选取中国的后猫类化石为研究对象，以传统的比较解剖学为基础，采用高精度CT扫描及三维图像重建技术，对该类动物进行全面而深入的形态学研究，尤其是颅基部形态，并使用分支系统学方法建立可靠和稳定的系统发育关系，明确后猫类的系统分类位置，厘清该类动物与其它猫类的谱系关系，结合地史分布，推测其可能的起源中心与迁移方向。对保存完好的吉猫骨架，通过肌肉重建，进行形态功能分析，结合肢骨比例及多变量体重估算，推测其运动方式和生态适应性。

后猫族猫科动物以发育中长而侧扁的上犬齿以及不特化的上、下颌关节为特征，形态介于猫亚科和剑齿虎亚科之间，其亚科一级的归属一直是一个争议的问题。中国的后猫类化石材料相对较丰富，近年来，在甘肃临夏盆地晚中新世地层中发现了许多保存较好的头骨化石，甚至有国内从未报道过的完整骨架材料，为进一步讨论后猫类的系统演化提供了重要的材料基础。本项目对临夏盆地晚中新世猫类化石进行了系统研究，鉴定出5属9个种的化石猫类，并对其中6种后猫类进行了深入的形态学和系统分类学研究。报道了隐匿剑齿虎在甘肃临夏盆地的首次发现，将其分布扩展到了东亚，并填补了该支系在欧洲和北美之间迁徙路径上的古地理空白。为更好的构建猫科大类的系统演化树，本项目对中国猫科剑齿虎类进行了梳理和分类修订，确认有效属种6属14个种，通过基枕部特征的分析，认为后猫和副剑齿虎应属于剑齿虎亚科成员，而吉猫应属于猫亚科成员。本项目还研究了葛氏吉猫骨架，结果表明其与现生猎豹在头骨形态上的相似性为趋同作用的结果，头后骨骼显示这类动物已经有中度发达的奔跑能力，适于在较开阔但仍有一定植被覆盖的林地生活。