早白垩世燕子沟辽角龙(恐龙类：新角龙类)的骨组织学研究

doi:10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.250708

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

角龙类是研究最为广泛的恐龙类群之一。然而，对早期角龙类骨组织学的研究仍然有限，这使得我们对其生长速度、生长模式和生活史的了解仍然较少。对两具辽角龙标本(IVPP V18616, V17910)的腓骨和肋骨进行了详细的骨组织学分析。V18616被鉴定为不到一岁的幼年个体，而V17910被鉴定为至少三岁的亚成年个体。研究表明，辽角龙在幼年期经历了快速生长，纤维板层骨占据了皮质骨的主要部分。到了亚成年阶段，其生长速度则逐渐放缓。此外，还强调了标准化采样的重要性。例如肋骨切片由于采样位置不标准而导致比较研究受到限制。V17910中出现的LAGs (生长停滞线)表明，辽角龙具有周期性间断的生长模式。这说明与角龙科连续不间断的生长模式不同，早期分异的新角龙类的生长模式可能仍以周期性间断的生长模式为主。

关键词: 骨组织学, 角龙类, 辽角龙, 生长模式, 周期性生长标志

Abstract:

Ceratopsia is among the most extensively studied groups of dinosaurs. However, research on ceratopsian osteohistology remains extremely limited, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of their growth rates, growth patterns, and life histories. This study presents a detailed histological analysis of the fibulae and ribs from two Liaoceratops yanzigouensis specimens (IVPP V18616 and V17910). V18616 was identified as a juvenile, estimated to be less than one year old, while V17910 was classified as a subadult, at least three years of age. The results indicate that Liaoceratops experienced rapid growth during its juvenile stage, with fibrolamellar bone dominating the cortical bone. By the subadult stage, the growth rate had gradually slowed. This study also highlights the importance of standardized sampling protocols, as evidenced by the rib sections. The feasibility of conducting comparative studies is constrained by the non-standardized sampling locations. The presence of LAGs (Lines of Arrested Growth) in V17910 suggests that Liaoceratops had a cyclical, interrupted growth pattern. In contrast to the continuous growth seen in chasmosaurinae, early-diverging neoceratopsians may have predominantly experienced cyclic growth interruptions.

Key words: osteohistology, Ceratopsia, Liaoceratops, growth pattern, cyclical growth marks

中图分类号:

Q915.864

郭特, 贺一鸣, 赵祺. 早白垩世燕子沟辽角龙(恐龙类：新角龙类)的骨组织学研究. 古脊椎动物学报, 2026, 64(3): 221-237.

GUO Te, HE Yi-Ming, ZHAO Qi. Osteohistology on Liaoceratops yanzigouensis (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Vertebrata Palasiatica, 2026, 64(3): 221-237.

图/表 6

Fig. 1 Sampled positions of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis fibulae in this study A. IVPP V18616 fibula (red triangle); B. V17910 fibula (red triangle) Scale bars: 2 cm in A, and 5 cm in B

Fig. 2 Fibula osteohistology of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis IVPP V18616 under normal and polarized light with gypsum filter A. overview of the fibula cross-section of V18616, which is almost intact; B. high magnification image showing a well-developed medullary cavity with no endosteal bone; C. high-magnification view showing the fibrolamellar bone with longitudinal primary osteon; D. high-magnification image showing the uneven surface of periosteum Scale bars: 1 mm in A, 0.1 mm in B-D

Fig. 3 Rib osteohistology of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis IVPP V18616 under normal and polarized light with gypsum filter A. whole cross-section of the rib of IVPP V18616, which lost almost half due to fracture; B. high-magnification image showing a layer of endosteal bone; C. high-magnification image showing the transition from fibrolamellar bone to parallel fibered bone in the anterior cortex; D. high-magnification image showing extensive secondary osteon in the inner and middle cortex of lateral side; E. high-magnification image showing woven-fibered bone in the outer cortex of lateral side Abbreviations: A. anterior; L. lateral; M. medial; P. posterior. Scale bars: 1 mm in A; 0.1 mm in B-E

Fig. 4 Fibula osteohistology of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis IVPP V17910 under normal and polarized light with gypsum filter A. overview of the fibula cross-section of IVPP V17910, which lost almost half due to fracture; B. high magnification image showing three LAGs (white triangle); C. high-magnification image showing many resorption cavities close to the medullary cavity leading to localized cancellization of the cortical bone; D. high-magnification image showing the extensive secondary osteon in cortex bone Scale bars: 1 mm in A, 0.1 mm in B-D

Fig. 5 Rib osteohistology of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis IVPP V17910 under normal and polarized light with gypsum filter A. whole cross-section of the rib of V17910, which is almost intact; B. high-magnification image showing the medullary cavity is filled by many thick trabeculae bone; C. high-magnification image showing the fibrolamellar bone with longitudinal primary osteons; D. high-magnification image showing two LAGs in the outer cortex (white triangle); E. high-magnification image showing the Sharpey’s fibers (white hollow triangle) in posterior cortex Abbreviations: A. anterior; L. lateral; M. medial; P. posterior Scale bars: 1 mm in A; 0.1 mm in B-E

Table 1 Characteristic bone microstructure of some ceratopsians fibulae

	Yinlong downsi		Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis		Liaoceratops yanzigouensis		Koreaceratops hwaseongensis	Protoceratops andrewsi	Triceratops horridus
Ontogenetic status	juvenile	subadult	juvenile	subadult	juvenile	subadult	subadult	adult	subadult/ adult
Primary osteons	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant	few
Secondary osteons	no	few	no	no	no	abundant	abundant	abundant	abundant
Secondary remodeling	no	yes	no	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
Resorption cavities in inner cortex	no	yes	no	yes	no	yes	yes	—	—
Vascularization pattern	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	L
Vascularization reduced in outer cortex	no	yes	no	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
Dominated bone tissue type	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB	FLB/ PFB
Parallel-fibred bone in outer cortex	no	yes	no	yes	no	yes	—	—	yes
Endosteal bone	no	complete	inomplete	complete	no	incomplete	incomplete	—	—
Visible LAGs	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	no

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