A Jurassic gliding euharamiyidan mammal with an ear of five auditory bones (original) (raw)

References

1. Zheng, X., Bi, S., Wang, X. & Meng, J. A new arboreal haramiyid shows the diversity of crown mammals in the Jurassic period. Nature 500, 199–202 (2013)
   ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
2. Bi, S., Wang, Y., Guan, J., Sheng, X. & Meng, J. Three new Jurassic euharamiyidan species reinforce early divergence of mammals. Nature 514, 579–584 (2014)
   ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
3. Meng, Q. J. et al. New gliding mammaliaforms from the Jurassic. Nature 548, 291–296 (2017)
   ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
4. Luo, Z. X. et al. New evidence for mammaliaform ear evolution and feeding adaptation in a Jurassic ecosystem. Nature 548, 326–329 (2017)
   ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
5. Fox, R. C. & Meng, J. An X-radiographic and SEM study of the osseous inner ear of multituberculates and monotremes (Mammalia): implications for mammalian phylogeny and evolution of hearing. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 121, 249–291 (1997)
   Google Scholar
6. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z ., Cifelli, R. L. & Luo, Z.-X. Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure (Columbia Univ. Press, 2004)
7. Meng, J., Bi, S., Zheng, X. & Wang, X. Ear ossicle morphology of the Jurassic euharamiyidan Arboroharamiya and evolution of mammalian middle ear. J. Morphol. http://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20565 (2016)
8. Wible, J. R. Origin of Mammalia: the craniodental evidence reexamined. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 11, 1–28 (1991)
   Google Scholar
9. Doran, A. H. G. Morphology of the mammalian ossicular auditûs. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond 1, 371–497 (1878)
   Google Scholar
10. Fleischer, G. Studien am Skelett des Gehörorgans der Säugetiere, einschließlich des Menschen. Saugetierkdl. Mitt. 21, 131–239 (1973)
    Google Scholar
11. Zeller, U. in Mammal Phylogeny: Mesozoic Differentiation, Multituberculates, Monotremes, Early Therians, and Marsupials (eds Szalay, F. S., Novacek, M. J. & McKenna, M. J. ) 95–107 (Springer, 1993)
12. Jackson, S . & Schouten, P. Gliding Mammals of the World (CSIRO, 2012)
13. Johnson-Murray, J. L. The comparative myology of the gliding membranes of Acrobates, Petauroides and Petaurus contrasted with the cutaneous myology of Hemibelideus and Pseudocheirus (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) and with selected gliding Rodentia (Sciuridae and Anamoluridae). Aust. J. Zool. 35, 101–113 (1987)
    Google Scholar
14. Jackson, S. M. & Thorington, R. W. Jr. Gliding mammals: taxonomy of living and extinct species. Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 638, 1–117 (2012)
    Google Scholar
15. Luo, Z.-X., Yuan, C.-X., Meng, Q.-J. & Ji, Q. A Jurassic eutherian mammal and divergence of marsupials and placentals. Nature 476, 442–445 (2011)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
16. Meng, J., Wang, Y. & Li, C. Transitional mammalian middle ear from a new Cretaceous Jehol eutriconodont. Nature 472, 181–185 (2011)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
17. Krause, D. W. et al. First cranial remains of a gondwanatherian mammal reveal remarkable mosaicism. Nature 515, 512–517 (2014)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
18. Luo, Z.-X., Gatesy, S. M., Jenkins, F. A. Jr, Amaral, W. W. & Shubin, N. H. Mandibular and dental characteristics of Late Triassic mammaliaform Haramiyavia and their ramifications for basal mammal evolution. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, E7101–E7109 (2015)
    CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
19. Hahn, G. Neue Zähne von Haramiyiden aus der deutschen Ober-Trias und ihre Beziehungen zu den Multituberculaten. Palaeontogr. Abt. A 142, 1–15 (1973)
    Google Scholar
20. Jenkins, F. A., Jr, Gatesy, S. M., Shubin, N. H. & Amaral, W. W. Haramiyids and Triassic mammalian evolution. Nature 385, 715–718 (1997)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
21. Allin, E. F. Evolution of the mammalian middle ear. J. Morphol. 147, 403–437 (1975)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
22. Allin, E. F. & Hopson, J. A. in The Evolutionary Biology of Hearing (eds Webster, D. B., Popper, A. N. & Fay, R. R. ) 587–614 (Springer, 1992)
23. Rich, T. H. et al. The mandible and dentition of the Early Cretaceous monotreme Teinolophos trusleri. Alcheringa 40, 475–501 (2016)
    Google Scholar
24. Presley, R. Lizards, mammals and the primitive tetrapod tympanic membrane. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 52, 127–152 (1984)
    Google Scholar
25. Meng, J. & Wyss, A. R. Monotreme affinities and low-frequency hearing suggested by multituberculate ear. Nature 377, 141–144 (1995)
    ADS CAS Google Scholar
26. Hurum, J. H., Presley, R. & Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. The middle ear in multituberculate mammals. Acta Palaeontol. Pol. 41, 253–275 (1996)
    Google Scholar
27. Rougier, G. W., Wible, J. R. & Novacek, M. J. Middle-ear ossicles of the multituberculate Kryptobaatar from the Mongolian Late Cretaceous: implications for mammaliamorph relationships and the evolution of the auditory apparatus. Am. Mus. Novit. 3187, 1–43 (1996)
    Google Scholar
28. Kemp, T. S. Acoustic transformer function of the postdentary bones and quadrate of a nonmammalian cynodont. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 27, 431–441 (2007)
    Google Scholar
29. Kermack, K. A., Mussett, F. & Rigney, H. W. The skull of Morganucodon. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 71, 1–158 (1981)
    Google Scholar
30. Mallo, M. Formation of the middle ear: recent progress on the developmental and molecular mechanisms. Dev. Biol. 231, 410–419 (2001)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
31. Anthwal, N., Joshi, L. & Tucker, A. S. Evolution of the mammalian middle ear and jaw: adaptations and novel structures. J. Anat. 222, 147–160 (2013)
    PubMed Google Scholar
32. Gaupp, E. Die Reichertsche Theorie (Hammer-, Amboss- und Kieferfrage). Archiv. Anatomie. Entwick 1912, 1–426 (1913)
    Google Scholar
33. Maier, W. & Ruf, I. Evolution of the mammalian middle ear: a historical review. J. Anat. 228, 270–283 (2016)
    PubMed Google Scholar
34. Reichert, C. Über die Visceralbogen der Wirbelthiere im Allgemeinen und deren Metamorphosen bei den Vögeln und Säugethieren. Arch. Anat. Phys. Med. 1837, 120–220 (1837)
    Google Scholar
35. Kermack, K. A., Mussett, F. & Rigney, H. W. The lower jaw of Morganucodon. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 53, 87–175 (1973)
    Google Scholar
36. Lillegraven, J. A. & Krusat, G. Cranio-mandibular anatomy of Haldanodon exspectatus (Docodonta; Mammalia) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal and its implications to the evolution of mammalian characters. Contrib. Geol 28, 39–138 (1991)
    Google Scholar
37. Crompton, A. W. in Studies in Vertebrate Evolution (eds Joysey, K. A . & Kemp, T. S. ) 231–251 (Oliver & Boyd, 1972)
38. Crompton, A. W. & Jenkins, F. A. Jr in Mesozoic Mammals: The First Two-thirds of Mammalian History (eds Lillegraven, J. A., Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. & Clemen, W. A. ) 59–73 (Univ. California Press, 1979)
39. Henson, O. W. Jr. in The Handbook of Sensory Physiology: the Auditory System VII (eds Keidel, W. D. & Neff, W. D. ) 39–110 (Springer, 1974)
40. Tucker, A. S., Watson, R. P., Lettice, L. A., Yamada, G. & Hill, R. E. Bapx1 regulates patterning in the middle ear: altered regulatory role in the transition from the proximal jaw during vertebrate evolution. Development 131, 1235–1245 (2004)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
41. Crompton, A. W. & Hylander, W. L. in The Ecology and Biology of Mammal-like Reptiles (eds Hotton, N. III, MacLean, P. D., Roth J. J. & Rot E. C. ) 263–282 (Smithsonian Inst. Press, 1986)
42. Dial, R., Bloodworth, B., Lee, A., Boyne, P. & Heys, J. The distribution of free space and its relation to canopy composition at six forest sites. For. Sci. 50, 312–325 (2004)
    Google Scholar
43. Heinicke, M. P., Greenbaum, E., Jackman, T. R. & Bauer, A. M. Evolution of gliding in Southeast Asian geckos and other vertebrates is temporally congruent with dipterocarp forest development. Biol. Lett. 8, 994–997 (2012)
    PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
44. Socha, J. J., Jafari, F., Munk, Y. & Byrnes, G. How animals glide: from trajectory to morphology. Can. J. Zool. 93, 901–924 (2015)
    Google Scholar
45. Meng, J., Hu, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, X. & Li, C. A Mesozoic gliding mammal from northeastern China. Nature 444, 889–893 (2006)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
46. Hayssen, V. Patterns of body and tail length and body mass in Sciuridae. J. Mamm. 89, 852–873 (2008)
    Google Scholar
47. Dudley, R. et al. Gliding and the functional origins of flight: biomechanical novelty or necessity? Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 38, 179–201 (2007)
    Google Scholar
48. Endo, H., Yokokawa, K., Kurohmaru, M. & Hayashi, Y. Functional anatomy of gliding membrane muscles in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). Ann. Anat. 180, 93–96 (1998)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
49. Luo, Z.-X. Transformation and diversification in early mammal evolution. Nature 450, 1011–1019 (2007)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
50. Grossnickle, D. M . & Polly, P. D. Mammal disparity decreases during the Cretaceous angiosperm radiation. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 280, 20132110 (2013)
    Google Scholar
51. Meng, J. Mesozoic mammals of China: implications for phylogeny and early evolution of mammals. Natl Sci. Rev. 1, 521–542 (2014)
    Google Scholar
52. Close, R. A., Friedman, M., Lloyd, G. T. & Benson, R. B. Evidence for a mid-Jurassic adaptive radiation in mammals. Curr. Biol. 25, 2137–2142 (2015)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
53. Meng, J. & Hou, S.-L. Earliest known mammalian stapes from an early cretaceous eutriconodontan mammal and implications for evolution of mammalian middle ear. Palaeontol. Polonica 67, 181–196 (2016)
    Google Scholar
54. Zhou, C.-F., Wu, S., Martin, T. & Luo, Z.-X. A Jurassic mammaliaform and the earliest mammalian evolutionary adaptations. Nature 500, 163–167 (2013)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
55. Yuan, C.-X., Ji, Q., Meng, Q.-J., Tabrum, A. R. & Luo, Z.-X. Earliest evolution of multituberculate mammals revealed by a new Jurassic fossil. Science 341, 779–783 (2013)
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
56. Meng, J., Bi, S., Wang, Y., Zheng, X. & Wang, X. Dental and mandibular morphologies of Arboroharamiya (Haramiyida, Mammalia): a comparison with other haramiyidans and Megaconus and implications for mammalian evolution. PLoS One 9, e113847 (2014)
    ADS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
57. Zhou, Z.-H., Jin, F. & Wang, Y. Vertebrate assemblages from the middle-late Jurassic Yanliao Biota in Northeast China. Earth Sci. Front 17, 252–254 (2010)
    Google Scholar
58. Xu, X., Zhou, Z.-H., Sullivan, C., Wang, Y. & Ren, D. An updated review of the Middle-Late Jurassic Yanliao biota: chronology, taphonomy, paleontology and paleoecology. Acta Geol. Sin. (English Edition) 90, 2229–2243 (2016)
    Google Scholar
59. Gaetano, L. C. & Rougier, G. W. New materials of Argentoconodon fariasorum (Mammaliaformes, Triconodontidae) from the Jurassic of Argentina and its bearing on triconodont phylogeny. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 31, 829–843 (2011)
    Google Scholar
60. Gaetano, L. C. & Rougier, G. W. First amphilestid from South America: a molariform from the Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Patagonia, Argentina. J. Mamm. Evol. 19, 235–248 (2012)
    Google Scholar
61. Gurovich, Y. & Beck, R. The phylogenetic affinities of the enigmatic mammalian clade Gondwanatheria. J. Mamm. Evol. 16, 25–49 (2009)
    Google Scholar
62. Rowe, T. Definition, diagnosis and origin of Mammalia. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 8, 241–264 (1988)
    Google Scholar
63. O’Leary, M. A. et al. The placental mammal ancestor and the post-K-Pg radiation of placentals. Science 339, 662–667 (2013)
    ADS PubMed Google Scholar
64. Butler, P. M. Review of the early allotherian mammals. Acta Palaeontol. Pol. 45, 317–342 (2000)
    Google Scholar
65. Butler, P. M. & Hooker, J. J. New teeth of allotherian mammals from the English Bathonian, including the earliest multituberculates. Acta Palaeontol. Pol. 50, 185–207 (2005)
    Google Scholar
66. Hahn, G. & Hahn, R. Evolutionary tendencies and systematic arrangement in the Haramiyida (Mammalia). Geol. Palaeontol 40, 173–193 (2006)
    Google Scholar
67. Averianov, A. O. & Lopatin, A. V. Phylogeny of triconodonts and symmetrodonts and the origin of extant mammals. Dokl. Biol. Sci. 436, 32–35 (2011)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
68. Mao, F.-Y., Wang, Y.-Q., Bi, S.-D., Guan, J. & Meng, J. Tooth enamel microstructures of three Jurassic euharamiyidans and implications for tooth enamel evolution in allotherian mammals. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 37, e1279168 (2017)
    Google Scholar
69. Luo, Z.-X., Schultz, J. A. & Ekdale, E. G. in Evolution of the Vertebrate Ear (eds Clack, J. A., Fay, R. R. & Popper, A. N. ) 139–174 (Springer, 2016)
70. Swofford, D. L. PAUP* - Phylogenetic analysis Using Parsimony (*and other methods). Version 4 (4.0a152) (Sinauer Associates, 2002)
71. Ronquist, F. & Huelsenbeck, J. P. MrBayes 3: Bayesian phylogenetic inference under mixed models. Bioinformatics 19, 1572–1574 (2003)
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
72. Ronquist, F. et al. MrBayes 3.2: efficient Bayesian phylogenetic inference and model choice across a large model space. Syst. Biol. 61, 539–542 (2012)
    PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank S.-H. Xie for specimen preparation; P.-F. Yin and Y.-M. Hou for computed laminography scanning of the specimens; X.-T. Zheng, X.-L. Wang, H.-J. Li, Z.-J. Gao, X.-H. Ding, and D.-Y. Sun for access to comparative specimens; N. Wong for drawing the auditory bones and animal reconstruction; D. W. Krause and S. Hoffmann for sharing data and insights on incisor identification; D. Sigogneau-Russell and Z.-X. Luo for permissions to use their published figures; and Z.-X. Luo, Z.-H. Zhou, X. Xu, G. Rougier, J. A. Schultz, A. S. Tucker, and M. Takechi for discussions. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41688103; 41404022) and the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB18000000).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Paleontology Center, Bohai University, Jinzhou, 121013, Liaoning Province, China
   Gang Han
2. Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan Province, China
   Gang Han
3. Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing, 100044, China
   Fangyuan Mao & Yuanqing Wang
4. Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, 15705, Pennsylvania, USA
   Shundong Bi
5. Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 10024, New York, USA
   Jin Meng

Authors

1. Gang Han
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
2. Fangyuan Mao
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
3. Shundong Bi
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
4. Yuanqing Wang
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
5. Jin Meng
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

G.H. and J.M. conceived the study. G.H. acquired and curated the specimens and did the field investigation. F.M. conducted computed laminography, rendered the data, and did most of the phylogenetic analyses and figures. S.B., Y.W. and F.M. helped to build the character list. J.M. supervised preparation of the specimen and design of the figures and drafted the manuscript; all authors edited and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence toFangyuan Mao or Jin Meng.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Additional information

Reviewer Information Nature thanks G. Rougier and the other anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Publisher's note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Extended data figures and tables

Extended Data Figure 1 The type locality and fossil pit where the type specimens of A. allinhopsoni were collected.

a, Distant view of the fossil locality and Tiaojishan Formation in the area of Nanshimen village, Gangou Town, Qinglong County, Hebei Province, China. b, c, The fossil pits where the type specimens were collected. The blue arrow in c points to the bed that generated the holotype and paratype. All photographs were taken by G.H. See Supplementary Information for more discussion on the age constraints of the beds and the fauna.

Extended Data Figure 2 The holotype specimen (HG-M017) of A. allinhopsoni.

The specimen preserves most of the skull, dentition, vertebral column and impressions of the gliding membrane and fur (dark colour). a, The main part of the holotype (HG-M017-A), in which the skull and vertebral column are exposed in their dorsal views (see also Figs 2, 3; Extended Data Fig. 4). b, The counterpart of the holotype (HG-M017-B), which preserves most of the limb structures and the molds of the vertebral column preserved in the main part. The limbs are exposed primarily in their ventral views (see also Extended Data Fig. 6). Red arrows point to ribs (1–13); white arrows mark the exposed edges of the gliding membrane.

Extended Data Figure 3 The paratype specimen (HG-M018) of A. allinhopsoni.

a, The main part of the paratype (HG-M018-A), which shows the ventral view of the skeleton (mainly the thoracic and lumbar vertebra) and impressions of the gliding membrane and body fur. b, The counterpart of the paratype (HG-M018-B). Skeletal remains preserved in the counterpart (peeled off from the main part) are mainly in the dorsal view. The skull was broken during excavation and reconstructed afterward; this area is outlined with a white dashed line to caution against potential misunderstanding of the morphology. The shape of the gliding membrane and impressions of hair are well preserved in the paratype and the exposed edge is marked by white arrows (see also Fig. 3; Extended Data Fig. 6a, b). The red arrows in a point to bony spurs2. The red arrows in b point to the ribs; 12 ribs can be recognized, but we assume there are a total of 13 ribs, as in the holotype specimen. c, Reconstruction of the animal in gliding motion.

Extended Data Figure 4 Dentition of A. allinhopsoni (holotype, HG-M017).

a, Part of the skull with exposed teeth (HG-M017-A). b, Counterpart of the skull part in a. c, Part of the skull with teeth (HG-M017-A). This was prepared from the back side of the main slab. d, Computed laminography image that roughly corresponds to the area shown in c, revealing teeth within the maxilla and blocked by bones. e, Close-up view showing the occlusal relationship of M1 and m1. As in A. jenkinsi and other euharamiyidans1,2,3,4,56, the ‘double engaged’ occlusal pattern is clear: the distolabial main cusp A1 of M1 bites in the basin of m1, whereas the mesiolingual main cusp a1 of m1 occludes in the basin of M1. f, Computed laminography image showing the incisor germ within each jaw bone, located dorsal to the root of the enlarged incisor. a1l, Cusp a1 on left first lower molar; amf, anterior extremity of the masseteric fossa; b1l–b3l, Cusps b1, b2 and b3 on left first lower molar; dlp4, distal portion of left lower fourth premolar; lA1, A1 cusp of left first upper molar (it bites in the basin of m1); lA2, A2 cusp of left first upper molar (small cusp may exist between A1 and A2); ldI2, left second deciduous upper incisor; ldi, left deciduous lower incisor; ldii, left deciduous lower incisor impression; lig, left lower incisor tooth germ (successive incisor); lm1, left first lower molar; lM1, left first upper molar; lm2, left second lower molar; lM2, left second upper molar; lP3, left third upper premolar; lP4, left fourth upper premolar; mf, masseteric fossa; mlp4, mesial portion of left fourth lower premolar; plP4, partial left fourth upper premolar; rl2g, germ of right second upper incisor; rdI2, right second deciduous upper incisor; rdi, right deciduous lower incisor; rig, right lower incisor (successive) tooth germ; rldI2, root of second left upper deciduous incisor; rlM1, root of left first molar; rlP3, root of left their upper premolar; rm1, right first lower molar; rM1, right first upper molar; rm2, right second lower molar; rM2, right second upper molar; rP3, right third upper premolar; rp4, right fourth lower premolar; rP4, right fourth upper premolar; rrdi, root of right lower deciduous incisor; tldi, tip of left lower deciduous incisor.

Extended Data Figure 5 Auditory apparatus of A. allinhopsoni (holotype, HG-M017).

a, Close-up view of the ear region (mostly left side) that corresponds to the boxed area in Fig. 2. b, Computed laminography image of the ear region. c, Computed laminography image showing the extension of the anterior process of the surangular. d, Computed laminography image showing the extension of the anterior process of the malleus. e, Interpretive drawing of the auditory bones (ventral view) with the stapes and incus moved out and the surangular overlapping with the malleus. f, Interpretative drawing of the auditory bones (dorsal view) with interpreted articulation of the incus and the malleus. Because the malleus, surangular and ectotympanic were slightly displaced from their anatomical positions, the reconstruction may not reflect the precise bone relationship. apm, anterior process of the malleus (prearticular); asa, anterior process of the surangular; br, breakage in the anterior process of the surangular; fv, fenestra vestibuli; gf, glenoid fossa; hy, hyoid element; ic, incus; lp, lenticular process; ma, malleus; mm, manubrium of the malleus; mp, medial process of the malleus; oc, occipital condyle; pf, perilymphatic foramen; pic, stapedial process of the incus; pism, process for insertion of the stapedius muscle of the stapes; pm, promontorium; ppr, paroccipital process; ptp, posttympanic process of the squamosal; rtm, ridge for attachment of the anterior part of the tympanic membrane; sa, surangular; sf, stapedius fossa; spg, groove for the stapedial artery; st, stapes; tm, transverse part of the malleus; ty, ectotympanic; ty-d, lateral ectotympanic part presumably equivalent to the dorsal part of the angular; ty-r, ectotympanic part presumably equivalent to the reflected lamina.

Extended Data Figure 6 Limbs and gliding membrane of A. allinhopsoni.

a, b, Close-up views showing the relationship of the limbs and the gliding membrane (paratype, HG-M018-A). Note that the forelimbs and hind limbs were flexed so that the gliding membrane is not preserved in its fully extended size. c, d, Close-up views showing the relationship of the limbs and the gliding membrane (holotype specimen, HG-M017). pl, plagiopatagium, the primary gliding membrane that extends between the forelimbs and hind limbs; pr, propatagium, the gliding membrane between the neck and forelimbs; ur, uropatagium, the gliding membrane between the hind legs and the tail.

Extended Data Figure 7 Manual and pedal structure and ternary diagrams showing the intrinsic ray III proportions.

a, The manus in ventral view. d, The pes in ventral view. a and b are from the holotype, HG-M017-B. As in other euharamiyidans1,2,3,4, the metapodials are short, whereas the phalanges are proportionally elongate. c, d, Ternary plots showing the relative lengths of the metapodial, proximal and intermediate phalanges for digit III of the manus and pes. The lengths of those elements are shown on their respective axes as a percentage of the combined length of the three segments. As in other euharamiyidans8,9, A. allinhopsoni has a similar intrinsic manual and pedal ray proportion, which is typical of arboreal species in which the phalanges are long relative to the metapodials. In addition to the extant taxa, fossils involved in the plotting are: Ara, A. allinhopsoni; Arj, A. jenkinsi. Eo, Eomaia scansoria; Je, Jeholodens jenkinsi; Ma, Maotherium sinensis; Sb, Sinobaatar lingyuanensis; Sd, Sinodelphys szalayi; Sh, Shenshou; Xl, X. linglong; Xs, Xianshou songae. The plotting data are derived from previous studies1,2.

Extended Data Figure 8 Results of phylogenetic analyses based on dataset I (Vintana A).

a, Strict consensus tree resulted from parsimony-based analysis using PAUP*: tree length, 2,637; consistency index (CI), 0.3250; homoplasy index (HI), 0.6750; retention index (RI), 0.7895; rescaled consistency index (RC), 0.2566. b, Result of Bayesian analysis (50% majority-rule consensus) obtained from five million MCMC generations with burn-in fraction of 0.25. Node support given as posterior probabilities. See Methods and Supplementary Information for more details. In extant mammals, gliding locomotion has evolved independently in marsupials, rodents, and dermopterans12,14, but they are not all illustratable.

Extended Data Table 1 Measurements (in mm) of the type specimens of A. allinhopsoni

Full size table

Supplementary information

PowerPoint slides

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Han, G., Mao, F., Bi, S. et al. A Jurassic gliding euharamiyidan mammal with an ear of five auditory bones.Nature 551, 451–456 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24483

Download citation

• Received: 16 February 2017
• Accepted: 03 October 2017
• Published: 01 November 2017
• Issue Date: 23 November 2017
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24483