澳大利亚的极地恐龙羽毛(图片来源:参考文献4)
结合这些羽毛化石,我们可以尝试对王子溪组地层的恐龙进行一番遐想——
雪花飘落之时,极夜来临之际,成年恐龙与新生幼崽一同缓缓前行,寻找合适的庇护所,不知不觉间,羽毛被浸染得越发洁白……
只可惜,遐想终归是遐想,距离揭开极地恐龙的生活史还有很长一段距离,确认至少7类恐龙常年在北极生活只是一小步,更多答案只能寄托给深埋在极圈之内、静待被发现的恐龙化石了。
参考文献:
[1] Druckenmiller, P.S., Erickson, G.M., Brinkman, D., Brown, C.M., and Eberle, J.J. (2021). Nesting at extreme polar latitudes by non-avian dinosaurs. Curr. Biol. 31, 3469– 3478.
[2] Varricchio David J, Martin Anthony J and Katsura Yoshihiro 2007First trace and body fossil evidence of a burrowing, denning dinosaurProc. R. Soc. B.2741361–1368.
[3] Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhang, K., Ma, Q., Xing, L., Sullivan, C., Hu, D., Cheng, S., and Wang, S. (2012). A gigantic feathered dinosaur from the lower cretaceous of China. Nature 484, 92–95.
[4] Kundra´t, M., Rich, T.H., Lindgren, J., Sjo¨vall, P., Vickers-Rich, P., Chiappe, L.M., and Kear, B.P. (2019). A polar dinosaur feather assemblage from Australia. Gondwana Res. 80, 1–11.