关键词: 翼龙, 翼龙胚胎, 热河翼龙动物群, 辽西

Abstract: A large number of fossil pterosaurs of the Early Cretaceous have been found from western Liaoning and neighboring areas in China recently. Johelopterus has the “hairs” covering its body; it suggests that pterosaurs are warmblooded animals. A pterosaur embryo confirms that pterosaurs are egglargers. The finding of smallest arboreal pterosaur, Nemicolopterus, shows the individual diversity and adaptive radiation of the Cretaceous pterosaurs. In the past some important pterosaur taxa are thought only can be found in European and South American. The findings and researches of pterosaurs from the Jehol Biota in western Liaoning display their diversity and paleogeographic distribution rules. These pterosaurs provide plenty of evidences to study the origin, evolution and radiation of the Cretaceous pterosaurs.

Key words: pterosaur, pterosaur embryo, Johel Biota, western Liaoning