Chair: Dr. WANG Min

Deputy Chair: Dr. LU Jing

The Department focuses on the origin, evolution and taxonomy of fossil vertebrates that are not closely related to mammals, including fish, reptiles and amphibians. Our studies encompass a taxonomically diverse array of vertebrates from the past half-billion years of geological time.

Research Groups:
1. Early vertebrate group
2. Mesozoic and Cenozoic fish group
3. Dinosaur (excluding birds) and pterosaur group
4. Bird group
5. Permo-Triassic tetrapod group
6. Lissamphibian and lizard group

Current Research Priorities:
1. Origin and early evolution of Osteichthyes (bony fish)
2. Origin of tetrapods (land vertebrates)
3. Origin of birds and bird flight