Abstract: Based on the known fossil occurrences and environmental factors throughout the late Quaternary, the ENMeval-optimized maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the potential distribution of Hanyusuchus sinensis within China. The Jackknife method identifies environmental factors controlling the geographic distribution of Hanyusuchus sinensis and reveals small variations in the distribution range of this species during the late Quaternary. The results show that during five separate stages of the late Quaternary, the potential geographic distribution of Hanyusuchus sinensis within China is concentrated in Guangxi, Guangdong, southwestern Fujian, and eastern Hainan, with sporadic occurrences in Taiwan. Key environmental factors influencing the distribution of Hanyusuchus sinensis include mean diurnal range $ (B_{2}) $, altitude $ (E) $, temperature seasonality $ (B_{4}) $, mean temperature of the wettest quarter $ (B_{8}) $ and precipitation of the coldest quarter $ (B_{19}) $. Optimal survival conditions for Hanyusuchus sinensis are characterized by the mean diurnal range between 4.74 ℃ and 7.82 ℃, altitude below 126.44 m, temperature seasonality between 481.36 and 616.40 m, mean temperature of the wettest quarter between 24.76 ℃ and 32.88 ℃, and precipitation of the coldest quarter ranging between 109.99 mm and 168.68 mm. Therefore, it is suggested that future searches for Hanyusuchus sinensis fossils should focus on these regions. Furthermore, the results of this study support the hypothesis that human activities, rather than the climate change, caused the extinction of Hanyusuchus sinensis.
Keywords: Hanyusuchus sinensis; MaxEnt model; potential habitat; environmental factors; geographic information system(GIS); fossils
合肥工业大学学报自科版