Research Areas
Research Interests
My current researches have two broad focuses. 1, evolution, systematics, and phylogeny of fossil carnivorans (meat-eating mammals) in Cenozoic. In particular, I have concentrated on the fossil history of Canidae (dog family). In collaboration with Blaire Van Valkenburgh and Robert Wayne, we are tackling the issues of the molecular phylogeny and the timing of individual clades, and also their functional implications. 2, Geology and vertebrate paleontology of Tibetan Plateau. This NSF funded, field-oriented program attempts to learn about mammalian evolution in Tibet and their responses to paleoenvironments. The dramatic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau has caused a profound change of the Asian climate and environments. Such a change is recorded in the fossil records of mammals. I am leading a group of American and Chinese geologists and paleontologists to investigate various Cenozoic basins in Tibet and have discovered a number of fossiliferous localities.
Selected Publications
Wang, X., Y. Wang, Q. Li, Z.J. Tseng, G.T. Takeuchi, T. Deng, G. Xie, M.-m. Chang, and N. Wang, "Cenozoic vertebrate evolution and
paleoenvironment in Tibetan Plateau: Progress and prospects", Gondwana Research, - (2014) .
Li, Q., G.-p. Xie, G.T. Takeuchi, T. Deng, Z.J. Tseng,
C. Groh�, and X. Wang, "Vertebrate fossils on the Roof of the World: Biostratigraphy and geochronology of high-elevation Kunlun Pass Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau, and basin history as related to the Kunlun strike-slip fault", Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, 411 : 46-55 (2014) .
Wang, X., Z.J. Tseng, Q. Li, G.T. Takeuchi, and G. Xie, "From ?third pole? to north pole: a Himalayan origin for the arctic fox", Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1787): - (2014) .
Wang, X., Q. Li, and G. Xie
, "Earliest record of Sinicuon
in Zanda Basin, southern Tibet and implications for hypercarnivores in cold environments", Quaternary International, 281 (1787): 1-8 (2014) .
Li, Q., and X. Wang, "Qaidamomys fortelii, a new Late Miocene murid from Qaidam Basin, north Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China", Annales Zoologici Fennici, 51 (1-2): 17-26 (2014) .
Li, Q., X. Wang, G. Xie, and A. Yin, " Oligocene-Miocene mammalian fossils from Hongyazi Basin and its bearing on tectonics of Danghe Nanshan in northern Tibetan Plateau", PLoS ONE, 8 (12): e82816- (2013) .
Tseng, Z.J., X. Wang, G.J. Slater, G.T. Takeuchi, Q. Li, J. Liu, and G. Xie, "Himalayan fossils of the oldest known pantherine establish ancient origin of big cats", Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 : 20132686- (2013) .
Tseng, Z.J., Q. Li, and X. Wang, "A new cursorial hyena from Tibet, and analysis of biostratigraphy, paleozoogeography, and dental morphology of Chasmaporthetes (Mammalia, Carnivora)", Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 33 (6): 1457-1471 (2013) .
Wang, Y., Y. Xu, S. Khawaja, B.H. Passey, C. Zhang, X. Wang, Q. Li, Z.J. Tseng, G.T. Takeuchi, T. Deng, and G. Xie, "Diet and environment of a mid-Pliocene fauna from southwestern Himalaya: Paleo-elevation implications", Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 376 (0): 43-53 (2013) .
Wang, X., Q. Li, Z.-d. Qiu, G.-p. Xie, B.-y. Wang, Z.-x. Qiu, Z.J. Tseng, and G.T. Takeuchi. 2013., "Chapter 10. Neogene mammalian biostratigraphy and geochronology of the Tibetan Plateau", In: Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology, X. Wang, L.J. Flynn, and M. Fortelius(Eds.), New York Columbia University Press 376 (0): 274-292 (2013) .