Scientists have made a major discovery in Ganzhou City in southern Jiangxi Province of China. They found the remains of a dinosaur sitting on a fossil egg nest.
The dinosaur, oviraptorosaur (oviraptor), belongs to a group of bird-like theropod dinosaurs that evolved during the distant Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago). The fossils of the adult oviraptor and the eggs with the embryos are separated to about 70 million years old. This is the first time researchers have found a non-bird dinosaur sitting on a fossilized egg nest so the babies are still in them!
The ~ 70-million-year-old fossil in question: an adult theropod oviraptorid dinosaur sitting at the top of a nest of its fossil eggs. Several eggs (including at least three containing embryos) are clearly visible, as are the forearms, pelvis, hind legs, and tail part of the adult. (Shundong Bi, Indiana University in Pennsylvania)
What do the scientists say about the find?
Dr. said. Shundong Bi, from the Center for Invertebrate Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan University, China, Department of Biology, Indiana University in Pennsylvania, USA, and lead author of the study with EurekAlert !, “ Dinosaurs preserved on their nests are rare, so are embossed fossils. This is the first time a non-bird dinosaur, sitting on an egg nest holding embryos, has been found in one remarkable example. ”
While a few other examples of adult oviraptor can be found on their nests with eggs, this is the first time scientists have found embryos inside the eggs. The study’s co-author, Dr Lamanna, a paleontologist from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, USA, explains: “These types of finds, in fact fossil behavior, are the rarest in dinosaurs. Although few adult oviraptorids have been found on the nests of their eggs before, embryos have never been found inside these eggs. ”
Professor Xu, from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, China, and one of the study’s authors, thinks that this rare find contains a wealth of information, “It’s amazing to think about the level of information biological trap trapped in just this single fossil. “Dr. Xu said,” We are going to learn from this sample for many years to come. ”
A vigilant theropod oviraptorid dinosaur spreads its blue-green egg nest while its mate looks at it in the Jiangxi region of southern China about 70 million years ago. ( Zhao Chuang )
The fossil eggs were going to catch!
The scientists discovered an incomplete skeleton of an adult oviraptor with the molars of the stomach. Here is an example gastroliths, “Stomach Stones,” which the creature had eaten to help it digest its food. This is also the first example of undoubted gastroliths found in oviraptorid, which the team believes could help provide new information about the diet of these dinosaurs.
The dinosaur was found crushed over a nest of at least 24 fossil eggs, in a protective or protective brood. This gives the impression that the dinosaur died while scratching or protecting its babies. However, when the researchers used isotope oxygen analysis of the eggs, they found that they were hatched at high temperatures, similar to birds, which supports the idea that the egg died. while he was shearing her nest.
The skeleton of part of the oviraptorosaur was found on a nest of at least 24 fossil eggs. ( Bi et al., Journal of Science, 2020 )
At least seven of the fossil eggs contain the remains of uncoated oviraptorid embryos. Based on the development of the embryos, the scientists believe that some of the eggs were going to lay. According to Dr Lamanna, “This dinosaur was a caring parent who eventually gave his life while nurturing the youth. ”
The article is published in Journal of Science .
Image above: A representative image of a baby dinosaur in an egg. Source: Stock KtD / Adobe
By Alicia McDermott