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An incredible discovery! An intact dinosaur egg fossil dating back 80 million years has been found and studied using innovative techniques that preserve its structure. Find out how this discovery could provide new insights into dinosaurs!
A dinosaur egg fossil measuring just 29 millimeters long has been discovered in Ganzhou, eastern Jiangxi Province. China. This is the smallest complete fossilized egg ever found, belonging to a new species of dinosaur within the oval-shaped egg family, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Baptized “Ganzhou Mini Egg”, the fossil represents an important milestone in paleontology, as it provides valuable information about the reproduction and diversity of dinosaurs. The research was recently published in the academic journal Historical Biology, contributing significantly to the study of dinosaur evolution.
The Ganzhou Basin, located in southern China, is one of the richest Late Cretaceous egg fossil sites, and is widely recognized for its abundant fossilized egg clutches.
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This site has been noted for producing exquisite embryonic eggs and clutches, especially of oviraptorosaurs, a group of dinosaurs known for their beaks and feathers. In addition to oviraptorosaurs, egg fossils of other species, such as hadrosaurs and troodontids, have also been discovered, although in smaller quantities.
These eggs vary considerably in their morphology, reflecting the diversity of species that inhabited the region during the Late Cretaceous. However, a common characteristic among many of them is their relatively large size.
Comparison with previous findings
The “Ganzhou Mini Egg” has surpassed the previous record for the smallest fossilized egg, held by the “Jingguo Micro Ellipsoid Egg”, discovered in Zhejiang Province, also in China, which had dimensions of approximately 45,5 mm × 40,4 mm × 34,4 mm.
The fossil was found in 2021 by a team led by Lou Fasheng, chief engineer at the Institute of Research and Jiangxi Geological Exploration.
During excavations at a construction site in Meilin Town, Ganxian District, a well-preserved nest containing nearly six intact dinosaur eggs was discovered.
Dinosaur Egg: The Study of the Fossil
After three years of study, in collaboration with experts from China University of Geosciences and Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team was able to confirm that the fossils were, in fact, dinosaur eggs. The eggs were dated back to the Late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago.
The study included the use of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and backscattered electron diffraction to analyze the microstructure of the eggshell.
Based on the macroscopic shape and ornamentation of the shell, as well as the basic structure of the shell units, the researchers classified the fossil within the family of ellipsoidal dinosaur eggs.
The new species
The new fossil showed significant differences in relation to previously known eggs, such as size, shell thickness, pore system and ultrastructure. These differences allowed scientists to create a new genus and species for the egg.
According to Han Fenglu, an associate professor of vertebrate paleontology at the China University of Geosciences, analysis of the fossils suggests that these eggs belonged to a small theropod dinosaur.
This discovery contributes to the understanding of the reproductive strategies of these dinosaurs and the diversity of eggs in the Late Cretaceous.
Next steps in research
The next step in the research is to use the micro-CT technique to reconstruct the general burial state of the fossilized eggs, which could provide more details about the egg formation process and help identify the exact type of dinosaur that laid them, as well as study their reproductive behaviors.
This new phase of studies promises to reveal even more about the lives and ecology of these ancient creatures, offering a unique window into the distant past.
