Scientists have described the smallest non-avian dinosaur eggs recognized so far.  The eggs, the smallest of which measures simply 2.9 centimetres in size had been in all probability laid by a small theropod.  The researchers have erected a brand new ootaxon Minioolithus ganzhouensis. This discovery will increase the range of dinosaur eggs within the Late Cretaceous and is critical for our understanding of the evolution of theropods.  All the pieces Dinosaur contacted one of many authors of the scientific paper and we had been emailed a picture exhibiting this exceptional dinosaur fossil.

Minioolithus ganzhouensis the smallest non-avian dinosaur eggs discovered to date.

Minioolithus ganzhouensis the smallest non-avian dinosaur eggs found so far. The fossil which represents a clutch of six, tiny theropod eggs was found at a development website in Ganzhou (south-eastern China). Image credit score: Shukang Zhang (IVPP).

Image credit score: Shukang Zhang (IVPP)

Minioolithus ganzhouensis

The Higher Cretaceous Ganzhou Basin exposures situated in Jiangxi Province have yielded beautiful fossils of dinosaur nests, eggs and embryos. Most of those egg fossils symbolize oviraptorosaurs. Nevertheless, troodontid, hadrosaur and potential dromaeosaurid egg fossils have additionally been reported. Scientists have been in a position to study dinosaur nesting and reproductive behaviours. Intriguingly, all of the eggs recognized from these deposits had been comparatively massive. Writing within the tutorial journal “Historic Biology”, the researchers describe a partial clutch with six full small eggs. The fossil materials comes from the Tangbian Formation and the eggs are considered round eighty million years outdated.

China has supplied a wealth of dinosaur egg fossils.  Moreover, the theropod egg fossils have helped to make clear the connection between avian and non-avian dinosaurs.  For instance, a exceptional dinosaur egg fossil from southern China demonstrated the “tucking” place in an embryo. This posture is seen within the embryos of contemporary birds. It’s a behaviour managed by the central nervous system and it’s important for hatching success.

To learn extra concerning the exceptional theropod embryo fossil: Exquisitely Preserved Theropod Embryo Discovered Inside Egg.

Mike from All the pieces Dinosaur commented:

“It is a exceptional fossil discover.  Our due to the analysis staff for sharing the picture with us.  Discoveries similar to this are serving to palaeontologists to be taught extra concerning the exceptional hyperlinks between right this moment’s birds and their theropod ancestors.”

All the pieces Dinosaur acknowledges the help of one of many scientific paper’s authors within the compilation of this text.

The scientific paper: “The smallest recognized full dinosaur fossil eggs from the Higher Cretaceous of South China” by Rui Wu, Fasheng Lou, Juan Yu, Yu Xue, Shukang Zhang, Ling Yang, Wenjiang Qiu, Huimin Wang and Fenglu Han revealed in Historic Biology.

The award-winning All the pieces Dinosaur web site: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Fashions.