THE world’s smallest dinosaur egg from 80 million years ago has been found “perfectly preserved” – despite being tinier than 50p.
The find dates all the way back to the Late Cretacerous period and offers unbelievable insights into the reproductive habits of dinosaurs.
The smallest dinosaur egg ever found was confirmed in Ganzhou, China[/caption]
The image shows the new type of dinosaur egg fossils discovered[/caption]
The Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest ever predators[/caption]
Six near-perfect egg fossils were gouged from a well-preserved nest bizarrely found at a construction site in Ganzhou, China.
The research team confirmed the significance of the discovery after studying them for a whopping three years.
The most complete fossil egg found at the site is only a mere 29mm in length.
This egg breaks the previous record for the smallest dinosaur egg fossil – which measured approximately 45.5mm in length after being found in Zhejiang Province, China.
But the new breakthrough discovery unleashes a new understanding on the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.
Through analysis of the eggshells using advanced technologies, experts have been able to determine the eggs are likely that of a non-avian theropod.
The discovery has also added to the diversity of known dinosaur eggs from the Late Cretaceous period while also shedding light on the reproductive habits of theropods.
Theropods were a group of carnivorous dinosaurs that includes well-known species like the terrifying Tyrannosaurus rex.
Now the research team is planning to use micro-CT scanning to reconstruct the fossilised nest to unlock more knowledge on how the eggs were laid and preserved.
It comes a few weeks after the giant 270kg skull of a dinosaur who last roamed the planet 72million years ago was unearthed in a bone-filled creek.
Palaeontologists found the incredibly well preserved bone of the adult Pachyrhinosaurus dubbed “Big Sam” underground near Grande Prairie in Alberta, Canada.
The Pachyrhinosaurus – meaning thick-nosed lizard – was a plant-eating dinosaur that was believed to be the cousin of the iconic Triceratops.
Researchers believe that based off the size of the bones found so far the dinosaur species was the same size as an Indian elephant or a rhino.
Some even believe the adult male Pachyrhinosaurus tipped the scales at around 4,000kg.
The Canadian team that found Big Sam’s 272kg fossilised skull described it as being the same size as a baby elephant.
It resembled a bumpy and bony shape which differentiates it from many other similar species who had a sharp horn on their nose.
Emily Bamforth, a paleontologist at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum who have taken the skull to study, said: “Their distinguishing feature is that, instead of having a horn on their nose like a triceratops, they had this big, bony bump called a boss.
“And they have big, bony bumps over their eyes as well.
“It makes them look a little strange. It’s the one dinosaur that if you find it, it’s the only possible thing it can be.”
Why did the dinosaurs die out?
Here’s what you need to know…
- The dinosaur wipe-out was a sudden mass extinction event on Earth
- It wiped out roughly three-quarters of our planet’s plant and animal species around 66million years ago
- This event marked the end of the Cretaceous period, and opened the Cenozoic Era, which we’re still in today
- Scientists generally believe that a massive comet or asteroid around 9 miles wide crashed into Earth, devastating the planet
- This impact is said to have sparked a lingering “impact winter”, severely harming plant life and the food chain that relied on it
- More recent research suggests that this impact “ignited” major volcanic activity, which also led to the wiping-out of life
- Some research has suggested that dinosaur numbers were already declining due to climate changes at the time
- But a study published in March 2019 claims that dinosaurs were likely “thriving” before the extinction event
A 272kg dinosaur skull of a Pachyrhinosaurus has been unearthed in Canada[/caption]
