A completely preserved dinosaur egg dating back 80 million years has been discovered in Ganzhou, China. The egg of this new species, called Minioolithus ganzhouensis, was reported to be only one inch long and was recorded as the smallest complete dinosaur egg ever found. The egg was found as part of a complete nest of six eggs, dating back to the late Cretaceous period.
Researchers at the China University of Geology (CUG) confirmed these eggs, which they found in 2021 at a construction site known as one of the richest fossil areas in Ganzhou, as dinosaur eggs after a three-year study . As a result of the studies, it was said that these eggs did not resemble a known species of predatory dinosaur and they were accepted as a new species of dinosaur in the scientific world.
The eggs have different characteristics from previously discovered dinosaur eggs, with their small size, irregular arrangement, and worm-like and nodular decorations. In addition, the thickness and surface structure of the egg shell are also different. These findings revealed that Minioolithus ganzhouensis could provide new insights into dinosaur reproductive habits and biology.
Prof. from the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at CUG, who conducted the research. Dr. Han Fenglu said that these eggs belonged to small theropod dinosaurs. Theropods represent a group of dinosaurs that includes predatory dinosaurs such as the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex. This discovery provides important information about the evolutionary process of theropods and their life in the late Cretaceous period.
The researchers used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction techniques to study the shape and decoration of the eggshell. Thanks to this technology, the surface structure and internal structure patterns of the shell can be studied in detail. The results showed that the size, thickness, pore system and ultrastructure of the egg were very different from other eggs found before.
The discovery revealed that the eggs belonged to a family of ellipsoidal, or oval-shaped, dinosaur eggs. Scientists plan to conduct further research to better understand how this species evolved and its reproductive strategies. As the next step, the internal structure of the eggs will be analyzed in three dimensions with micro-CT scans, thus obtaining more detailed information about how the eggs are formed.
Scientists confirm that this research will shed light on dinosaur biology and the ecology of the late Cretaceous period. The discovery of Miniolithus ganzhouensis could open a new perspective in the diversity and evolution of dinosaurs.
2024-10-21 21:10:00
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