In a remarkable archaeological discovery, a fossilized dinosaur embryo has been unearthed in the city of Presidente Prudente in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
Approximately 70 million years old, these fossilized eggs provide a rare glimpse into the ancient world of dinosaurs, adding a new chapter to our understanding of these prehistoric creatures.
Claudia Della Negra, the director in charge of cultural heritage for the Neuquén province, reported that the fossils bear similarities to other fossil eggs found in a different part of the province.
Archaeologists are currently engaged in the meticulous study of the embryo, teeth, and skin of these dinosaur eggs, unraveling the mysteries held within these well-preserved specimens.
The provincial government of Neuquén plans to construct a paleontological park to preserve the local archaeological heritage. This initiative has garnered support from the National Geographic Institute, the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina, and the Spanish province of Zaragoza. The collaborative efforts aim to safeguard and showcase these invaluable relics of Earth’s ancient past.
Dinosaur eggs typically measure 10-13 cm in length and 5-8 cm in width. In contrast, ancient crocodile eggs are no longer than 5 cm. Fossil crocodile eggshells are usually hollow or smooth, while dinosaur eggs feature a shell with a wavy pattern resembling winding worms.
The unearthed dinosaur eggs in Presidente Prudente were preserved in a layer of soil gradually transforming into sandstone over time.
This natural defense, formed by several layers of sand over millions of years, has helped preserve the eggs until paleontologists brought them out of the ground last year. However, it was only in December 2021 that they confirmed the eggs belonged to a dinosaur.
Previously, researchers discovered a dinosaur embryo in excellent condition in China. Named “Baby Yingliang,” the curled-up embryo inside a fossil egg in the rock layers of the Heikou Formation at the Shahe Industrial Park in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi Province, is one of the most intact dinosaur embryos known, bearing closer resemblance to a bird embryo than a dinosaur.
Particularly intriguing is that Baby Yingliang appears close to hatching, with its head tucked under its body, back folded, and feet placed on its sides.
A team of paleontologists led by the University of Birmingham suggests that Baby Yingliang belongs to a species of theropods with beaks but without teeth, known as “oviraptorosaurs.”
Their embryos measure 27 cm in length from head to tail and are coiled inside a 17 cm long egg. This discovery provides unprecedented insights into the reproductive and developmental aspects of these ancient giants, enriching our understanding of the diverse world of dinosaurs.
