A hatchery containing 256 fossilized dinosaur eggs has been discovered in India, suggesting the beasts nested together, just like modern birds.
Researchers in New Delhi have discovered 92 nesting sites that once belonged to titanosaurs, a family of long-necked dinosaurs that includes some of the largest ever to have existed.
Spanning some 620 miles (1,000 km) from east to west, the dinosaur hatchery is also one of the largest known to man, and reveals new insight into the massive species.
For example, the fact that the clutches are so close together suggests that the parents didn’t stick around to watch their newborns hatch, experts say.
Researchers in New Delhi have discovered 92 nesting sites that once belonged to titanosaurs, a family of long-necked dinosaurs that includes some of the largest ever to have existed
Egg pictures and egg outlines. A: A fully unhatched egg. B: Outline of an egg considered unhatched. C: Compressed egg with hatching window indicated by arrow and eggshell fragments indicated by circles. D: An egg. E: Deformed egg showing surfaces sliding past each other
What were titanosaurs?
Titanosaurs were the last large group of sauropod dinosaurs before the extinction of the Cretaceous-Paleogene period, about 65 million years ago.
Like other sauropods, titanosaurs were herbivorous quadrupeds with long tails, long necks, and small heads.
However, their bodies were stockier and their limbs created a wider stance than other sauropods.
Titanosaur fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica and include about 40 species.
The group includes the largest known land animals, with some approaching the size of whales.
This is because there would be no room for it, and if they did, paleontologists would notice more fossilized broken eggs.
Additionally, there is not much fossil record of juvenile bones in the region, suggesting that the babies left the nest soon after hatching.
The hatchery is part of the Lameta Formation, a geological formation in the Narmada Valley that contains many fossilized dinosaur eggs and skeletons from the Late Cretaceous period.
The researchers identified eggs that came from six different species of titanosaur—more than had been reported through skeletal fossils in the area so far.
This suggests that there was a greater diversity of dinosaurs on the Indian subcontinent than previously thought.
Harsha Dhiman, the study’s lead author, said: “Our research has revealed the presence of an extensive Titanosaurus sauropod dinosaur hatchery in the study area and offers new insights into nest preservation conditions and breeding strategies of Titanosaur sauropod dinosaurs just before they became extinct.” ‘
Titanosaurs were the last large family of sauropod dinosaurs before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, about 65 million years ago.
Sauropods are a subgroup of dinosaurs characterized by their four legs, long neck and tail, small head, and herbivorous diet.
However, titanosaurs’ bodies were stockier and their limbs had a wider stance than other sauropods.
Titanosaur fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica and include about 40 species.
The hatchery is part of the Lameta Formation, a geological formation in the Narmada Valley that contains many fossilized dinosaur eggs and skeletons from the Late Cretaceous period. Pictured: Map of the study area showing the location of the studied dinosaur paws
A diagram showing what researchers believe was the hatchery environment. It is believed that some of the egg nests were laid near the shores of lakes and ponds, and they were often submerged under water. This caused them to be buried in sediment and prevented them from hatching. Clutches further away from water bodies could hatch and therefore show more broken shells
Titanosaurs were the last large family of sauropod dinosaurs before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, about 65 million years ago. Sauropods are a subgroup of dinosaurs characterized by their four legs, long neck and tail, small head, and herbivorous diet
Only a limited amount of information about the reproductive habits of dinosaurs can be gleaned from their remains because their reproductive organs do not fossilize.
However, researchers could draw some impressive inferences about titanosaur habits from the hatchery, which was published today in PLOS One.
Some of the eggs that were found tightly packed together had very similar diameters, suggesting that they were buried with the surfaces touching.
Researchers believe that titanosaurs dug shallow pits for their eggs, as modern crocodiles do.
They also discovered the first-ever “egg-in-egg” dinosaur, indicating that the creature had a segmented uterus and laid its eggs sequentially like modern birds.
An egg within an egg occurs when an egg is pushed back into the mother’s reproductive system and implants into another newly formed egg.
This suggests that dinosaurs had a reproductive biology closer to that of birds and crocodiles than to turtles and lizards, as previously assumed.
They also discovered the first-ever “egg-in-egg” dinosaur (pictured), showing that they had a segmented uterus and laid their eggs sequentially like modern birds
Finding all the clutches in such close proximity also suggests that titanosaurs formed breeding colonies that came together to nest.
This behavior is “indicated by extensive clutches and morphologically similar eggs” as well as the stratigraphic position of the Lameta Formation.
The type of rock that held the eggs led researchers to believe that some of the nests were laid near the shores of lakes and ponds.
They were often submerged under water, causing them to be buried in sediment that prevented them from hatching.
Clutches further away from water bodies could hatch and therefore had more fossilized eggshell fragments.
Finding all the clutches in such close proximity also suggests that titanosaurs formed breeding colonies that came together to nest. Pictured: Round dinosaur egg clutch
The type of rock that held the eggs led researchers to believe that some of the nests were laid near the shores of lakes and ponds. Pictured: Preserved broken fragments of an egg
A huge species of titanosaur, twice the size of a London bus, roamed Spain 70.5 million years ago
A long-necked dinosaur twice the size of a London bus roamed Spain 70.5 million years ago, scientists have revealed.
Fossils of the newly discovered species, named Abditosaurus kuehnei, were found from Orcau, in the southern Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain.
During its lifetime, A. kuehnei reached a length of 57 feet (17.5 meters, about twice the length of a classic double-decker) and a mass of 14 tons (14,000 kg, about the size of 28 grand pianos).
The head of A. kuehnei can reach a maximum height of about 13 feet (4 meters), ideal for reaching vegetation in tall trees.
Its 70.5-million-year-old skeleton is the most complete specimen of a herbivorous group of dinosaurs called titanosaurs yet found in Europe, experts say.
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