An artist's rendering of a pair of mosasaurs and their egg. Image credit: Francisco Hueichaleo.
Posted on 06/21/2020 9:32:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Named Antarcticoolithus bradyi, the new fossil is the first fossilized egg found in Antarctica.
The specimen exceeds eggs of all known non-avian dinosaurs in volume and differs from them in structure.
Measuring 29 by 20 cm (11.4 by 7.9 inches) and weighing 6.5 kg, it is the largest soft-shell egg ever discovered and the second-largest egg of any known animal. Although the elephant bird egg is slightly larger, its eggshell is roughly five times thicker.
University of Texas at Austin paleontologist Lucas Legendre and his colleagues from the United States and Chile think that Antarcticoolithus bradyi was laid by a giant marine reptile, such as a mosasaur -- a discovery that challenges the prevailing thought that such creatures did not lay eggs...
The researchers found several layers of membrane that confirmed that Antarcticoolithus bradyi was indeed an egg...
However, because the fossil egg is hatched and contains no skeletal material, the scientists had to use other means to zero in on the type of reptile that laid it.
...the rock formation where the Antarcticoolithus bradyi egg was discovered also hosts skeletons from baby mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, along with adult specimens.
(Excerpt) Read more at sci-news.com ...
An artist's rendering of a pair of mosasaurs and their egg. Image credit: Francisco Hueichaleo.
He looks as mean as a shark.
YIKES!
Sometimes, "extinction" sounds like a great idea.
It would complicate the drive-through food joints -- the side of slaw container alone would have to put on a trailer.
Thanks for posting.
WHAT I find interesting is how the moderators will stop the discussion on some threads due to double posting of news stories, yet others they will allow 2, 3, or even 4 posts on the same story without limiting the conversations.
FR has become weak due to the moderators who claim they are conservative.
Been her since 1998, and I have never seen moderators be so wishy washy on what they allow.
These are not quite 23 feet but we still have some impressive(17 ft 9 in) dinosaur-like creatures roaming the planet. Gomek is dead now but his friends still lurk around in New Guinea.
“WHAT I find interesting is how the moderators will stop the discussion on some threads due to double posting of news stories, yet others they will allow 2, 3, or even 4 posts on the same story without limiting the conversations.”
Yeah. That and a snotty “Search Works” comment when the search function on FR is its absolute worst feature.
For Pete's sake don't they know NOT to mess with ancient eggs in Antarctica?? Especially this year!
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