Chinese Researchers Discover a New Dinosaur Egg Fossil in Jiangxi Province. Measuring just 29mm in length, this is the smallest dinosaur egg ever found globally.
After three years of research, a team from the Jiangxi Geological Survey and Exploration Institute (JGSEI), China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed that six fossilized eggs dating back to the late Cretaceous period, approximately over 80 million years ago, are indeed dinosaur eggs.
Relatively complete dinosaur egg fossil. (Source: Global Times).
The relatively complete fossilized eggs, arranged irregularly, were discovered in a well-preserved nest at a construction site in Meilin Town, Ganxian District, Guangzhou in 2021.
Mr. Lou Fasheng, chief engineer at JGSEI, stated that using scanning electron microscopy and backscattered electron diffraction, the research team analyzed the microstructure of the eggshell and determined that the morphology and microstructure indicate they belong to a non-avian theropod species.
He mentioned that the most complete egg has a maximum length of only 29mm, setting a new record for the smallest dinosaur egg fossil.
The previously known smallest dinosaur egg fossil was found in Zhejiang Province, China, measuring approximately 45.5mm x 40.4mm x 34.4mm.
According to Mr. Lou Fasheng, this latest discovery expands the diversity of dinosaur eggs from the late Cretaceous period and provides valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of theropods during that time.
