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Name:
Oviraptor sp. Egg
Age: Cretaceous
Formation: Nanxiong Formation
Location: Guangdong Province, China
Size: Egg is 6.6 inches long
This egg is most likely from the dinosaur, Oviraptor, or ''egg robber''. Most raptors laid their eggs in nests of a dozen or more eggs. Oviraptor mothers have been found fossilized guarding their nests, showing a ''nurturing'' nature in these dinosaurs. Usually, hatching and scavenging damaged the nests, obliterating any trace of the eggs that remained. Occasionally, some eggs survived predators and the elements, and eventually became fossils. Another point of interest relating to our raptor eggs is the overall comparison of eggshell thickness of these eggs. The raptor eggs found in deepest deposits (older) have very thick eggshell. As you examine eggs higher in the formation (younger), you see a gradual thinning of the eggshell over time. Gradual changes in vegetation (determined from pollen samples), changes in climate from a humid subtropic to an arid temperate region, and less oxygen in the air (determined from examining air trapped in amber) could have weakened the dinosaurs ability to produce healthy eggs, thus leading to their inevitable extinction. Environmental stresses in modern birds (the brown pelican, for example) have been shown to reduce the thickness of eggshells and the results on the species are similar. Because of their delicate nature, intact eggs are very rare in the fossil record. Dinosaur eggs that retain their original shape and eggshell are some of the most collectible fossils in the world.
This egg is one of the most complete and intact raptor eggs ever found. The top side of the egg is covered with the thick, original eggshell. The shell has beautiful chocolate-brown coloration, and the granulose texture of the eggshell is very easily seen and unmistakable. The back side of the egg is missing a small portion of eggshell, but the display side of the egg has flawless eggshell. The egg is also very inflated and 3-D - not crushed flat like some eggs. And, best of all, this in an unhatched egg - there could be a baby dinosaur preserved inside! This is a museum quality dinosaur egg that could contain extremely rare embryonic remains.
A Certificate of Authenticity from EXTINCTIONS is included with this specimen.
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