Latest news with #Ornithopods
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
100-million-year-old dinosaur eggs recovered in Jurassic America
100-million-year-old dinosaur eggs recovered in Jurassic America Central Utah, 100 million years ago, was a very different place–covered in forests and water. It was a lush, watery landscape on the edge of the Western Interior Seaway. In this landscape, dinosaurs and early mammals drank from the same water sources, while ancient crocodiles hid beneath the surface, to attack their prey. Dense forests and rivers supported a wide variety of life. This region was part of a dynamic ecosystem where survival depended on constant adaptation. Recent fossil discoveries from the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation—including bones and broken eggshells—offer a rare glimpse, helping scientists understand the creatures that once thrived in this ancient, ever-changing environment. 4000 dinosaur eggshell fragments found buried in 20 sites For over a year, paleontologists assumed that there was just one type of dinosaur egg buried in the to their assumption was proven wrong after the researchers collected more than 4,000 eggshell fragments from 20 sites and examined them under scanning electron microscopes and light microscopes. As the eggshells split into at least six distinct ootaxa- a scientific term for fossil egg species, showed that several different animals shared the same nesting grounds. 'The most interesting thing about this for me is the multiple types of elongatoolithid eggshells, which correspond to multiple types of oviraptorosaur dinosaurs', shared Dr. Josh Hedge, a visiting assistant professor of biology at Lake Forest College. He added, 'I think historically we have been guilty of thinking there is one kind of each dinosaur in a given ecosystem, but we are finding more and more that multiple species of each group are likely coexisting.' Their research suggests that at least two or three oviraptorosaurs of different sizes were laying eggs in that Utah ecosystem at the same time. Dinosaur egg diversity Many of the eggshells found belonged to feathered dinosaurs called Oviraptorosauras. These eggs were long and narrow, similar to the modern bird eggs, a shape that might have helped the embryos breathe while buried in warm sand. Other eggs belonged to plant eating dinosaurs that walked on two legs called Ornithopods. But perhaps the most surprising find was Mycomorphoolithus kohringi, an egg type previously found only in Europe, indicating that a crocodylomorph, a prehistoric relative of crocodiles, also lived in North America during the Cretaceous period. About the egg layers Most Oviraptorosaurs were mid-sized, feathered omnivores with strong beaks and stubby tails. Among the recent skeletal finds, Moros, a horse-sized early tyrannosaur, and lani, a beaked plant-eater were also found. Meanwhile, Ornithopods were the workhorses of the Cretaceous West. They left abundant tracks but rarely complete skeletons. They were dry-season grazers or wet-season thick-walled eggs support the idea that they buried their clutches in vegetation, much like today's megapode birds. What eggs clue about the ancient ecosystem Clutch spacing, shell thickness , and pore patterns tell us about the soil moisture, vegetation cover, and parental care behaviors. The six ootaxa signify: shallow buried mounds for crocodile cousins, sand plastered rings for oviraptorosaurs, and leaf-blanketed pits for ornithopods. Microscopic and scanning electron analysis revealed crystallite patterns thinner than a human hair, allowing the scientists to match tiny fragments to broader evolutionary groups. This wide variety suggests the characteristics of an ecosystem, rich in microhabitats, where animals could partition the resources and thrive side by side. Also read | Is the 'doomsday fish' a real omen of disaster? Here's what scientists say
Morocco World
17-03-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
World's Oldest Dinosaur Fossils Found in Morocco
A discovery in Morocco has unveiled the oldest Cerapodan dinosaur fossils on the planet – dating back 174 million years. The fossils, dug up in the rocky lands of El Mers III, near Boulemane, could change everything we know about these humongous plant-munching creatures. Before this, the only known fossil from this period was a lonely thigh bone found in the United Kingdom. Experts from Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University in Fez and the UK's Natural History Museum made the find and published their report on March 12. Though the fossil isn't complete, researchers say it proves Morocco was home to some of the earliest herbivore dinosaurs ever recorded. Even more exciting is that the same site also contains some of the world's oldest ankylosaurus and stegosaurus. During their early days, Cerapodans walked on two legs and used their front limbs to grab food. But over time, some bulked up, dropped to all fours, and developed powerful chewing skills, making them the top plant-eaters of their era. Scientists say these creatures split into two groups – Ornithopods (which include duck-billed dinosaurs) and Marginocephalians (which had fancy headgear). The Moroccan fossils belong to the Ornithopods. This discovery is a game-changer in dinosaur history, suggesting the Middle Jurassic was a key moment for these giants to take over the prehistoric world.
