Perfectly preserved dinosaur embryo found in China
15:57, 23 December
The preserved dinosaur that was preparing to hatch is almost 66 million years old. This has to be one of the biggest discoveries regarding the species that used to rule the Earth before humans.
- Share on Facebook
- Share on VK
- Share on Twitter
The toothless theropod dinosaur, or Oviraptorosaur, was discovered in Ganzhou, southern China, and was christened "Baby Yingliang" by the researchers.
On Tuesday, scientists revealed the finding of an excellently preserved dinosaur embryo dating back at least 66 million years that was about to hatch from its egg, like a chicken.
“It is one of the best dinosaur embryos ever found in history,” University of Birmingham researcher Fion Waisum Ma said.
Baby Yingliang's head was located below its body, with its feet on either side of its body and back curled, a posture not seen before in dinosaurs but comparable to modern birds, according to Ma and colleagues.
The habit is known as "tucking" in birds and is controlled by the central nervous system. Chicks who are about to hatch bury their heads under their right wing to keep their heads stable while cracking the shell with their beak.
Embryos that do not tuck properly have higher chances to die due to unsuccessful hatching.
“This indicates that such behavior in modern birds first evolved and originated among their dinosaur ancestors,” said Ma.
An alternative to tucking could have been something more akin to what current crocodiles do, which sit with their heads bowed against their chest until they hatch.
