Treasure trove of fossil eggs hints titanosaurs nested in colonies

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A survey of much than 250 fossil eggs recovered successful India suggests long-necked titanosaurs nested successful ample groups, but near hatchlings to fend for themselves

Life 18 January 2023

By Riley Black

A treasure trove of fossil nests uncovered successful India hints astatine an array of as-yet-undiscovered dinosaurs belonging to the titanosaur group, and gives clues to however these animals reproduced.

A full of 92 nests and 256 eggs, measuring up to 20 centimetres long, were recovered successful the Lameta Formation, a series of stone layers well-known for containing fossils of immense, long-necked dinosaurs called titanosaurs. Palaeontologists had antecedently identified 3 titanosaur taxon from bones recovered successful this area.

Guntupalli Prasad astatine the University of Delhi and his colleagues discovered the nests during fieldwork betwixt 2017 and 2020. The squad proposes that determination are astatine slightest six ovum shapes – technically called oospecies – recovered successful the formation. If each ovum signifier was laid by a antithetic species, it would treble the known fig of taxon successful the formation.

Based connected the layout of the nests, Prasad and his colleagues deliberation the titanosaurs whitethorn person buried their eggs successful shallow pits, arsenic crocodiles do. They besides suggest that they nested successful colonies similar galore modern birds, but near the hatchlings to fend for themselves, arsenic big dinosaurs wouldn’t person had abstraction to enactment connected the nests.

Darla Zelenitsky astatine the University of Calgary successful Canada, who wasn’t progressive with the study, urges caution connected taking the six antithetic ovum types arsenic a motion of six antithetic species. Larger oregon smaller individuals of the aforesaid taxon mightiness laic eggs that superficially look different, oregon antithetic taxon mightiness laic eggs that are indistinguishable, she says.

Finding bones and eggs unneurotic volition supply firmer grounds of however galore dinosaur taxon were around, says Zelenitsky. “That said, determination is intelligibly thing absorbing astir the Lameta Formation to consistently nutrient a fig of antithetic titanosaur ovum types,” she says.

Back successful the heyday of the dinosaurs, this portion of occidental India was a bedewed and marshy lowland dotted with tiny lakes. “The flats offered sites adjacent to h2o sources, brushed ungraded for nest burial and imaginable availability of nutrient for juveniles,” says Prasad, each of which would person made the country charismatic to these dinosaurs.

These moist sediments besides assistance explicate wherefore truthful galore dinosaur nests came to beryllium preserved successful occidental India. When streams, marshes and ponds rose, adjacent nests were inundated and buried.