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posted by janrinok on Tuesday December 05 2017, @11:45AM   Printer-friendly
from the past-their-sell-by-date dept.

Over 200 fossilized pterosaur eggs have been found at a single dig site in China:

The largest clutch of [pterosaur] eggs ever discovered suggests that the extinct flying reptiles may have gathered together in vast colonies to lay their eggs. More than 200 eggs were discovered at one location in China.

Little is known about how the pterosaurs reproduced. The find suggests that hatchlings were probably incapable of flight when they emerged from the egg, and needed some parental care.

Fossilised pterosaur eggs and embryos are extremely rare. Until now only a handful of eggs have been found, in Argentina and north-western China. The large collection of eggs suggests pterosaurs may have nested in colonies, where they defended their offspring from predator attack.

Also at NYT and NPR.

Egg accumulation with 3D embryos provides insight into the life history of a pterosaur (DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2329) (DX)


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  • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 05 2017, @11:53AM (3 children)

    by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @11:53AM (#605582) Journal

    Seems like a quick burial: volcanic activity?

    --
    --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
    • (Score: 3, Informative) by Arik on Tuesday December 05 2017, @12:03PM

      by Arik (4543) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @12:03PM (#605586) Journal
      But it's a 'popular' blurb so it's extremely short on information and long on innuendo.

      The ACTUAL FA we should be reading is behind a paywall.

      Just the abstract is still more informative than the BBC though.

      http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6367/1197
      --
      If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
    • (Score: 2) by bart9h on Tuesday December 05 2017, @04:59PM (1 child)

      by bart9h (767) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @04:59PM (#605706)

      or a landslide

      • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:18PM

        by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:18PM (#605766) Journal

        Yeah, that WOULD be quicker!

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        --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
  • (Score: 3, Funny) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Tuesday December 05 2017, @12:35PM (2 children)

    by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @12:35PM (#605594) Journal

    ... some naked chick walked the eggs into a big funeral pyre and miraculously survived. She now calls herself "mother of pterosaurs" and plans to conquer China.

    • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:24PM (1 child)

      by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:24PM (#605769) Journal

      Danaerys Egg-born?

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
      • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:36PM

        by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:36PM (#605773) Journal

        Ugh... Forgot to smiley
        :)

        --
        --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @02:12PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @02:12PM (#605627)

    Found the RockFridge of Fred Flintstone.

  • (Score: 2, Funny) by TrentDavey on Tuesday December 05 2017, @05:29PM (1 child)

    by TrentDavey (1526) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @05:29PM (#605717)

    only a handful of eggs have been found

    Someone should tell these guys not to try to grab all the eggs with one hand- these are precious fossils for cryin' out loud! Or maybe a handful is only one egg - like ostrich-sized?
    p.s. Please don't ostracize me for this comment. Or this one either.

    • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:20PM

      by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday December 05 2017, @07:20PM (#605768) Journal

      I've often heard guys saying that a handful is all u need.

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
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