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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, 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.

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  • (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.

    --
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