A perfectly preserved dinosaur embryo has been found in a fossilized egg

An incredibly rare, advanced dinosaur fetus has been found inside a fossilized egg that had been in a museum storeroom in China for more than a decade.

The fetus that can Between 66 and 72 million years ago, Reveals an amazing relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds. It belongs to a group of winged, toothless theropods known as Oviraptorosaurs. The length of the unhatched creature is estimated at about 27 cm.

This represents the first discovery of a dinosaur embryo that exhibits a position distinct from modern bird embryos. Just before hatching, birds perform a series of movements inside the egg, which include bending the body and lowering the head under the wing. But until today, the origin of this behavior and the evolutionary stages that led to it remain unknown.

The embryonic position of dinosaurs and their relationship to today's birds

The scientists published their discovery in A Stady, published in iScience. The study's authors explain that the fetus was found with its head in the “abdomen, with the legs spread on each side and the back curled along the obtuse shaft of the egg.”

This is according to scholars Fetal position “It has not been identified before in a flightless dinosaur but is reminiscent of a late-stage modern bird embryo.”. It is believed that this position of the embryo plays a vital role in the bird's hatching process. Those embryos that fail to adopt this position are less likely to survive after hatching.

fact that Oviraptorosaur embryo It adopted the same position, suggesting that this phenomenon may have first evolved in theropods, the ancient ancestors of modern birds.

“Before birth, this baby dinosaur looks like a small bird curled up in its egg. This is further evidence that many of the traits of today's birds first evolved in their dinosaur ancestors.” said study author Professor Steve Brusatte.

Is “Yingliang Child” unique?

The fetus is in the Yingliang Stone Museum of Natural History and is therefore called “Yingliang baby”. They are among the most complete dinosaur embryos ever found. This allows researchers to obtain a rare image of a child belonging to the theropod group.

However, because it is the only specimen of its kind, the study authors admit that no firm conclusions can be drawn about the nature of dinosaur embryos. More fossils like this will need to be studied first before any hypotheses can be confirmed.

“This fascinating new fossil embryo suggests that some early developmental behaviors often thought to be limited to birds may have deeper roots in the theropod lineage.”Scientists noted.

source: FOXreport.gr

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