Stone mining company Yingliang Group found the egg in Ganzhou, southern China, back in 2000.
But it wasn’t until 15 years later that the egg’s significance was realized when a surface fracture revealed several fragile bones that seemed to be clues to a hidden reward. In.
The remarkably well-preserved dinosaur embryo, named “Baby Yingliang” by scientists, belongs to a toothless theropod dinosaur, or oviraptorosaur, and is at least 66 million years old.
The project is led by dinosaur egg expert Darla Zelenitsky, a paleontologist from the University of Calgary. “I couldn’t believe my eyes because it’s so perfectly preserved,” she adds.
Young Yingliang was discovered by scientists in a crouched position reminiscent of the hatching of modern birds, but not previously observed in dinosaurs. Birds about to hatch exhibit a behavior known as “tucking” in which they tuck their head under their right wing to stabilize it while using their beak to crack open the shell. This activity is controlled by the central nervous system. Embryos that do not implant are more likely to die after failure to hatch.
According to research co-author Fion Waisum Ma, “This suggests that such behavior in modern birds first evolved and originated among their dinosaur ancestors.”
In the Late Cretaceous period, oviraptorosaurs – feathered dinosaurs – lived in the territory of today’s Asia and North America.
Although the Latin name means “egg-stealing lizards”, there were considerable differences in their diet and beak shape. They also showed a wide range of sizes, from modern turkeys to the huge Gigantoraptors, which were roughly eight meters (26 feet) in length.
The amazing discovery is enshrined in an egg that is currently on display at the Ringling Stone Museum of Natural History. The egg is 17 cm (6.6 in) long and is approximately 27 cm (10.6 in) long from head to tail.
Scientists believe the organism was likely spared scavengers when an unexpected mudslide hid the eggs.
If the Yingliang cub lived to adulthood, it would reach a length of three meters or almost 6.5 feet. The petrified egg was one of several that were left forgotten in storage for many years until scientists decided to remove part of the eggshell to finally reveal the embryo that was hidden inside.
“This dinosaur embryo inside an egg is one of the most beautiful fossils I have ever seen,” said research team member Professor Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh. “This tiny prenatal dinosaur looks like a baby bird curled up in an egg, providing further evidence that many features characteristic of today’s birds first evolved in their dinosaur ancestors.”
The scientific team intends to use cutting-edge scanning technology to get a complete picture of the skeleton, including the bones of the skull, as part of the corpse is still encased in rock.
The discovery of “Baby Yingliang” represents a remarkable breakthrough in our understanding of the evolution of dinosaurs and their relationship to modern birds. The exceptionally well-preserved embryo provides crucial insights into the behavior and developmental processes of theropod dinosaurs, particularly the interesting similarities with the hatching techniques of birds. This evidence suggests that certain behaviors characteristic of birds, such as the “tucked” position before hatching, have deep evolutionary roots that go back to their dinosaur ancestors.
Moreover, the significance of this find goes beyond its aesthetic appeal. It highlights the rich diversity of oviraptorosaurs and their adaptive strategies during the Late Cretaceous.
By studying Baby Yingliang, scientists can gather information about the growth and survival mechanisms of these ancient creatures and improve our understanding of their ecology and behavior.Â
As scientists continue to use advanced imaging technologies to reveal more details about this fossil, they hope to not only reconstruct the full anatomy of the embryo but also further bridge the gap between the age of dinosaurs and the era of birds. The discovery underscores the importance of paleontological research and the continued exploration of our planet’s prehistoric past, revealing the complex tapestry of life that has shaped the evolution of species over millions of years.