Smallest complete dino egg fossil found in Ganzhou

Researchers in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, have discovered a new type of dinosaur egg fossil. It is the smallest complete fossil of its kind found worldwide.

Led by Lou Fasheng, a research team found a well-preserved nest at a construction site in Meilin town of Ganzhou, in 2021.

The nest contained six nearly intact egg fossils dating back to the Late Cretaceous period, over 80 million years ago.

After three years of study, collaborating with China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research team confirmed the findings as dinosaur egg fossils.

The finding was published in the journal Historical Biology on Oct 14.

According to researchers, this discovery helps to understand the evolution and reproductive methods of theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period, adding more diversity to the study of Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggs.