PALEONTOLOGISTS DISCOVERS 70-MILLION-YEAR-OLD DINOSAUR EGG IN EXCELLENT CONDITION IN ARGENTINA
Some of the most fascinating scientific advancements this year have been centred around Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council, or CONICET. They oversaw a submarine mission a few months ago that went viral right away, drawing millions of viewers to a broadcast about organisms on the ocean floor. They have now discovered something that may alter our understanding of dinosaurs. A 70-million-year-old dinosaur egg in almost excellent condition was discovered by CONICET palaeontologists.
Dr Federico Agnolín, who led the team from the Argentinian Museum of Natural Sciences, found the egg in the southern Patagonian province of Río Negro. No other fossil of this type has ever been found in such fine shape, even though other eggs have been recovered in Argentina before. It may contain embryonic remnants, according to researchers. If confirmed, it would mark a turning point in palaeontology since it would enable researchers to piece together the growth and evolution of dinosaurs. It might also reveal their birth story.
The scientists initially thought the oval-shaped, smooth-surfaced egg was a recent rhea egg because of its nearly perfect shell. They discovered that it was a fossilised egg from a Bonapartenykus, a small carnivorous dinosaur that lived millions of years ago in southern Argentina. One of the most startling aspects of the finding is that carnivorous dinosaurs' eggs are considerably more delicate since their outer layers are thinner.
The experts described the location as a nursery for prehistoric animals after discovering the remnants of extinct reptiles and mammals surrounding the egg. As a result, the location might also reveal details about the behaviour of dinosaurs, including how they raised their young.
Since many of the eggs were destroyed by erosion, the remaining ones are severely fragmented. Agnolín told El País, "Perhaps some are still whole, but they're within a rock." In this instance, the egg rolled through the extremely fine sand after breaking loose and remaining there. That kept it from shattering. It's nearly miraculous. It would have been ruined if it had rained or whatever else had occurred.
The discovery is so thrilling because of this. It appears to have been intentional. I wasn't positive it was a fossil until I discovered it. It appeared as though someone had placed it there.
A livestream was used to make the announcement after the undersea expedition's prior success. According to the researchers, "science can reach many more individuals than we ever thought." They revealed that they are also thinking about dissecting the egg in a webcast so that others can share their excitement—or disappointment—about its content. It will subsequently be given to a Patagonian museum so that the locals can marvel at this historic fossil.