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1 December 2008 New Oviraptorid Embryos from Bugin-Tsav, Nemegt Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Mongolia, with Insights into Their Habitat and Growth
David B. Weishampel, David E. Fastovsky, Mahito Watabe, David Varricchio, Frankie Jackson, Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar, Rinchen Barsbold
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Abstract

Eggs containing well-preserved skeletons were collected from Bugin-tsav, an Upper Cretaceous locality in the Nemegt Formation, Ömnögov' Aimag, Mongolia. These embryos, found in a weathered nest of eggs, are oviraptorid theropods. Eggshell morphotype is Elongatoolithidae, typical of theropods, including basal birds. Bone histology indicates that all embryos were probably close to hatching, based on the degree of ossification and in comparison with ossification patterns in living birds. Maturity of ossification indicates that oviraptorids hatched at a precocial stage of development. Two of the embryos are relatively large, while the other is 25% smaller, suggesting that size disparity of hatchlings in oviraptorids may be a consequence of asynchrony in egg laying.

David B. Weishampel, David E. Fastovsky, Mahito Watabe, David Varricchio, Frankie Jackson, Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar, and Rinchen Barsbold "New Oviraptorid Embryos from Bugin-Tsav, Nemegt Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Mongolia, with Insights into Their Habitat and Growth," Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(4), 1110-1119, (1 December 2008). https://doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634-28.4.1110
Accepted: 1 March 2008; Published: 1 December 2008
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