Oospecies Spheroolithus Dinosaur Egg Clutch
from Shaanxi Province, China

Description: This is a fine example of a clutch of three dinosaur eggs of the Oospecies Spherolithus. They are larger than the eggs typically associated with Segnosaurs and smaller than those found with Hadrosaurs. Because dinosaur eggs are most often found independent of the animal that laid them, they are typically given names associated with their eggshell structure. A few notable exceptions are the Hadrosaur Maiasaura and the enigmatic dinosaur Oviraptor. The latter is a classic example of scientists jumping to conclusions. During the Central Asiatic Expeditions led by Roy Champan Andrews in the 1920's, the first dinosaur eggs were discovered. Due to the fact that the most prevalent dinosaur in the region was Protoceratops, the scientists thought the eggs were from this taxon. They found a small unusual dinosaur in association with a nest, and assumed that this dinosaur was overcome in the act of stealing the eggs. They gave this dinosaur the name Oviraptor philoceratops (Ceratops-loving egg thief). During the 1990's, several expeditions to Mongolia discovered more examples of this association, and the scientists came to the conclusion that the Oviraptor was BROODING the eggs - not a thief, but a devoted parent. China has extensive Mesozoic continental deposits called "red beds" because of their color. It is in these beds that the eggs occur, from Shandong Province in the east to Xinyang Ugur in the west. The eggs are found with greatest frequency in Shandong, Henan, and Guangdong Provinces. The mineral component of eggshell is Calcite, which can be seen here in several areas of these well-preserved eggs. It is believed that these eggshells were laid down through sequential formation of the membrane and calcareous layers much as in birds. This is a fine 3-D example of a sub-clutch of what was as many as 10-20 eggs in a full nest, perched upon a pedestal of the redbeds from which it was collected. As such it is a NATURAL association, NOT a composite specimen.