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 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.
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