The oldest nest site of dinosaur found in Golden Gate Park Nasiorial Highlands, South Africa. At that location, the scientists found several fossilized eggs that allegedly contains a dinosaur embryo.
They also found traces of dinosaur babies in the nest which indicates that the young dinosaurs lived long enough for his size enough to get out of the nest. These findings indicate the parent dinosaurs were caring for their children.
They also found traces of dinosaur babies in the nest which indicates that the young dinosaurs lived long enough for his size enough to get out of the nest. These findings indicate the parent dinosaurs were caring for their children.
It's the oldest nest Massospondylus, a dinosaur with a height of 6 meters and is a long-necked sauropod ancestors that lived 190 million years ago. The nest is an estimated 100 million years older than dinosaur nests have ever been found before.
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| Massospondylus, prosauropods that lived during the Early Jurassic about 205 -194 million years ago. (Picture from: http://scienceray.com/) |
There are at least 10 nests were found and each nest contained 34 eggs arranged in groups. Location of nest distribution suggests that the parent Massospondylus repeatedly return to the same place to spawn.
The scientists concluded that this dinosaur had a highly organized nature. It can be seen from the position of eggs laid and arranged so carefully by the parent.
The scientists concluded that this dinosaur had a highly organized nature. It can be seen from the position of eggs laid and arranged so carefully by the parent.
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| The sites included eggs and even embryonic skeletons of the prosauropods Massospondylus. (Picture from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/) |
"Although the dinosaur fossil record very much, in fact we have little information about their reproductive biology, especially for early dinosaurs," said David Evans, curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada.
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| Artist's reconstruction of a Massospondylus embryo. (Picture from: http://www.flickeringtorches.com/) |
Evans said the 190 million-year-old nest is an amazing discovery which contains knowledge about dinosaur reproduction early in their evolutionary history-. "This is a record of nesting strategies of old dinosaurs known far in the future," he said.
The scientists believe that there are many other nests in the location of the discovery, but still buried in rock layers. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. *** [GUARDIAN | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3779]
The scientists believe that there are many other nests in the location of the discovery, but still buried in rock layers. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. *** [GUARDIAN | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3779]
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