Smallest Dinosaur Egg Found in China

A groundbreaking discovery in Ganzhou, China, has revealed the world's smallest dinosaur egg, measuring just 29 millimeters, dating back 80 million years to the Late Cretaceous period. Unearthed during construction in 2021, the find includes six fossilized eggs, all part of a well-preserved nest, and represents a new ootaxon named Minioolithus ganzhouensis. The research team, affiliated with various Chinese institutions, spent three years studying the eggs using advanced techniques like electron microscopy, confirming they belong to a non-avian theropod. This discovery not only sets a new record for the smallest dinosaur egg, surpassing the previous record of 45.5 mm, but also provides significant insights into the reproductive behaviors of theropod dinosaurs. The team aims to further investigate the nest's formation and the reproductive processes of these ancient creatures. The findings were published in the journal Historical Biology, emphasizing the importance of this discovery in understanding dinosaur evolution.