Preprismatoolithus
Preprismatoolithus Temporal range:
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Egg fossil classification ![]() | |
Basic shell type: | †Dinosauroid-prismatic |
Oofamily: | †Prismatoolithidae |
Oogenus: | †Preprismatoolithus Zelenitsky & Hills, 1996 |
Preprismatoolithus is a Late Jurassic oogenus. The species P. coloradensis is described by John Foster as being "of the prismatic basic type,"[1] with subspherical eggs about 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter.[2] This oospecies was first attributed to "hypsilophodontid" dinosaurs, although an initial lack of associated embryo material made confirming the egg-layer's identity impossible.[1] After a finding in Portugal[3] associated prismatic basic types with embryos, it now is known to be theropod.
Eggshell present in great abundance at the so-called "Young Egg Locality" which seems to have been a dinosaur nesting ground.[1] Congeneric eggshell fossils are found at additional Colorado sites including the Fruita Paleontological Area, the Uravan Locality and Garden Park.[1]
See also
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]References
[edit]- Foster, J. (2007). Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World. Indiana University Press. 389pp. ISBN 978-0-253-34870-8.