A comparative embryological study of two ornithischian dinosaurs

John R. Horner, David B. Weishampel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Embryonic dinosaur remains are extremely rare1,2 and with the exception of the specimens described here, are so fragmentary that they have yielded little or no information useful for palaeobiological interpretation. We report here the first well-documented association of dinosaur eggs containing embryos, juveniles and adults from the fossil record. The material, attributable to a new hypsilophodontid, Orodromeus makelai, n. gen., n. sp., and the hadrosaurid Maiasaura peeblesorum, comes from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of western Montana3. Osteo-logical and histological studies of these two animals indicate structural and morphological adaptations for their respective growth patterns and neonate behaviour.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)256-257
Number of pages2
JournalNature
Volume332
Issue number6161
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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