Eggshell Porosity Reveals Type Of Nest Built By Archosaurs

By examining the porosity of extinct archosaurs' eggshells, researchers are uncovering new information about the covered and exposed prehistoric nests of archosaurs, according to a study at the University of Calgary.

The new study could shed light on the reproductive behaviors and the evolution of nests amidst the archosaurs, which are the extinct relatives of modern birds and crocodiles. Covered and exposed nest were common among archosaurs. Most research on archosaurs has been carried out based on comparisons of their modern relatives.

The Calgary researchers figured that examining the features of the eggs and nest settings could reveal a whole lot about how the archosaurs built their nests. They studied the eggshell porosity and mass of more than 120 modern archosaur relatives and 29 extinct archosaur species. They found a similar relation between the eggshell porosity and the two nest types among existent archosaurs relatives. This eggshell porosity could be used as a substitute for nest building, which also aids in understanding nest types among other extinct dinosaur species.

The researchers found that covered nests were common among early dinosaur species. Theropods went from having covered nest to uncovered nests, which allowed them to locate their nests in varying areas. By adapting to different locations, the chances of nests being destroyed by flooding and climate were reduced. This also may have led to the evolution of maniraptorans and early birds, according to the researchers.

The findings of this study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

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