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Re: First nest of Protoceratops
"The analysis of the 70-million-year-old nest by Fastovsky and his
colleagues found that all 15 dinosaurs -- at least 10 of which are
complete specimens -- were about the same size and had achieved the same state
of growth and development, suggesting they represent a single
clutch from a single mother. The discovery also indicates that the young
dinosaurs remained in the nest through the early stages of postnatal
development and were cared for by their parents."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Possibly, but as there was no mention of adult fossils being found associated
another alternative hypothesis was that these are all recently hatched young
that had spent a few days in the nest prior to breaking out all at once. They
just so happened to get buried before the great exodus.
Or
They represent a creche of individuals that were living in a group independent
from the adults. This would call into question the assumption that they were in
a nest, instead of something more like a makeshift bed similar to the ones box
turtles, deer and dogs make.
I hope the eventual paper covers these alternative scenarios.
Jason
----- Original Message -----
> From: Guy Leahy <xrcizeguy@hotmail.com>
> To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> Cc:
> Sent: Tuesday, 22 November 2011 10:46 PM
> Subject: First nest of Protoceratops
>
>
> Very cool: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121104144.htm
>
> Guy Leahy
>