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Massospondylus Embryo: World's Oldest Dinosaur Embryo Found

by NowPublic Staff | November 10, 2010 at 03:59 pm

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University of Toronto Scientists Find World's Oldest Dinosaur Embryo: Massospondylus

A team of paleontologists from the University of Toronto, Mississauga have found the world's oldest dinosaur embryos in South Africa reports Discovery News.

The dinosaur embryos are of the Massospondylus - a medium sized dinosaur that walked on all fours. The embryos are 190 million years old, dating back to the early Jurassic period.

Professor Robert Reisz of the University of Toronto Mississauga and his colleagues made the discovery while analyzing the fossilized eggs, originally found in South Africa. Reisz’s research assistant, Diane Scott, prepared the delicate fossils under high-powered microscopes and compiled the illustrations.

“I don’t think anybody else could have done this job,” Reisz said.

The embryos are so remarkably well preserved that they permitted a complete reconstruction of the skeleton and detailed interpretations of the anatomy.

The Massospondylus embryos were 8 inches long and were close to hatching. Adult Massospondylus reached upto 16 1/2 feet in length.