An article published in the journal “Current Biology” reports the study of a fossil embryo of titanosaur dating back to about 80 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period, that came from Argentina. A team of researchers led by Dr. Martin Kundrat used sophisticated techniques to study it. The egg around it was dissolved by applying very carefully an acid preparation, and at that point, the embryo was scanned at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, which made it possible to create a three-dimensional reproduction. The examination offers new insight into the development of sauropods, the large group of herbivorous dinosaurs, and particularly their skulls, indicating that at least titanosaurs had stereoscopic vision and a horn like rhinos that was lost in adulthood.
The fossil embryo subject of this study had a complicated history because the egg in which it was contained was illegally exported from Argentina after being discovered in an unknown location in Patagonia. that means it’s a fossil that arrived in the hands of the researchers through unusual means after being brought to the attention of Terry W. Manning, one of the authors of this study.
Unfortunately, only the skull and part of the egg arrived in the researchers’ hands, so it wasn’t possible to identify the species it belongs to. Its characteristics indicate that it was a titanosaur, the group that includes the most massive species among the large, long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs and includes the iconic brontosaurs. Embryos of sauropods, the large group of herbivorous dinosaurs that also includes titanosaurs, were discovered in Argentina as well, but the skull under study is in a far superior state of preservation.
The image (Courtesy Kundrat et al, all rights reserved) shows sediments filling the egg (A and B) and the embryo skull in a lateral view (C).
The 3D reconstruction of the embryo’s skull made it possible to carry out a detailed analysis of its characteristics. An interesting discovery is that of traces of a horn on the snout, similar to that of a rhino. In fact, it’s possible that it was small and was used to break the egg at birth, as some birds and reptiles today do using a tooth or a similar cranial protuberance called egg tooth.
This study showed the importance of the fossil embryo with new information on the development of sauropods. Consequently, it was handed over to the Museo Municipal “Carmen Funes” di Plaza Huincul, Neuquén Province, Argentina, where it was regularly cataloged as MCF-PVPH-874. Fossils discovered and treated legally and with the appropriate care offer more information because paleontologists also record information about the environment in which they were found, including the presence of other fossils. In this case, the information could only be obtained through a direct study.
