Evaluating deformation in Spheroolithus dinosaur eggs from Zhejiang, China

Abstract

Lack of stratigraphic context for dinosaur eggs inhibits understanding of dinosaur reproductive biology and the taphonomic processes of egg preservation. Past taphonomic work suggests two features, compression ridges (sharp edge of broken eggshell around egg circumference) and deformation asymmetry (proportion of crushed to rounded sides of the egg), as geopetal structures. We examined these features across a large sample of Spheroolithus eggs from the Cretaceous of Zhejiang, China, to test their utility. On 103 isolated eggs, we determined asymmetry ratios (crushed side egg height divided by rounded side egg height) and observed an average asymmetry ratio of 0.71. Additional observations of in situ eggs demonstrate the stratigraphic downside as more rounded and less fractured, the stratigraphic upside as flatter with heavier fracturing and compression ridges as parallel to original bedding plane. Burial-caused fractures on the upper side of the egg allowed sediment to partially fill, subsequently supporting the bottom portion. Examining these features within 16 clutches allowed differentiation of biotic versus taphonomically altered arrangements. Three common clutch arrangements include planar (minimal egg overlap), offset (extreme overlap) and agglomerate (randomly arranged, closely packed). Analysis of egg strike and dip across clutches favours planar clutches as the principal configuration for Spheroolithus clutches.

Keywords::

• Spheroolithus
• compression
• orientation
• Zhejiang
• asymmetry
• deformation

Acknowledgements

We thank D. Barta, D. Simon, S. Oser, D. Lawver and A. Moore-Nall, with the other members of the 2012 IRES (International Research Experience for Students) Dinosaur Eggs and Education trip for early reviews of this manuscript, discussion and insight. We would also like to thank the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History staff Zheng Wenjie, Li Xiuti and Gu Shengxiao for their assistance and congeniality. Funding for this study was provided by National Science Foundation IRES grant # 0854412 to F. Jackson and D. Varricchio, National Geographic Grant # 8752-10 to D. Varricchio, X. Jin and F. Jackson, and the Montana State University Vice President for Research Internship and a MSU Undergraduate Scholars Programme travel grant to H. Wilson.

Notes

^1. Both of these authors have contributed equally to this work.