Hello droogies -

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had any comments on
Charles Deemings judgement of oviraptor eggs, with
their large pores, being habitually buriedm but no
answer. I think their elongated shape may be
correlated with being buried near the surface, whereas
perhaps more "obovoid" shapes might mean deep burial
or no burial.

A glance at the layout of the Big Momma nest
http://www.stonecompany.com/dinoeggs/study/detectives/images/amnh%20big%20mama.j\
pg
seems to me to leave a fair possibility that the eggs
were shallowly buried, with some of the shell very
near or above the surface.

Sauropod eggs are always rounder aren't they? Maybe
this would be best for them since they probably didn't
have very dextrous egg manipulation capabilities, and
"near the surface" would have been more tricky for
them than deep or no burial.

If sauropod eggs were not buried deeply, and
presumably not incubated, does this mean they must
have developed in warm conditions? I wonder how many
sauropods have been found in colder climes. I suppose
it's possible they just piled a few leaves on top!

Cheers,

John J.

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