Rare dinosaur eggs found in Narmada Valley show how ancient reptiles shared traits with today’s birds: Study

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in News

Context;

A group of Indian researchers found rare cases of fossilised dinosaur eggs — an egg within an egg — among 256 newly discovered eggs from the Narmada Valley.

Details of the findings:

The discovery relates the unique reproductive trait of Titanosaurs- one of the largest dinosaurs to have roamed the Earth- to the modern-day birds.
- The egg has two yolks; this feature can be seen in birds, suggesting they share similar reproductive traits.
The unique feature of an egg within the egg has not been reported from any other dinosaur or even in other reptiles.
The eggs belonged to six species, suggesting a higher diversity of these extinct giants in India.
Fossilised eggs provide clues on reproductive biology, nesting behaviour and parental care

Similarities with modern-day birds:

Titanosaurs buried their eggs in shallow pits, a behaviour seen in modern-day crocodiles.
They nested in colonies, a feature found in about 13 per cent of modern-day birds. They also laid eggs in sequential order like avian species.

Where is the fossil eggs found?

This region falls between the easternmost Lameta exposures at Jabalpur in the upper Narmada Valley (central India) and Balasinor in the west in the lower Narmada Valley (western central India).
- Lameta exposure is a sedimentary rock formation known for its dinosaur fossils.
- These sedimentary rocks are mostly exposed along the Narmada Valley.
The fossil records here are largely concealed by Deccan volcanic flows, which prevents their removal by erosion.

Significance of Narmada valley:

Earlier the 50,000-year-old archaeological remains were discovered in Narmada valley.
The study of the Narmada Basin is important because of its geographical location which is very strategic for the migration of animal populations from North to South and East to West.
It is not only rich in fossils and archaeological sites, but it has a long history of human occupation.