Push aside imagery of the towering Tyrannosaurus rex because the smallest-ever dinosaur eggs have been unearthed and represent an all new type of dinosaur species.
Six small non-avian dinosaur eggs, no bigger than grapes, were discovered during a field study in Ganzhou, a city in southeast China, in 2021, according to a report published by “Historical Biology” last week. The eggs date back more than 80 million years ago, making it a part of the Late Cretaceous period (66 to 100.5 million years ago).
The irregular egg arrangement features a worm-like and nodular appearance with a gradual boundary between two structural layers. Due to these unique features, an entirely new species has been created, Minioolithus ganzhouensis, according to the report.
A new record for smallest dino eggs ever discovered
The most complete egg, which also happens to be the smallest, measures about 29 millimeters (about 1.14 inches), according to China University of Geosciences. This sets a new record for the smallest found dinosaur egg.
The previous record for the smallest non-avian dinosaur egg, according to Guinness World Records, measures 45-by-20 millimeters (about 1.77-by-0.79 inches). Discovered in Japan’s Tamba City, this egg belonged to the Himeoolithus murakamii, which lived during the Early Cretaceous period (100.5 to 145 million years ago).
For a comparison, most large chicken hen eggs are about 62 millimeters (2.44 inches) in length, according to Brinsea Incubation Specialists.
How researchers found the dino eggs
The new record-breaking findings were a part of a three-year study conducted by China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Geological Survey and Exploration, and Jiangxi Provincial Geological Museum.
According to China University of Geosciences, the research team used a variety of methods to find the eggs, including scanning electron microscopy, a technique that uses electron beams to examine the surface of materials through high-resolution images.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
