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The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
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Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
13:43

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Palaeontology: pterosaur egg with a leathery shell.

Qiang Ji1, Shu-An Ji, Yen-Nien Cheng

  • 1Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.

Nature
|December 4, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Flying reptiles called pterosaurs reproduced by laying eggs, confirmed by a new fossil discovery. This exquisite pterosaur egg specimen reveals a soft, leathery shell structure, adding to our understanding of pterosaur reproduction.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Vertebrate Paleontology
  • Mesozoic Reptiles

Background:

  • Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era.
  • Reproductive strategies of pterosaurs, particularly eggshell structure, are areas of ongoing research.
  • Previous discoveries have provided insights into pterosaur oviparity.

Observation:

  • A remarkably well-preserved pterosaur egg fossil has been described.
  • The exquisite preservation allows for detailed analysis of the egg's shell structure.
  • This specimen offers new data on the physical characteristics of pterosaur eggs.

Findings:

  • The described pterosaur egg exhibits a soft and leathery shell structure.
  • This finding contrasts with the hard, calcified shells of many modern birds and reptiles.
  • The shell's composition provides evidence for the diversity of eggshell types among pterosaurs.

Implications:

  • The soft, leathery shell suggests unique nesting or incubation behaviors in some pterosaurs.
  • This discovery contributes to the broader understanding of pterosaur biology and evolution.
  • Further research on pterosaur eggs can illuminate their reproductive ecology and evolutionary history.