Oviraptor dinosaur egg.

Oviraptor dinosaur egg.
60 million years old.
Measurements: 4.5 x 14 x 8 cm.

Oviraptor was a theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous. Its name means "egg thief", as it was originally thought to steal eggs from other dinosaurs, although later discoveries showed that it was actually protecting its own nest. Oviraptor eggs were elongated and oval, with a hard shell and rough texture. Eggs have been found with bluish or greenish hues, suggesting that they had pigments for camouflage, similar to those of some present-day birds. Oviraptor eggs were arranged in concentric circles, with the dinosaur positioned in the center to incubate them, as many modern birds do. In Mongolia, Oviraptor fossils have been found on top of their eggs, confirming that they incubated their nests rather than stealing eggs. Some fossilized embryos have made it possible to study the early development of these dinosaurs.