Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Ancient Fossil Reveals Dinosaurs' Bird-like Embryo Behavior

1/17/2025

29 6

Summary

Story summary

A remarkable fossil of an oviraptorid embryo, dubbed Baby Yingliang, has been unearthed in southern China, dating back 66–72 million years. Its striking tucking posture mirrors that of modern bird embryos, hinting that these bird-like behaviors may have emerged much earlier in non-avian theropods, bridging the gap between dinosaurs and their feathered descendants.

1 of 1

Story summary

A remarkable fossil of an oviraptorid embryo, dubbed Baby Yingliang, has been unearthed in southern China, dating back 66–72 million years. Its striking tucking posture mirrors that of modern bird embryos, hinting that these bird-like behaviors may have emerged much earlier in non-avian theropods, bridging the gap between dinosaurs and their feathered descendants.