European Knight
06-06-2015, 05:27 PM
Were dinosaurs caring parents? Fossils suggest ancient reptiles lived in families and cared for their young
Most reptiles, such as lizards and turtles, abandon their eggs after laying
But, it appears a number of dinosaurs may have cared for their young
Fossilised remains of a group of Philydrosauras has suggested the group was living as part of a family when they died
The fossils included an adult surrounded by six smaller juveniles Philydrosauras was semi-aquatic dinosaur that lived 160 million years ago
It's said to be the oldest record of post-natal care from the Middle Jurassic Many reptiles, such as lizards and turtles abandon their eggs after laying.
In fact, only five per cent of mammals feed and protect their young after giving birth.
But, in a new study, paleontologists have found evidence that dinosaurs may have bucked this lizard trend.
Fossils reveal that a particular group known as Philydrosauras were caring parents - and it could be the oldest record of such care ever found.
The researchers from the University of Lincoln, along with colleagues from China and Japan, studied fossilised remains of the small semi-aquatic dinosaurs that live around 160 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
The fossils, which were found by a farmer in Yixian, in western Liaoning Province of China, four years ago, included an adult surrounded by six smaller juveniles.
This suggests the dinosaurs were living as a family at the time of their death.
By comparison, most modern reptiles leave the youngsters to fend for themselves once they hatch.
Dr Charles Deeming, who led the work at the University of Lincoln, said that the young dinosaurs all appeared to be from the same clutch and were living with a parent.
Philydrosauras were part of a group of dinosaurs known as choristodera.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/16/24C39DAA00000578-0-image-m-19_1421433636157.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/19/24D6494400000578-2913774-image-a-5_1421667039296.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/19/24D6493F00000578-2913774-the_Lujiatun_beds_of_the_Yixian_Formation_in_north eastern_China_-a-7_1421667109661.jpg
Read more: Fossils suggest dinosaurs lived in families and cared for their young | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2913774/Were-dinosaurs-caring-parents-Fossils-suggest-ancient-reptiles-lived-families-cared-young.html)
Most reptiles, such as lizards and turtles, abandon their eggs after laying
But, it appears a number of dinosaurs may have cared for their young
Fossilised remains of a group of Philydrosauras has suggested the group was living as part of a family when they died
The fossils included an adult surrounded by six smaller juveniles Philydrosauras was semi-aquatic dinosaur that lived 160 million years ago
It's said to be the oldest record of post-natal care from the Middle Jurassic Many reptiles, such as lizards and turtles abandon their eggs after laying.
In fact, only five per cent of mammals feed and protect their young after giving birth.
But, in a new study, paleontologists have found evidence that dinosaurs may have bucked this lizard trend.
Fossils reveal that a particular group known as Philydrosauras were caring parents - and it could be the oldest record of such care ever found.
The researchers from the University of Lincoln, along with colleagues from China and Japan, studied fossilised remains of the small semi-aquatic dinosaurs that live around 160 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
The fossils, which were found by a farmer in Yixian, in western Liaoning Province of China, four years ago, included an adult surrounded by six smaller juveniles.
This suggests the dinosaurs were living as a family at the time of their death.
By comparison, most modern reptiles leave the youngsters to fend for themselves once they hatch.
Dr Charles Deeming, who led the work at the University of Lincoln, said that the young dinosaurs all appeared to be from the same clutch and were living with a parent.
Philydrosauras were part of a group of dinosaurs known as choristodera.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/16/24C39DAA00000578-0-image-m-19_1421433636157.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/19/24D6494400000578-2913774-image-a-5_1421667039296.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/19/24D6493F00000578-2913774-the_Lujiatun_beds_of_the_Yixian_Formation_in_north eastern_China_-a-7_1421667109661.jpg
Read more: Fossils suggest dinosaurs lived in families and cared for their young | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2913774/Were-dinosaurs-caring-parents-Fossils-suggest-ancient-reptiles-lived-families-cared-young.html)