Lot 654
Oviraptor Dinosaur Egg. This original nearly fully inflated unhatched Oviraptor egg is 70-80 million years old from the Djadokhta formation of Ukhaa Tolgod of Mongolia. This egg was found in the Gobi desert and is 6 inches long and belongs to the largest of the two Oviraptor species called Citipati to distinguish this difference from the other smaller species. Citipati Oviraptorids were made famous by the nest of eggs with the mother Citipati sitting on top of the eggs in a brooding position. This famous specimen is displayed in the New York Museum of Natural History and was discovered in 1995. It was revolutionary to discover a dinosaur sitting on top of its eggs like a bird and only later was it discovered that Oviraptors such as Citipati also had feathers like a bird. Citipati eggs are ratite in texture and have a very thin shell which is why they are rarely found complete. This unhatched egg has black and gray colored eggshell with an excellent shape. The top side is nearly completely covered by somewhat worn grey eggshell with about 25% of top covered with more detailed black eggshell with its typical ratite pattern. The backside of the egg has about 35% mostly detailed black shell with perhaps more shell still hidden under the original reddish brown matrix. This egg could contain some embryonic bones inside as typically, about 20% of the unhatched Oviraptor eggs contain some embryonic bones. The bones are always disarticulated and usually are jumbled together in a small area. This important dinosaur egg comes with an illusion stand for display.
Add $30 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $600 - 800.
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