Eggs, Nests, And Baby Dinosaurs. A Look At Dinosaur Reproduction

What du we know about how dinosaurs reproduced, gave birth, cared for their Young ? What have we learned about dinosaur eggs, hatchlings, and babies ? Here, presented with clarity and wit, is an up-to-date synthesis of our knowledge of dinosaur reproduction and development. Studying the reproduction of dinosaurs might seem impossible, considering that they became extinct 65 million years ago ; yet scientists have figured out some things about dinosaur mating behavior and reproduction from the clues left in the fossil record. For example, the microscopic structure of the egg's shell tells us something about the way the egg was made ; the pattern of eggs in a clutch indicates how the eggs were laid ; embryos and hatchlings tell us about early development ; and ornamental structures of the adults tell us something about mating rituals. The behavior of living animals provides an analogue to help us understand the behavior of extinct animals and gives insight into possible ways that dinosaurs might have behaved. Kenneth Carpenter begins with the story of the discovery of dinosaur eggs, explains the processes by which they are fossilized, and describes how they are studied. He presents a detailed discussion of the latest ideas about dinosaur courtship and mating, about nests and nesting behavior, and about the growth. of the dinosaur from embryo to hatchl'ng to Young animal. The book also includes an extensive list of sites where dinosaur eggs and bables have been found.