Dinosaur Eggs

dinosaurs · fossils · reptiles · eggs

Hard protective shells. Dinosaur eggs had tough outer shells made of minerals that protected the growing babies inside, similar to how modern bird and reptile eggs work today.

Discovered in France. The first scientifically proven dinosaur egg fossils were found in France in 1859 by scientist Jean-Jacques Pouech, though people initially thought they were giant bird eggs.

Proof of reptile nature. When scientists first found dinosaur remains in the 1820s, they knew dinosaurs must have laid eggs because dinosaurs were reptiles, and all reptiles lay eggs.

Babies grew inside. Each dinosaur egg contained an embryo, or developing baby dinosaur, that grew inside the protective shell until it was ready to hatch.

Found as fossils. Today, paleontologists search for dinosaur egg fossils in rocks to learn how ancient dinosaurs reproduced and took care of their young.