Dinosaur Eggs

dinosaurs · fossils · reproduction

Eggs held embryos. Dinosaur eggs were organic containers where baby dinosaurs grew before hatching, similar to how bird and reptile eggs work today.

First fossil discovery. The first scientifically documented dinosaur egg fossils were found in France in 1859 by Jean-Jacques Pouech, though scientists initially thought they were giant bird eggs.

Reptile assumption. When scientists first studied dinosaur remains in 1820s England, they correctly guessed that dinosaurs laid eggs because dinosaurs were reptiles, just like snakes and lizards today.

Found as fossils. Dinosaur eggs survived millions of years and became fossilized in rock, allowing paleontologists to study them and learn how dinosaurs reproduced.