Stalicoolithidae
| Stalicoolithidae Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
Eggshell classification  | |
| Basic shell type: | †Dinosauroid-spherulitic |
| Oofamily: | †Stalicoolithidae |
| Oogenera | |
Stalicoolithidae is an oofamily of fossil eggs.[1]
History
Stalicoolithid eggs were first discovered in 1971, but they were described initially as Dendroolithids,[2] or as Spheroolithids, in the case of "Paraspheroolithus" shizuiwanensis and Shixingoolithus.[1]
Description
Stalicoolithids are distinguished from other oofamilies by several characteristics. Most significantly, they have secondary eggshell units in the outer zone, and three distinct subzones of the columnar layer.[1][2] They have a unique mix of developmental characteristics, giving insight into the evolution of the amniotic eggshell.[1]
Parataxonomy
Shixingoolithus contains at least two oogenera: Coralloidoolithus and Stalicoolithus. It probably contains Shixingoolithus as well, though this is uncertain.[1][3] Also, the enigmatic Parvoblongoolithus could potentially be a Stalicoolithid.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Wang Q, Wang X L, Zhao Z K, and Jiang Y G. (2012). "A new oofamily of dinosaur egg from the Upper Cretaceous of Tiantai Basin, Zhejiang Province, and its mechanism of eggshell formation" Chinese Science Bulletin. 57: 3740-3747. doi: 10.1007/s11434-012-5353-2
- 1 2 3 Zhang, S., X. Jin, J.K. O'Conner, M. Wang, and J. Xie. (2015). "A new egg with avian egg shape from the Upper Cretaceous of Zhejiang Province, China." Historical Biology 27(5):595-602.
- ↑ Moreno-Azanza, M., J.I. Canudo, and J.M. Gasca. (2014). "Spheroolithid eggshells in the Lower Cretaceous of Europe. Implications for eggshell evolution in ornithischian dinosaurs." Cretaceous Research 51:75-87.