工事現場でまさか......。恐竜の卵43個を発見 中国広東省の「恐竜の故郷」

中国南部にある広東省の河源市で4月19日、道路の舗装工事をしていた建設作業員が、恐竜の卵の化石43個を発見した。
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中国南部にある広東省の河源市(かげんし)で4月19日、道路の舗装工事をしていた建設作業員が、恐竜の卵の化石43個を発見した。そのうち19個は完全な形で残されており、最も大きいもので直径が7インチ(約18センチ)以上もあった。

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1990年代以来、河源市周辺では恐竜の卵の破片が多数発見されていて、中国の「恐竜の故郷」というニックネームで呼ばれている。河源博物館には世界最多の1万8個の恐竜の卵が収蔵されており、これは2004年にギネス世界記録として認定されている。

中国中央電視台(CCTV)によると、河源博物館の学芸員である杜衍禮氏は「この地域にある赤い砂岩地層は化石の保存状態が良好で、卵の化石がごく普通に見つけることができます」と述べた。

サウスチャイナ・モーニング・ポストによると、市中心部で化石が発見されたのは今回が初めてだという。

恐竜の種類を確定するため、化石の卵は今後、調査される予定だ。

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2015年4月19日、中国河源市の道路の舗装工事中、発見された恐竜の卵の化石を運ぶ中国の作業員。

Dinos Dining: Prehistoric Predators
Leviathan(01 of17)
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A 36-foot-long Pliosaurus attacks the plesiosaur Cryptoclidus, a marine reptile from the Late Jurassic Period. Also shown: the fish Pachycormus, a shoal of the belemnite Belemnoteuthis, and the ammonite Pectinatites.\n\nAcrylic Painting, 2008. (credit:Robert Nicholls)
Rugops Primus Environmental Scene(02 of17)
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The scavenger Rugops, a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous that lived in what is now Africa, driving a trio of the pterosaur Tupuxuara from the corpse of the sail-backed iguanadontid Ouranosaurus. The crocodylomorphs, relatives of the modern crocodile, are the \'boar-croc\' Kaprosuchus. (credit:© Todd Marshall)
Double Death(03 of17)
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Working together, a pair of Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs, steal away a juvenile Paralititan stromeri from its family herd. Paralititans were swamp-dwellers that grew to be one of the largest creatures to ever roam the Earth.\n\nMixed media, 2011. (credit: © Robert Nicholls)
Ammonite Graveyard(04 of17)
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Ammonites, so called after the Egyptian god Ammon, were carnivorous squidlike animals that could be over 3 feet in diameter. Here, several ammonites decay on the sea floor.\n\nMaterial: Gouache, 2011. \n\nBased on a prepared slab in Ulster Museum. Courtesy of A. Cowap. (credit: © John Sibbick)
Reaper In Paradise(05 of17)
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The giant crocodile, Deinosuchus riograndensis, attacks an Albertosaurs, a smaller relative of the Tyrannosaurus, in Late Cretaceous North America, 75 million years ago.\n\nAcrylic painting, 2003. (credit: © Robert Nicholls)
Mammoths And Saber-Toothed Cats(06 of17)
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A pride of Smilodon fatalis, often called a saber-toothed cat, attacks a calf belonging to a herd of mammoths while the mother moves to protect her offspring. \n\nDigital painting (credit: © Mauricio Anton)
Aucasaurus Attacking Titanosaur Nests(07 of17)
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During the Late Cretaceous (85 million years ago) Aucasaurus, a pack-hunting dinosaur, attacks a group of startled titanosaurs in Argentina. Pushing past the adults guarding their nests, the Aucasauruses snap up the babies as they hatch.\n\nFrom National Geographic, March 2003, \'Dinosaurs - Flesh & Bone\' (credit: © John Sibbick)
Gallimimus Bullatus & Tarbosaurus Bataarm(08 of17)
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Tarbosaurus, a predatory reptile that lived 70 million years ago in parts of Asia, chases two Gallimimuses, ostrich-like dinosaurs that could grow nearly 30 feet long.\n\nDigital Art, 2010. (credit: © John Conway)
One Split Second: Triceratops Vs. Tyrannosaurus Rex(09 of17)
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The T-Rex probably preyed on Triceratops, because their territories overlapped 65 million years ago. While the T-Rex had its famous bite to use for a weapon, triceratops\' powerful horns were a formidable defense. \n\nDigital Painting/photographic composite. 2011. From the Golden Book of Dinosaurs, by Robert Baker/Rey. (credit: © Luis Rey)
Ambush In The Late Miocene Of Florida(10 of17)
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This scene shows a prehistoric rhino struggling to escape the sharp claws of two saber-toothed cats.\n\nFrom left to right: Aelurodon, Teleoceras (rhino), Barbourofelis (saber-tooth), Neohipparion (horse), Aepycamelus (giraffe-like camels), Synthetoceras. (credit: © Mauricio Anton)
Smilodon & Paramylodon (11 of17)
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A Smilodon, or saber-toothed cat, dispatches a ground sloth trapped in tar during the Ice Age in North America.\n\nDigital painting. (credit:© Mauricio Anton)
Beelzebufo Ampinga(12 of17)
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A huge toad from the late Cretaceous of Madagascar that may have grown to over 16 inches long and could have weighed up to 9 pounds. It was certainly big enough to eat baby dinosaurs. \n\nAcrylics on illustration board, 2007. (credit:© Todd Marshall)
Cretaceous Rodeo (Aka T-Rex Family Life)(13 of17)
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The Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the most formidable predators of all the dinosaurs. The 40-foot-long carnivore had teeth up to twelve inches long. However, there is a debate among paleontologists over whether the T-Rex was an apex predator or a scavenger.\n\nAcrylics & ink on cardboard, 2004. (credit:© Luis Rey)
Devourer Of Giants(14 of17)
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Five million years ago, several Anacus - a straight-tusked member of the elephant family - have been caught in a flash flood and drowned. Washed out to sea, they attract two adult and a juvenile mega-shark named Carcharodon megalodon - at around 60 feet, probably the largest shark known.\r\n\r\nAcrylic painting, 2000. (credit:© RObert Nicholls)
Pristichampsus Attacking Early Horses(15 of17)
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Pristichampsus is an extinct crocodile relative that could grow up to 10 feet long. The armored reptile lived mostly on land, and fed on land mammals like these early horses.\r\n\r\nDetail from composite scene for the TV show Animal Planet.\r\n\r\nGouache (credit:© John Sibbick)
Megantereon Attacking Bushbuck(16 of17)
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Megantereon, an early saber-toothed cat, may have eaten young rhinos, elephants, and horses. The felines probably bit their prey on the neck to kill them, and then let them bleed to death, like the bushbuck pictured here.\r\n\r\nKromdraai A, Early Pleistocene of South Africa. \r\n\r\nColored pencils, from Evolving Eden (Columbia University Press) (credit:© Mauricio Anton)
(17 of17)
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Photos courtesy Titan Books

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