The discovery of a unique soft-shelled fossil egg,
Antarcticoolithus bradyi, in Antarctica has revolutionized our understanding of ancient marine reptile reproduction. Unearthed in 2011 by a Chilean research team, the egg, nicknamed "The Thing" due to its unusual appearance, is about the size of a football and dates back approximately 68 million years to the Cretaceous period. It represents the largest soft-shelled egg ever found and the second-largest egg of any known animal.
Measuring roughly 11 inches long and 8 inches wide,
Antarcticoolithus bradyi'ssmooth surface and thin shell distinguish it from dinosaur eggs. Its structure is more akin to the eggs of modern lizards and snakes. The fossil was discovered near the remains of
Kaikaifilu hervei, a large mosasaur, leading scientists to hypothesize a potential parent-offspring relationship.
This finding challenges the long-held belief that mosasaurs, aquatic reptiles related to modern lizards and snakes, gave live birth. The discovery suggests that mosasaurs may have laid eggs, similar to some contemporary reptiles, with very thin shells from which offspring emerged rapidly. The scarcity of fossilized soft-shelled eggs makes this discovery particularly significant, providing valuable insights into the evolution of reproductive strategies among reptiles and dinosaurs.
The egg's discovery has spurred further research into the diversity of ancient eggs and the lifestyles of extinct animals.