Re: Good mother dinos

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>> One complication of this bit was the presentation of Dave Unwin (U. of
>> Bristol, UK) at the 1993 SVP.  He showed that, based on embryo-to-egg ratio
>> found in modern birds and reptiles, the Maiasaura "hatchlings" are actually
>> the proper size for a late-stage non-hatched embryo.  He did go on to point
>> out that this doesn't disprove parental care in the Dinosauria, but it does
>> take a way one previously important piece of evidence.
>>
>
>I don't follow this last point.  Is the implication that the "hatchlings"
>were actually someone's snack-ling?  Or that Maiasaura may have only
>stuck around until the blessed moment, leaving the kids on their own
>after they hatched (hatch-key kids?)

The implication is that these may have been unhatched embryos.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.