Viviparous dinosaurs?

[Skip Dahlgren <SDAHLGREN@liblan.uams.edu>]

I've heard some speculation that certain dinosaurs may have been viviparous.  
What is the current thinking on egg-laying versus live-bearing dinosaurs, 
both as a simple matter of means of giving birth and in context of maternal 
care and family structure?  

In regard to the question of T. rex eggs and the vast size difference between 
hatchling (dare I say "chick"?) and adult, is it possible that either they 
laid larger eggs than those which have been found, or that they bore live 
young instead?  The latter would certainly be advantageous to a large 
carnivore, whether social or solitary, whether it gave maternal care or not, 
since such young most likely would not require a nest or shelter for any 
significant period of time after birth, and would be better able to travel 
and feed themselves (or keep up with their mother/family group).  Is there 
any evidence to support such a hypothesis, and regarding which species?  Any 
info would be appreciated.  :)


Skip Dahlgren - sdahlgren@liblan.uams.edu; bcsskip@aol.com
Applications Programmer, Office of Educational Development
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
-lifelong afficionado of dinosaurs and their latter-day kin