Lot 458
PREMIUM QUALITY OVIRAPTOR EGG. This original Oviraptor egg is 70-80 million years old from the Djadokhta formation of Ukhaa Tolgod of Mongolia. This egg was found in the Gobi desert and is 7.5 inches long and belongs to the largest of the two Oviraptor species called Citipati to distinguish this difference from the other smaller species. Citipati Oviraptorids were made famous by the nest of eggs with the mother Citipati sitting on top of the eggs in a brooding position. This famous specimen is displayed in the New York Museum of Natural History and was discovered in 1995. It was revolutionary to discover a dinosaur sitting on top of its eggs like a bird and only later was it discovered that Oviraptors such as Citipati also had feathers like a bird. Citipati eggs are ratite in texture and have a very thin shell which is why they are rarely found complete. This premium quality egg has sharp textured detail on the shell and has about 90% original shell on the top side and 40% shell on the bottom side. The egg has not been fully airbrushed and still has some of the red limestone matrix on top of the dark brown shell. There are probably three or more species of Oviraptor type dinosaurs that had eggs that vary in size from 5-7.5 inches, but this classic egg definitely belongs to the species of Oviraptor, Citipati first found in the 1920s in Mongolia.
Add $15 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $600 - 800.
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