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Shown below are 3 different types of dinosaur eggshell, all said to be from the Gaugou Formation in China. The bottom left eggshell is labelled as coming from Dendroolithus, and I am confident in this identification. The other two types are supposed to come from Tarbosaurus bataar (top left) and Oviraptor philoceratops (right) however, and neither of these species are known from the Gaugou Formation, so the question is what they are actually from. Thanks in advance for any suggestions Othniel

Hope this ok to post here? If not, then please remove--no worries. Since I have quite a lot of free-time now in my semi-retirement, I have written a novel. As I love dinosaurs, it is about dinosaurs. Set in the area of the Wessex Formation and follows an island suddenly finding itself threatened after a Neovenator arrives. This is my second draft, but I'd love some feedback from other fans of dinosaurs--if it is something you'd read, what you like, what you don't like, what you think of the characterization of the dinosaurs etc. I will post two chapters--- Number 1, the opening chapter. And then a chapter from further on in the book which shows an action scene. Chapter One: The Body It was Valdosaurus who first found the body. It was a dead Iguanodon which lay on its side on the bank of the river, half-submerged in the water. A cloud of flies had already gathered, drawn to the meal before them. Valdosaurus immediately ducked back into the undergrowth. Valdosaurus was a small dinosaur, almost an adult at just under four-meters long. She was dwarfed by the size of the fallen Iguanodon. Valdosaurus lacked the formidable defenses of some of her fellow island inhabitants. She didn’t have thumb spikes like the Iguanodon did; she had no thick armor plating covering her back like the short, squat Polacanthus, and no long, whip-like tail like the giant sauropod Oplosaurus. All she possessed was her incredible speed—a skill she was prepared to use should danger rear its head. Valdosaurus waited. The only sound was the relentless buzz of the flies and the distant hooting of a small flock of pterosaurs circling high overhead. It appeared that whatever had killed the Iguanodon had left, leaving behind only the partially-eaten remains. Breathing a cautious sigh of relief, Valdosaurus gingerly emerged from her hiding place in the underbrush. Her dark-green scaled head rose, its pointed nose tentatively sniffing the air, and her brown eyes darted nervously around for any sign of danger. Cautiously, she inched forward. Before her lay the lifeless body of a male Iguanodon—a full-grown adult. It had been killed by a single, fatal bite to the neck, the sheer force of which had snapped it like a twig. The Iguanodon's once-majestic form bore the gruesome evidence of a frenzied attack—massive bite marks that had torn away substantial chunks of its flesh. Valdosaurus stared silently at the body for a few moments. She had lived on this island all her life, and predators here were rare. She only knew of a number of small raptor packs living in the Western and Eastern Woods. This level of carnage was unprecedented. Even the Eotyrannus clan that had once terrorized the island hadn’t managed to take on a fully-grown buck Iguanodon. Baryonyx would manage it, but she dwelt by the coast, and it was unheard of for her to venture inland. Hopping over the dead Iguanodon's giant, splayed legs with great care, Valdosaurus peered at the scene from the opposite side. Here, she could see a series of footprints embedded in the mud at the river's edge. These prints were smaller than the Iguanodon's, yet far larger than her own. Valdosaurus couldn’t see any tracks leading back into the forest, leaving her to wonder which direction the killer had chosen, upstream or downstream, in its departure. A shiver coursed through Valdosaurus as she stood exposed in this new predator's hunting ground. Although the assailant was gone for now, a lingering unease gnawed at her. Who could guarantee that it wouldn't return for a second feast? Her gaze darted around the area, searching for any signs of movement or hidden threats. All remained eerily still and silent. Valdosaurus decided she had to go and tell the Iguanodon herd. While she had no particular affection for their leader, he was the de-facto boss of the island. Chief, as he was known by all, was a formidable figure, larger and tougher than any of the island’s inhabitants, except for Oplosaurus, the ancient sauropod whose sight had dimmed with age. Darting back into the forest, Valdosaurus moved swiftly but cautiously. Until now, the forest had been a relatively safe haven. After the Eotyrannus family had been driven out back when she was an infant, only smaller predators who posed little threat to her remained in this forest. But now, a new menace had emerged, one that had the size and strength to fell a colossal Iguanodon. If such a predator could take down a creature of that magnitude, Valdosaurus knew she'd be no challenge at all. The Iguanodon herd typically inhabited an area known to all as "The Valley." Valdosaurus also called it her home. It was a landscape of lush grasslands, dotted with shrubs bearing juicy berries, a central watering hole, and sporadic clusters of leafy trees. It was the perfect haven for the Iguanodon herd and other dinosaurs. As Valdosaurus emerged into the valley, she stared around for a moment, feeling a sudden fondness for this place. The Iguanodon were going about their business, some grazing, others napping in the warm sunlight, and the younger ones were engaged in playful roughplay. In the heart of it all was the imposing figure of the Chief Iguanodon. He was feasting, using his powerful thumb spikes to tear branches from a tree, savoring the leaves that adorned them. Near Chief stood Oplosaurus, a colossal sauropod measuring 25 meters in length. He was the island's eldest resident, content to dwell in the valley in his old age, where he spun tales of bygone eras. His stories often recounted the "good old days," when he and his former herd had embarked on epic journeys from one island to another, even venturing to the colossal landmass he cryptically referred to as "the Big Land." He was the last of his kind left on the island, being too old to continue in the Oplosaurus herd’s everlasting migration. Valdosaurus decided she would tell him, too. Perhaps he had encountered similar predators during his many travels? "Iguanodon, Oplosaurus!" she called out, running toward the mighty sauropod and the smaller but still majestic Iguanodon by his side. Oplosaurus swiveled his light-gray head to peer down at her, his large, ancient eyes crinkling with curiosity. Chief Iguanodon, too, regarded her. But his gaze was filled with irritation at being addressed. "Chief!" he spat, unintentionally showering her with partially-chewed leaves. He was light-brown in color with white stripes. Up close, he was a formidable specimen indeed with a thick scaled hide, broad shoulders and a muscular neck. Suppressing an annoyed snort, Valdosaurus continued, "Chief Iguanodon,” she corrected. “I saw something down by the banks of the river. There’s an Iguanodon. It’s dead. Something killed it,” she told him. "What's all this nonsense? Killed an Iguanodon? Nothing here can kill an Iguanodon,” Chief grunted, dismissively. Valdosaurus pressed on, her patience waning, "But something did. I saw the body—a creature killed it by biting its neck." "All of my Iguanodon are accounted for," Chief Iguanodon retorted, dismissively. "It was a male," Valdosaurus added. "It couldn't have been part of your herd." The Chief’s herd only had one adult male—himself. The rest of it consisted of a harem of females, the youngsters and his two sons who were almost fully grown. Once his two sons were of age, they would challenge their father for leadership and if they failed, they would face exile. Such was the Iguanodon way. "The death of a lone male is of no concern to me," Chief Iguanodon declared. "In fact, it's for the better—less competition." Valdosaurus didn’t think Chief had much to fear when it came to possible challenges from outsiders. Most of the males in these parts had already felt his fury, and very few were brave or stupid enough to go for round two. "But," Valdosaurus persisted, her patience waning, "whatever killed him is still out there, and it's big." Chief Iguanodon finally pressed for more details, asking, "How big?" Valdosaurus got the sense that finally, he was starting to take her seriously. Valdosaurus hesitated, contemplating the size of the predator and its footprints and where it had struck the Iguanodon during the attack. "Perhaps smaller than you, Chief," she ventured, her gaze sweeping the surroundings as she checked out the rest of his herd. "About the size of one of the females." "There are no creatures of that size here," Chief Iguanodon replied, his tone tinged with skepticism once more. Valdosaurus retorted, exasperation finally surfacing, "So, what, you think the Iguanodon simply dropped dead of its own accord?" "Scavengers," Chief Iguanodon suggested. "The Iguanodon died naturally, likely of old age, and scavengers came along." "The bite marks were enormous," Valdosaurus insisted, frustration clear in her voice. "And the footprints, too." It was then that Oplosaurus interjected, his neck lowered to listen more closely. "Where did this happen?" he inquired, in his deep, slow voice.. Valdosaurus glanced back the way she had just come. "Over there, up by the banks of the river." "You don't believe this hogwash, do you?" Chief grumbled. Oplosaurus, with his wisdom that came with age, calmly countered, "There's no harm in checking it out. If there is a new predator on this island, then it concerns us all." Despite his initial reluctance, Chief Iguanodon refrained from further argument. He may have been pompous and arrogant, but Valdosaurus knew that even he recognized Oplosaurus as the wisest creature on the island. The Chief summoned Prowler, a sturdy male Iguanodon who also happened to be his son. He was only a year from being a full-grown adult and was already close to the Chief’s own size. Valdosaurus felt if any dinosaur might possibly topple the Chief, it would be him. Prowler ambled over with a mouthful of long grasses, inquiring, "What is it, boss?" "Call the herd together—no straggling until I return," Chief ordered, his tone stern and commanding. "Gather near the pond, and make sure the young are in the middle." Prowler looked intrigued, sensing that something unusual was afoot. "Trouble?" he probed. "Perhaps," Chief replied, calmly. "Might as well be careful. No need to form a defensive circle yet, but stay wary, keep an eye on the treeline. If there's any trouble, you know what to do." "Sure thing, boss," Prowler affirmed, his chest swelling with pride at the responsibility entrusted to him. With the orders given, Chief turned to Valdosaurus, prompting, "Well, come on, you, show us the body." Valdosaurus wasted no time and led the way. She moved swiftly, knowing that the slower Iguanodon would struggle to keep pace and that her being clearly faster than him would annoy the pompous Chief. She respected the Chief, but sometimes he needed bringing down a bit. Oplosaurus trailed at the rear, his enormous legs covering vast distances despite his leisurely pace. Arriving at the scene, Valdosaurus gestured toward the lifeless Iguanodon. However, now a pack of tiny, chirping Aristosuchus had descended upon the carcass. They were tiny scavenging dinosaurs and with their small but deadly teeth, they tore off tiny pieces of flesh. Chief Iguanodon's booming bellow disrupted the feasting, sending the little dinosaurs scurrying toward the safety of the treeline. From there, they bounced up and down, squeaking insults at the Iguanodon. Their childish taunts filled the air, though Chief Iguanodon had long since learned that chasing them would only make him appear foolish. No dinosaur could catch one of the nimble little pests, so it was better not to bother trying. He approached the deceased Iguanodon, his eyes widening slightly as he inspected the bite marks. "Too big for an Eotyrannus," he muttered, contemplating the puzzle before him. Oplosaurus finally reached the scene, his heavy footfalls announcing his presence. "Well?" Oplosaurus inquired. He was breathing heavier than the other two, long journeys being much more tiring in his old age. "Bite marks," Chief Iguanodon declared. "Bigger than Eotyrannus. It seems she was right... by the river, though. I wonder..." He trailed off, scraping the earth with his massive foot. "I wonder if this is Baryonyx's work." "She never ventures inland," Valdosaurus interjected. However, Chief Iguanodon ignored her, directing his gaze toward Oplosaurus. "She's the only carnivore on this island big enough to do something like this." "The teeth marks don't match. No claw marks, either. If this were Baryonyx, she'd use her long claws,” Valdosaurus insisted. Chief Iguanodon, continued to ignore her and instead addressed Oplosaurus, "If there were another large theropod around these parts, I'd know by now. And it's not a survivor of the Eotyrannus pack. I saw them off long ago." Oplosaurus, the voice of reason, chimed in, "Maybe, but as Valdosaurus said, it's unusual for Baryonyx to come this far inland." "She's fed on Iguanodon before—remember that youngling last summer?" Chief Iguanodon countered. Valdosaurus, too, joined the debate. "That was by the sea—in her territory," she reminded him. Chief Iguanodon's stubbornness persisted. "Maybe, yes. If she's short of food, if there are fewer fish in the seas or something. Then she may head inland, find food—sees a lone Iguanodon, it's very likely. Well, there’s no other choice—I’m going to get to the bottom of it. If Baryonyx is hunting inland, she needs to understand my herd is off-limits." Valdosaurus, though frustrated by Chief Iguanodon's unwavering conviction, couldn't help but feel a measure of admiration. Confronting Baryonyx, despite her preference for fish, was a daunting task. The carnivore was nearly as large as an Iguanodon but possessed a sleeker, more agile build. Her crocodile-like jaws boasted sharp, cone-shaped teeth, ideal for catching fish but also capable of inflicting grievous harm on any dinosaur. Each of her hands featured a 12-inch claw that was perfect for both hooking fish and tearing open the bellies of adversaries. It took immense courage to confront such a creature, yet Chief Iguanodon displayed no hesitation. He had already embarked north along the river, making his way toward Baryonyx's lair, with Oplosaurus following in his wake. Valdosaurus hesitated briefly, torn between her curiosity and the instinct to avoid danger. Ultimately, her inquisitive side triumphed. She was small and swift, and with Baryonyx likely preoccupied by an irate Iguanodon, Valdosaurus reasoned that she could remain unnoticed or, if necessary, outrun any threat. Taking a deep breath, she set off after the two larger dinosaurs. Unbeknownst to the three, as soon as they were out of sight, the pack of chirping Aristosuchus scampered forward to resume their feast.

I found this in Holden Mo and there is more of it but don't know what it is

I need help identifying this fossilized bone please. I found it approximately 15 years ago in the area of Witch Wells, Arizona. Thanks in advance.

Found in the badlands of Alberta. I put it in my hand to show you the size. If anyone has any idea it would be greatly appreciated.

Found in the badlands of Alberta. I put it in my hand to show you the size. If anyone has any idea it would be greatly appreciated. What dinosaur would this I think leg bone belong to?

Hi All, First time posting! I need help with a fossil I found in the Hell Creek Formation of Harding County, SD this year. At first I thought it was a piece of Triceratops frill, but the more I prepped it, it appears to have edges with bone surface most of the way around it. If it was a piece of frill, I would not expect the edges to taper off (unless it was from a juvenile I guess). If it is a scute then it is absolutely huge and not like anything I have seen before. Hopefully the fossil community can help shed some light on this mystery. Any photos or links to reference other fossils would be helpful as well. Thank you in advance for your help! - Ryan

Hi Everyone! I acquired this Kem Kem gem a few months ago. I'm pretty certain that it's a Spinosaurid Caudal, which would have been really cool by itself since it's one of the better ones I've seen, but what really sticks out (or in) is a very large unique looking hole on one side. The bone is about 9.6 cm long and hole by itself is roughly 3.5 x 2.7 cm wide and 1.3 cm deep. Damage on Kem Kem material isn't uncommon, but the bone surface flows into the hole as if it was made before fossilization. The big question I have (aside from a second opinion that I'm not just seeing something much cooler than what is there), is pre or post mortem and potential causes. I don't think it's a bite mark. While I have seen really big Spino teeth with that cross section there isn't any damage to the other side and I feel like a tooth that size would punch a hole straight through the bone rather than just leave a 1.3 cm deep hole. Same with potential injury from a large spike of some sort. I don't think it's cancer since there's no excess growth. The main thing that comes to my mind is a really nasty infection with a large abscess, potentially caused by a minor injury that got infected (Spinos loved swimming in some nasty swamps after all). But as with any claim like that it's pretty important to seek out a second opinion. So what do you all think? Any insight is appreciated as always!

Surely someone in the group knows which T.rex cast is used at the entrance of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This display is known as the "Dancing Dinosaur" as well as the "Rockette Rex", after the Radio City Rockettes dancers. I thought it would be an easy answer to find with a search, but I none of the links mention which cast it is.

I found this gembone and want to get the algae off. I soaked it in hot water and dish soap, then scrubbed with a toothbrush, but the algae is really stuck on there. Any tips?

This was found in the badlands if alberta. I'm not sure where exactly this bone fits on a dinosaur.

Hi I found a seller claiming to sell real dinosaur eggs. They are on online auction site and the seller is in South Korea. I have read through the forum and was encouraged to post pictures here to help get an answer. I appreciate the help in advance.

Thinking I got a juvenile pachy skull cap here. Can anyone confirm?

Not sure if this is real or fake, prob a fake?

These eggs are said to be from Zhejiang. Are they genuine? Still have shell?

This is a relatively rare specimen，I got it in July this year，and it cost me nearly one month to clean and repair it.All in allot is a wonderful specimen from Liaoning Province, China.There is also a small claw，it is just a ordinary claw from Psittacosaurus. If you have anything you would like to know about fossils from China，you can come and consult me（especially vertebrate and egg） (I feel like I have many grammar mistakes hhh）

please help identify

Thankfully, Morocco offers Theropod Teeth at reasonable prices. They are quite attainable. These 2 teeth, were sold as; Spinosaurus Sp., and Carcharodontosaurus Saharicus. I am aware, that the Spinosaurus tooth has likely been repaired. I believe the Carcharodontosaurus tooth, has not. Hopefully, these id's are correct?

Hiya everyone. Want some opinions on this egg it’s from an old collection and from a reputable seller in the uk. I know a lot of shell is missing but any help on the legitimacy of the egg would be great. cheers

I found this fossil along the shore of a large river / Lake along a steep bank in a high erosion area in Northwest Montana. Could it be a fossilized egg? Or, Could it be a Coprolite from a carnivore? It looks like little bones and a wormy looking thing. Thank you for your help!