关键词: 恐龙蛋, 晚白垩世, 西峡盆地, 埋葬学

Abstract: Ancient DNAs representing part of genes have been obtained from the flocculent inclusions of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur egg, collected from Xixia Basin, Henan Province. The eggshell shows same microstructural pattern as that previously described for dinosaur eggs by many authors. The intact eggshell and the secondary calcite layer beneath the eggshell enclosed the internal egg-cavity, in which the flocculent inclusions occured. The inclusions are composed mainly offibrous palygorskite and amorphous organic residure. It is possible that the anaerobic conditions within the cavity prevented the biomo-lecules from degradation, and the palygor-skite with its complex mineral structure were advantageous to the preservation of the DNAs. Stratigraphic occurrence, mineral and elemental composition, as well as taphonomical aspect of the egg fossil are reported and discussed in this paper.

Key words: dinosaur egg, Late Gretaceous, Xixia Basin, taphonomy