Dinosaur Dads Guarded Eggs

Scientists examining the remains of three medium-sized dinosaurs found with large clutches of eggs have concluded that the males were the ones to guard the nest and brood the eggs. The three types of dinosaurs—Troodon, Oviraptor, and Citipati—lived about 75 million years ago and were theropods, bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs from which scientists believe all modern birds descended. In more than 90% of living bird species, males participate in the parental care of their young, helping incubate eggs, feed babies, and guard nests. This analysis suggests that such paternal care actually developed long before modern birds evolved from their dinosaur ancestors. More ...