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BIRD EGGSHELL IN DOMINICAN AMBER
Author(s) -
POINAR GEORGE,
VOISIN CLAIRE,
VOISIN JEANFRANÇOIS
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00713.x
Subject(s) - eggshell , hummingbird , fossil record , paleontology , zoology , biology , vertebrate , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Here we report an eggshell in Dominican amber, representing the first vertebrate egg in any amber deposit. The eggshell is compared with present‐day eggs of lizards, snails and birds. Based on the surface structure and type of shell breakage, it appears that the most likely candidate is a bird, and with that consideration, an avian group that produces eggs similar to the fossil in shape, size and colouration is the Trochilidae (hummingbirds). Several possible explanations of how the fossil could be preserved in amber are provided. If indeed a hummingbird was involved, this discovery would represent the first New World record of a fossil trochilid.