In 2011, Chilean scientists discovered an unusual fossil in Antarctica that resembled a deflated football. This oddity remained unnamed and unexamined within the National Museum of Natural History of Chile's collections for nearly a decade. Dubbed 'The Thing' by the scientists, a moniker inspired by the eponymous sci-fi film, its true nature was a mystery.
The fossil was eventually identified as the first fossilized egg found in Antarctica, laid by an extinct giant sea lizard believed to have previously birthed live young, known as a 'mosasaur.'
How was this determined?
Historically, it was assumed that giant marine reptiles from the Cretaceous period did not lay eggs, leading to a prolonged misunderstanding.
Researchers utilized microscopes to confirm the fossil's identity as an egg, penetrating its multiple membrane layers.
This particular egg, with a thin shell second in size only to that of the elephant bird, ranks among the largest eggs ever described. Its structure is akin to that of eggs laid by most lizards and snakes of that era.
The reptile to which this egg belonged would have measured over 20 feet in length, not including its tail, from snout to neck end. Thus, an ancient marine reptile fits the bill in terms of size and relation to living reptiles.
The study does not conclude how the ancient reptile laid the eggs. However, researchers propose two theories.
One theory suggests the eggs hatched in open water, akin to some modern snake species.
Another theory posits that the reptile laid its eggs on a beach, with hatchlings then scurrying to the sea, much like baby sea turtles.
