Genus
Formal taxon Extinct

Pseudogeckoolithus

Vianey-Liaud and López-Martínez 1997

Pseudogeckoolithus is an oogenus of dinosaur egg. It is known from several fragments of eggshells. The outer surface of these are covered with little knobs and nodes. Some of the pores in the eggshell open through these nodes, similar to modern geckos, but unique among the dinosauroid-prismatic group of eggs. However, the microstructure of Pseudogeckoolithus shows that it is not actually of the geckoid type. It is possible that these eggs represent a new basic group of fossil eggs.

Temporal range
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleogene
Neogene
252 201 145 66 0 Ma
PBDB occurrences
12
Group
Dinosaures
Carnivore Ground dwelling, solitary Terrestrial
Classification
Dinosauria Unranked clade
Theropoda Unranked clade
Neotheropoda Unranked clade
Averostra Unranked clade
Tetanurae Unranked clade
Coelurosauria Unranked clade
Maniraptora Unranked clade
Pseudogeckoolithus Genus
Fossil sites 12 geolocated sites
Distribution
Top countries
🇷🇴 Romania
4
🇪🇸 Spain
4
🇭🇺 Hungary
2
🇫🇷 France
1
🇲🇦 Morocco
1
Geological formations
Csehbánya
2
Allueva
2
Grès à Reptiles
1
Sebeş
1
Figuerola
1
Şard
1
Irbzer
1
Densuș-Ciula
1
Pui Beds
1
Temporal distribution
Maastrichtian (72.2–66 Ma)
5
Campanian (83.6–72.2 Ma)
5
Santonian (85.7–83.6 Ma)
2
Species (2)
Pseudogeckoolithus nodosus 72 Ma
Pseudogeckoolithus tirboulensis 72 Ma
Bibliography
Original description
M. Vianey-Liaud and N. López-Martínez. 1997. Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggshells from the Tremp basin, southern Pyrenees, Lleida, Spain. Journal of Paleontology 71(6):1157-1171 DOI ↗
Bibliography (7)
M. Aurell, D. Torromé, and J. M. Gasca, P. Calvín, M. Pérez-Pueyo, J. Parrilla-Bel, E. Medrano-Aguado, C. Martín-Closas, A. Vicente, P. Sierra-Campos, J. I. Canudo. 2022. Latest Cretaceous palaeogeographic evolution of northeast Iberia: Insights from the Campanian continental Montalbán subbasin (Spain). Earth-Science Reviews 235:10425 DOI ↗
M. Moreno-Azanza, L. Ezquerro, and M. Pérez-Pueyo, J. M. Gasca. 2021. Huevos de dinosaurio en la Sierra Exteriores de Huesca [Dinosaur eggs in the Sierras Exteriores of Huesca]. Lucas Mallada 23:61-81
S. Choi, M. Moreno-Azanza, and Z. Csiki-Sava, E. Prondvai, Y.-N. Lee. 2020. Comparative crystallography suggests maniraptoran theropod affinities for latest Cretaceous European ‘geckoid’ eggshell. Papers in Palaeontology 6(2):265-292 DOI ↗
V. Codrea, M. Vremir, and C. Jipa, P. Godefroit, Z. Csiki, T. Smith, C. Farcas. 2010. More than just Nopcsa's Transylvanian dinosaurs: A look outside the Hateg Basin. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 293:391-405 DOI ↗
M. Vianey-Liaud and G. Garcia. 2003. Diversity among North African dinosaur eggshells. Palaeovertebrata 32(2-4):171-188
G. Garcia. 2000. Diversité des coquilles "minces" d'oeufs fossiles du Crétacé supérieur du sud de la France [Diversity of fossil eggshell fragments from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France]. Géobios 33(1):113-126 DOI ↗
M. Vianey-Liaud and N. López-Martínez. 1997. Late Cretaceous dinosaur eggshells from the Tremp basin, southern Pyrenees, Lleida, Spain. Journal of Paleontology 71(6):1157-1171 DOI ↗