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Friday, 3rd July 2015
In General Japan News,
Smallest dinosaur egg ever discovered is found in Japan
The fossilised remains of dinosaur eggs found in Japan have been confirmed by officials as the smallest in the world.
Five of the eggs were found in Hyogo Prefecture, which is one of the few places in the country where fossils could survive, due to its shallow coastal planes.
Japan's famed geological activity means that most of the nation is not conducive to the creation of fossils, with stunning scenery compensating for this fact.
The find is therefore extra special and officials have agreed that the eggs are from an entirely new species of dinosaur that had never been known about before.
Each egg weighs around 100 grams, making it smaller than any others found in the past, with the shells being 0.4 millimetres thick, which is slightly thicker than a chicken's egg.
The Museum of Nature and Human Activities in Sanda, Hyogo will host an exhibition displaying the eggs from July 21st to August 31st.
Such a display will be a must-visit attraction for any dinosaur aficionados travelling to Japan this summer.
They will be able to get close to the exhibit featuring the Nipponoolithus ramosus oogen et oosp nov, which translates as Japan branched stone egg.
The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is not far from where the new eggs will be on display and is associated with the Katsuyama area of Fukui, which is known for its many fossils.
Discovery of the eggs could not have been timed better, with the movie lovers getting excited about the release of Jurassic World.
This is likely to fuel visits to see the eggs and increased hype in this new species of dinosaur.