學名:Oviraptor philoceratops
年代:中生代白堊紀
發現地:中國大陸
說明:
竊蛋龍首次被發現位於一窩恐龍蛋上方,因此被當時的考古學家誤以為牠正在偷竊該地常見的原角龍蛋,因此給他取了個學名Oviraptor (偷蛋的賊)philoceratops (喜愛原角龍者)。然而,隨著科技的進步,當時所發現的恐龍蛋經考證後,發現應是竊蛋龍自己的蛋而不是原角龍的,因此「竊蛋龍」當時並非在竊蛋而是在保護自己的孩子喔!但牠的名字「竊蛋龍」被科學家命名後卻無法更改,這個偷蛋的汙名更是洗也洗不清呢。
Oviraptors were first discovered atop a pile of what was thought to be Protoceratops eggs, giving it its name, Oviraptor(Latin for “egg seizer”) philoceratops (“lover of ceratopsians”). However, following discoveries have led scientists to believe that the eggs were, in fact, Oviraptor in origin. The animal was not stealing the eggs of other creatures, but in fact protecting its own offspring. Its name could not be changed, cementing its unfortunate reputation.
館藏的這顆蛋,便是竊蛋龍的親生骨肉,絕對不是竊蛋龍偷竊的蛋喔!
This Oviraptor egg in our collection absolutely wasn’t stolen!