Table 2 Mosaic of egg features that characterize Cretaceous-Cenozoic avian and non-avian theropod eggs.

From: Tiny, ornamented eggs and eggshell from the Upper Cretaceous of Utah represent a new ootaxon with theropod affinities

Ootaxon (Taxon)

Pores

Egg shape

Egg size (mm)

Eggshell thickness (mm)

Ornamentation

# layers

Reference

Elongatoolithus (oviraptorosaur)

Non-branching

Elongate, asymmetrical

70–172 × 15–82

[0.3–1.5]

Yes

2

74,75

Prismatoolithus levis (Troodon)

Non-branching

Elongate, asymmetrical

120–160 × 30–70

0.7–1.28

No

2–3

76,77

Triprismatoolithus

Non-branching

Elongate, symmetrical

75 × 30

0.53–0.85

Yes

3

78

Dispersituberoolithus

Non-branching

  

0.26–0.28

Yes

3

28

Tristraguloolithus

Non-branching

  

0.32–0.36

Yes

3

28

Stillatuberoolithus storrsi

Branching

 

 ~ 17.7

0.31–0.4 [0.37–0.59]

Yes

2

This paper

Himeoolithus murakamii

 

Elongate, Asymmetrical

45 × 20

0.15

No

2

25

Styloolithus sabathi (enantiornithine)

 

Elongate, asymmetrical

70 × 32

0.25

No

3

79,80

Gobioolithus minor (enantiornithine)

Non-branching

Elongate, asymmetrical

30–46 × 20–24

0.1–0.2

No

2?

60,61

Unassigned (enantiornithine)

 

Elongate, symmetrical

47.5 × 22.3

0.18

Yes

3

81,82

Unassigned (enantiornithine)

 

Asymmetrical

45 × 27

0.26

No

3

83

Parvoolithus tortuosus (Avian?)

Non-branching

Elongate, asymmetrical

40 × 25

< 0.1

No

3

22,67

Unassigned (Avian?)

 

Elongate

36 × 25

0.44–0.46

No

2

84

Unassigned (avian)

Non-branching

Asymmetrical?

31.4 × 19.5

0.126

No

3

63

Unassigned (avian)

 

Elongate

25.8 × 15.88

0.166

 

3

62

Ornitholithus (avian)

Branching

Elongate

118 × 150–200 × 400

1–3

Yes

2

46

Incognitoolithus ramotubulus (avian)

Branching

Elongate

75–90 × 100–120

1.27–1.43

No

2

45

Medioolithus geiseltalensis (avian)

Non-branching

Spheroidal

90 × 90

0.76–0.97

No

3

85

Metoolithus nebraskensis (avian)

 

Spheroidal

45 × 60

0.75–0.9

Yes

3

5

Microolithus wilsoni (avian)

Non-branching

Spheroidal

30 × 37

0.6

No

3

5

(Extant ratites)

Branching

Spheroidal & ellipsoidal

180 × 150, 133 × 90

1.6–2.7, 1.0

Yes & No

3–4

45

(Extant Neognathae)

Non-branching

Asymmetrical

varies 50 × 40

varies 0.4

No

3

5

(Extant Megapodiidae)

Branching

Asymmetrical, elongate

60 × 91

[0.35–0.36]

Yes

3

48

  1. For extant ratites, egg size and eggshell thickness are given for Struthio and Dromaius. Extant megapode ranges are from Alectura lathami. For extant Neognathae, the egg size and shell thickness of Gallus gallus domesticus is provided for reference.
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