Journal of Jilin University(Earth Science Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (4): 1299-1314.doi: 10.13278/j.cnki.jjuese.20240194

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Pore Structure of Dinosaur Eggshells Based on Micro-CT Technology

Chen Chunyu1, Huang Yingcong2,3,4,5,6, Wang Qiang7, Li Guangrong2, He Yueshun3,5,8   

  1. 1. Sichuan Nuclear Industry Geological Bureau 281 Brigade, Xichang 615000, Sichuan, China 
    2. School of Earth Sciences, East China University of Technology , Nanchang 330013, China 
    3. Network Information and Modern Education Technology Center, East China University of Technology , Nanchang 330013, China 
    4. Key Laboratory for Digital Land and Resources of Jiangxi Province (East China University of Technology),Nanchang 330013,
     China 
    5. Jiangxi Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Radiology Big Data Technology , Nanchang 330013, China
    6. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment,Nanchang 330013, China 
    7. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
    8. School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
  • Received:2025-09-15 Online:2026-07-26 Published:2026-08-11

Abstract: Dinosaur eggshell is an important evidence to understand the palaeontological environment of dinosaurs, as well as their evolution and extinction. The pore in the eggshell is more suitable for the reproductive habits of different types of dinosaurs. In this study, a honeycomb egg dinosaur eggshell found in Heyuan, Guangdong Province, was taken as the research object. The CT image pore of the dinosaur eggshell obtained by Micro-CT scanning was built into three-dimensional modeling, and the size, shape, arrangement, spatial characteristics, and development degree of the pore were analyzed ualitatively and quantitatively. Firstly, the processed CT data were converted into point cloud data by Python, and then reconstructed in three dimensions using the ball pivoting. Secondly, the processed CT data is modeled in three dimensions by Avizo. Finally, the point cloud data of one typical air hole is studied, and random slices are selected for quantitative research. The results showed that:1) Some of the pore was not connected, the pore was blocked, and the blocked pore gradually reduced from the inner and outer surfaces to the middle pore, staggered and distributed in space, with asymmetry; Some of the pore was connected, running through the inner and outer surfaces, and well developed, so that oxygen flowed into the embryo for respiration and development. 2) The pore was widely developed, the pore in the diameter section was conical and columnar, and the pore in the string section was single round, oval, polygonal, etc., the surrounding matrix was like hexagon, arranged closely, and multiple hexagons formed a honeycomb structure, with obvious poretal intervals. 3) The pore size and channel height of eggshell pores exhibit a trend of being larger near the outer surface than near the inner surface, while the pores that penetrate both surfaces have larger pore sizes and heights than the previous two.4) The well-developed honeycomb pore revealed that the hatching site of the egg of this dinosaur might be a buried environment; The cone pore showed that the pore size gradually decreased from the near outer surface to the middle, which was speculated to prevent chemical erosion and water dispersion.

Key words: dinosaur eggshell, Micro-CT, microstructure, pore, point cloud, 3D modeling, Heyuan,Guangdong

CLC Number: 

  • Q915.2
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