Subtiliolithus Temporal range:
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Egg fossil classification | |
Basic shell type: | Ornithoid |
Morphotype: | Ornithoid-ratite |
Oofamily: | †Laevisoolithidae |
Oogenus: | †Subtiliolithus Mikhailov, 1991 |
Subtiliolithus is an oogenus of fossil egg from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia and the Ohyamashimo Formation of Japan. The eggs are notable for a very thin eggshell. It contains three oospecies: S. hyogoensis, S. kachchhensis and S. microtuberculatus. They were originally classified as a distinct oofamily, Subtiliolithidae, but numerous similarities to Laevisoolithus have led to their reclassification as Laevisoolithid eggs. A complete skeleton of Nanantius valifanovi was found associated with Subtiliolithus eggshells, indicating that the oogenus represents eggs of enantiornithine birds.[1][2][3]