Nesting Tyrannosaurs

[Balaur]

I have something that has been bugging me a lot. Would a tyrannosaur sit on its nest? I know it's a stupid question, and the possibility to the eggs being crushed, but lets say a Daspletosaurus as the tyrannosaur in question. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Most experts for the last few years say no, big dinosaurs in general just didn't seem to need to sit on their eggs.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

I think Blade is correct, and they used foliage and leaves to cover the eggs and provide the needed heat. Having said that, Have you ever held a chicken egg in your palm and tried to crush it? Eggs are much more durable than one might think. If you consider that most dinosaur eggs coming to market today are the actual shell as it was originally laid, and is NOT fossilized, that might give you some concept of the strength of dinosaur egg shell. Egg shell does not fossilize, and has remained as it was for all these millenia

[wings]

@balaurbondoc2843

Perhaps you would be interested in this paper http://cactus.dixie.edu/jharris/Zelenitsky_theropod_reproduction.pdf.

[Gryphoceratops]

Wonder if they could have used rotting foliage to keep the nest at the right temp like modern crocodilians do.  Also an animal that large sitting near/next to the eggs could generate a good amount of heat without actually sitting on them. 

[Balaur]

@balaurbondoc2843

Perhaps you would be interested in this paper http://cactus.dixie.edu/jharris/Zelenitsky_theropod_reproduction.pdf.

Thanks wings! I really enjoyed reading it! Just to let everyone know, this question is for the upcoming 2013 diorama contest. 

[wings]

Ah, I see. Good luck with the contest 

[Sharptooth]

I like to imagine they built something like crocodile nests, as others have said...

[Splonkadumpocus]

@balaurbondoc2843

Perhaps you would be interested in this paper http://cactus.dixie.edu/jharris/Zelenitsky_theropod_reproduction.pdf.

Thanks wings! I really enjoyed reading it! Just to let everyone know, this question is for the upcoming 2013 diorama contest. 

Now I know why you mentioned Daspletosaurus specifically. 

[IHogaRok]

Larger dinosaurs don't really sit on nests, so Blade is right.