The Oviraptor was first discovered in the 1920s by the paleontologists of the American Museum of Natural History during an expedition to Central Asia. The skeleton was found next to a nest with eggs that may have belonged to a Protoceratops. Scientists assumed the Oviraptor was preying upon the eggs, giving it the name “egg stealer,” which was used ever since.

On another expedition to Central Asia, in 1993, a scientist of the American Museum of Natural History discovered nest of eggs with embryo Oviraptors inside. Therefore, the eggs thought to belong to the Protoceratops are actually Oviraptor eggs. Another important findings was an Oviraptor skeleton brooding on top of a nest in very much the same way modern birds brood their nests. These findings changed our idea of the Oviraptor from a thief to a mom overnight! Although fossils are mute, their position and situation allows a scientist room for immense imagination.