List of dinosaur specimens with preserved soft tissue

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There have been some discoveries of unusually well-preserved fossil dinosaur specimens which bear remnants of tissues and bodily structures. Organic tissue was previously thought to decay too quickly to enter the fossil record, unlike more mineralised bones and teeth, however, research now suggests the potential for the long-term preservation of original soft tissues over geological time,[1] leading to the formulation of various hypotheses regarding the underlying mechanisms involved.[2]

Ornithischians[edit]

Basal ornithischians[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
INREC K3/109 Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Cryology Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus Bathonian Ukureyskaya Formation Russia A basal ornithischian that preserves protofeathers.

Hadrosaurs[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
Dakota MRF-03 Marmarth Research Foundation Edmontosaurus annectens Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation United States On display at North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
Impression of "Dakota"'s skin
Trachodon mummy AMNH 5060 American Museum of Natural History Edmontosaurus annectens Maastrichtian Lance Formation United States
The "Trachodon mummy"
Big Paul LACM 17715 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Magnapaulia laticaudus Campanian El Gallo Formation Mexico Impression of Big Paul's skin, Being Displayed at LACM

Impression of Big Paul's skin, being displayed at LACM

AMNH 5220, AMNH 5221,and AMNH 5271 American Museum of Natural History Saurolophus osborni Maastrichtian Horseshoe Canyon Formation Canada
Various Dinosaurium, among others Saurolophus angustirostris Maastrichtian Nemegt Formation Mongolia, and China Many specimens are known from the locale called the Dragon's Tomb, which often perseveres soft tissues. This makes it a target for fossil poachers
Leonardo The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (on ten-year loan from Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station, 2013-2023) Brachylophosaurus canadensis Campanian Judith River Formation United States Well-preserved mummified specimen
Leonardo the Brachylophosaurus

Ceratopsians[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
SMF R 4970 Naturmuseum Senckenberg Psittacosaurus sp. Aptian Jehol Biota China This animal displays pigment preservation, bristles as well as a preserved Cloaca. Image: 200 pixels
Triceratops[3] Maastrichtian
Lane Formerly BHI-6273 Houston Museum of Natural Science[4] Triceratops horridus Maastrichtian Lance Formation United States Preserves extensive skin impressions, including large "nipple" scales on the sacrum and dorsum.[4]

Thyreophorans[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
Suncor Nodosaur TMP 2011.033. 0001[5]

[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology Borealopelta markmitchelli Albian Clearwater Formation Canada This animal displays pigment preservation, as well as keratinous sheaths and stomach contents. Image: 200 pixels
Zuul (originally Sherman) Royal Ontario Museum Zuul crurivastator Campanian Judith River Formation United States

Saurischians[edit]

Maniraptoriformes[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
IVPP V14378, LPM – B00 169, and BMNHC PH828 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Liaoning Paleontological Museum, and the Beijing Museum of Natural History Anchiornis huxleyi Oxfordian Tiaojishan Formation China Many specimens of Anchiornis have been found, but a majority have not been described Image: 200 pixels
IVPP 21711 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Cruralispennia multidonta Hauterivian Huajiying Formation China It is a small Enantiornithine bird, it preserves pigment Image: 200 pixels
PMoL-B00175 Paleontological Museum of Liaoning Caihong juji Oxfordian Yanliao Biota China The small bird possess pigments that might indicate black and iridescent colors. Image: 200 pixels
MUSM 1444 Inkayacu paracasensis Divisaderan-Tinguirirican Otuma Formation Peru A Fossil Penguin; pigments are preserved on this specimen.
see Specimens of Archaeopteryx British Museum, the Maxburg Museum, among others Archaeopteryx lithographica Tithonian Solnhofen Limestone Germany Image: 200 pixels
see Specimens of Archaeopteryx Natural History Museum, Berlin and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center Archaeopteryx siemensii Tithonian Solnhofen Limestone Germany

Image: 200 pixels

UFrJ-Dg 031 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Cratoavis cearensis Aptian Crato Formation Brazil It is a small Enantiornithine bird, it preserves a pygostyle and body feathers.
FMHH PA 778 Field Museum of Natural History Nahmavis grandei Eocene Green River Formation United States This bird comes from the Eocene Lagerstätte of the Green River in Wyoming. Image: 200 pixels
CAGS-IG-04-0801 Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Jinfengopteryx elegans Aptian Huajiying Formation China A Troodontid Dinosaur with extensive feather preservation. Image: 200 pixels
IVPP V24194 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Jinguofortis perplexus Barremian Dabeigou Formation China A Pygostylian Bird with feather preservation.

Image: 200 pixels

GMV-2129 Geological Museum of China Changchengornis hengdaoziensis Barremian-Aptian Yixian Formation China A Confuciusornithidae Bird with feather preservation. Image: 200 pixels

Compsognathidae[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
GMV 2123 and its counter slab, NIGP 127587, and D 2141 Geologic Museum of China, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and the Dalian Natural History Museum Sinosauropteryx prima Aptian Yixian Formation China Three Specimens of Sinosauropteryx have been discovered to date, coloration is known from this dinosaur. Image: 200 pixels
JMP-V-05-8-01 and CAGS-IG-T1 Sinocalliopteryx gigas Aptian Yixian Formation China Preserves extensive protofeathers on the body and tail Image: 200 pixels
SMNK PAL 29241 Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe Ubirajara jubatus Aptian Crato Formation Brazil The specimen is controversial in it legality, and it possesses feather “spikes” on its shoulders

Tyrannosauroidea[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
ZCDM V5000,[12] Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum and Erlianhaote Dinosaur Museum Yutyrannus huali Early Cretcaeous (Aptian; 120 mya) Yixian Formation China Feathered
Bloody Mary North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Tyrannosaurus rex Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation
Wyrex Houston Museum of Natural Science Tyrannosaurus rex Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation USA Fragment of skin on tail

Abelisaurs[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
MACN-CH 894[13][14] Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Carnotaurus sastrei Cretaceous La Colonia Formation Argentina Skin impressions

Sauropodomorphs[edit]

Nickname Catalogue Number(s) Institution(s) Taxon Age Unit Country(s) Notes Images
none MDS-2019-028[15] Diplodocus Jurassic Morrison Formation Montana, United States
??? ??? Royal Ontario Museum Jurassic Morrison Formation

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Schweitzer, M.H. (2011). "Soft Tissue Preservation in Terrestrial Mesozoic Vertebrates". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 39: 187–216. Bibcode:2011AREPS..39..187S. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-040610-133502. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. ^ Anderson, L.A. (2023). "A chemical framework for the preservation of fossil vertebrate cells and soft tissues". Earth-Science Reviews. 240: 104367. Bibcode:2023ESRv..24004367A. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104367. S2CID 257326012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. ^ Witton, Mark (2015-12-24). "Mark Witton.com Blog: Dinosaur scales: some thoughts for artists". Mark Witton.com Blog. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  4. ^ a b Larson, P., Larson, M., Ott, C., & Bakker, R. (2007). Skinning a Triceratops. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 27(3), 104A.
  5. ^ "Leonardo". Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  6. ^ "World's Most Complete Mummified Dinosaur Moves into The World's Largest Children's Museum | The Children's Museum of Indianapolis". www.childrensmuseum.org. Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  7. ^ Benson, Rod. "Montana Earth Science Picture of the Week". formontana.net. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Zuul, Destroyer of Shins". Royal Ontario Museum. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. ^ Tarlach, Gemma. "Meet Zuul crurivastator: I Ain't 'Fraid Of No Ankylosaur". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. ^ Arbour, Victoria M.; Evans, David C. (2017). "A new ankylosaurine dinosaur from the Judith River Formation of Montana, USA, based on an exceptional skeleton with soft tissue preservation". Royal Society Open Science. 4 (5). Royal Society Publishing: 161086. Bibcode:2017RSOS....461086A. doi:10.1098/rsos.161086. PMC 5451805. PMID 28573004.
  11. ^ Greshko, Michael (2018-12-17). "New species of incredible 'living tank' dinosaur unveiled". National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  12. ^ Xu, X.; Wang, K.; Zhang, K.; Ma, Q.; Xing, L.; Sullivan, C.; Hu, D.; Cheng, S.; Wang, S.; et al. (2012). "A gigantic feathered dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China" (PDF). Nature. 484 (7392): 92–95. Bibcode:2012Natur.484...92X. doi:10.1038/nature10906. PMID 22481363. S2CID 29689629. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012.
  13. ^ Cerroni, M. A.; Canale, J. I.; Novas, F. E. (2020). "The skull of Carnotaurus sastrei Bonaparte 1985 revisited: insights from craniofacial bones, palate and lower jaw". Historical Biology. 33 (10): 2444–2485. doi:10.1080/08912963.2020.1802445. S2CID 225374445.
  14. ^ Hendrickx, Christophe; Bell, Phil R. (August 2021). "The scaly skin of the abelisaurid Carnotaurus sastrei (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia". Cretaceous Research. 128: 104994. Bibcode:2021CrRes.12804994H. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104994.
  15. ^ Gallagher T, Poole J, Schein JP (2021). "Evidence of integumentary scale diversity in the Late Jurassic sauropod Diplodocus sp. from the Mother's Day Quarry, Montana". PeerJ. 9: e11202. doi:10.7717/peerj.11202. PMC 8098675. PMID 33986987.
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