Diplodocus skin fossils reveal first physical evidence of sauropod colour structures
Updated
Updated · Earth.com · May 4
Diplodocus skin fossils reveal first physical evidence of sauropod colour structures
8 articles · Updated · Earth.com · May 4
The study examined juvenile fossils from Montana's Mother’s Day Quarry, dating to about 150 million years ago, and found two melanosome shapes in skin layers using scanning electron microscopes.
Researchers said oval structures suggest dark brown or black tones, while disc-shaped forms imply reflective areas, indicating juveniles may have had speckled or spotted camouflage rather than uniform colouring.
Published in Royal Society Open Science, the findings suggest other dinosaur skin fossils may hide colour evidence beneath mineralised outer layers, expanding research beyond feathered dinosaurs.
Can AI analyze fossil pigments to finally reveal the true colors of dinosaurs like Diplodocus?
If a young Diplodocus's patterned skin wasn't for camouflage, what other secret purpose could it have served?
Since giant dinosaurs weren't grey, what other 'facts' about them might actually be wrong?