Plesiosaurs, ancient sea monsters with serpentine necks and flippers, have long fascinated paleontologists. While their skeletal anatomy is well-documented, their external appearance has remained a mystery until now.
Researchers have conducted the first detailed analysis of plesiosaur soft tissue, offering new insights into what these creatures might have looked like 215 million years ago. The study suggests that some plesiosaurs had human-like skin on their tail regions and fishy scales on their flippers, similar to those found in living sea turtle species.
The research highlights an evolutionary detour that runs counter to other ancient marine reptiles, which evolved away from scales in favor of skin or smaller scales. The analysis of three soft-tissue skin samples, each about the size of a fingernail, revealed skin cell nuclei under the microscope, providing a unique glimpse into the plesiosaur’s appearance.
The findings suggest that the scales on the plesiosaurs’ flippers stiffened the trailing edge, allowing for enhanced propulsion through the water. This feature is shared with today’s sea turtles, which use their scales to swim efficiently. The researchers also believe that the scales provided traction and protection as the plesiosaurs sifted through sand and vegetation on the ocean floor in search of food.
The study provides a significant update to our understanding of these ancient creatures, suggesting they were not just bottom-dwellers, but active predators that spent most of their time cruising through the water.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/science/plesiosaur-fossils-skin-scales.html