A team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of soft tissue from ancient plesiosaurs, a type of marine reptile that lived during the time of dinosaurs. The 183-million-year-old fossil, known as MH7, was finally assembled and prepared for study in 2020 after being buried in a German museum garden since World War II.
The researchers at Lund University in Sweden used thin sections of the fossil to analyze its microscopic structure, revealing that the plesiosaur had both smooth and scaly skin. The team found that the scales on the flippers likely helped the animal swim through the water, providing stiffness and aiding movement along the seafloor when searching for food.
The discovery suggests that plesiosaurs were more adaptable than previously thought, with areas of scale and smooth skin allowing them to navigate both underwater and on land. This finding provides new insights into the appearance and behavior of long-necked plesiosaurs, which have long been a subject of speculation among scientists.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2467149-amazing-plesiosaur-fossil-preserves-its-skin-and-scales