was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931 and was thought to be an important specimen for understanding early reptile evolution — but has now been found to be, in part a forgery. Its body outline, appearing dark against the surrounding rock, was initially interpreted as preserved soft tissues but is now known to be paint. Credit: Dr.
Though preserved soft tissues aren’t unknown in fossils, with mummified dinosaurs occasionally coming to light, they are extremely rare.was even more unusual because its skin was thought to have been preserved by carbonization. In particular, being able to sample the skin could have revealed more about the ancient reptile’s lifestyle and anatomy, and perhaps its relatives.
The outline was also surprisingly grainy for what was supposed to be soft tissue, while there were no chemical traces of fossilized melanin, the natural pigments that color hair, skin, and eyes. While tests on the chemical makeup of the layer were less conclusive, they were still consistent with a black paint being applied to the fossil.Tridentinosaurus