A new study of a Jurassic plesiosaur fossil discovered near Holzmaden, Germany, has revealed surprising details about the ancient sea reptile's skin. The research, published in Current Biology, shows that the plesiosaur possessed a unique combination of smooth skin on its body and scaly skin on the rear edges of its flippers.
Key Findings:
Smooth Skin: The plesiosaur's smooth skin likely provided hydrodynamic benefits, allowing it to swim quickly and efficiently, crucial for hunting fish and squid.
Scaly Flippers: The scaly skin on the flippers may have aided in traction, allowing the reptile to walk on rough surfaces and improving its ability to move both in and out of the water.
Exceptional Preservation: The fossil's remarkably well-preserved skin cells, dating back 180 million years, have allowed scientists to examine the cellular structures of this prehistoric creature, offering unprecedented insights into its biology.
This discovery enhances our understanding of plesiosaur locomotion and provides valuable information about the preservation of soft tissues in fossils, opening new avenues for research on extinct species.