Unveiling the Past: Scientists Discover Stunning 183-Million-Year-Old Fossil with Remarkably Preserved Skin and Scales!

The ancient seabeds of modern-day Germany have revealed something incredible—a well-preserved fossil that’s changing what we know about marine reptiles. A study in Current Biology introduces Plesiopterys wildi, found in Holzmaden, showing soft tissues that scientists rarely see. This fossil, known as MH 7, includes skin, scales, and keratin, giving researchers a fresh view of how these long-necked predators moved and evolved.

Discovered in 1940 but only examined recently, MH 7 was a hidden treasure. The limestone surrounding it hid important details. When scientists finally uncovered it, they found preserved skin on its tail and flipper—an extraordinary find for Jurassic reptiles. By looking closely, they identified two types of keratin: beta-keratin on the flipper and alpha-keratin on the tail. This difference shows how the skin adapted to various functions, hinting at how these creatures swam efficiently.

Miguel Marx from Lund University emphasizes the importance of this find:

“The Holzmaden specimen gives us an unprecedented look at Plesiopterys wildi, allowing us to better understand its development and its role in plesiosaur evolution.”

The fossil’s excellent preservation is thanks to the low-oxygen conditions in the Posidonia Shale, a unique environment that prevents decay. Most plesiosaurs are known only from bones, making MH 7 a rare exception.

What’s fascinating about the skin is that it suggests the plesiosaur might not have been plain and dull as previously thought. The tail skin shows a smooth surface filled with pigment granules that indicate mottled coloring. This discovery suggests that Plesiopterys could have used color for camouflage or social communication, much like today’s aquatic animals.

The structure of its flippers suggests they were not just for swimming—they were optimized for power and steering, similar to what we see in modern sea turtles. This specialization implies that marine reptiles evolved distinct physical traits based on their environments. Marx and his team noted that different plesiosaur communities likely developed unique adaptations while living in various parts of the European seas during the Early Jurassic. This hints at interesting parallel evolution among isolated groups.

Perhaps the most surprising feature of this fossil is its fleshy tail fin—a rare find that adds to our understanding. This fin likely acted as a rudder or helped with quick acceleration, giving Plesiopterys an unexpected advantage. With its long neck and agile flippers, it could have outmaneuvered faster predator species like ichthyosaurs by using clever turns and stealthy movements. This strategy would have been key for hunting and escaping threats.

Overall, this fossil doesn’t just tell us about a single species; it opens a window into the lifestyles and adaptations of marine reptiles in the Jurassic seas. The ongoing study of Plesiopterys wildi continues to reshape our understanding of these ancient creatures, making it clear that there’s still much to discover about the past.

Source link