Everything Dinosaur thanks the Elevation Science Institute for providing some remarkable photographs of fossilised sauropod skin.  The photographs were supplied as part of a media release reporting on the study of juvenile diplodocid integument.  The fossil material originates from the Mother’s Day Quarry (Montana, USA).  The deposits are part of the famous Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic deposits).  The paper provides the first evidence of colour patterning in sauropod dinosaurs.

In situ skin impression photo. Picture credit: Skye Walker/Elevation Science Institute.

Picture credit: Skye Walker/Elevation Science Institute

The picture (above) shows a sauropod skin fossil exposed on the surface of the dig site.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the scientific paper: Sauropod Dinosaur Skin Study Reveals Colour Patterning.

Integumentary Fossils

Integumentary fossils such as the ones used in this new study representing sauropod skin help to provide an understanding of sauropod physiology. In addition, ideas about life reconstructions and their colouration can be presented.  Writing in the open-access Royal Society Open Science, the researchers used scanning electron microscopy to reveal two fossilised epidermal layers in the diplodocid scales.  These layers varied in their microbody and carbon density.

The presence of two preserved microbodies with different shapes in the fossil scales of juvenile sauropods is interpreted as fossil melanosomes within preserved epidermis. Sauropods could have been more colourful than previously thought.

One of the authors of the study Tess Gallagher (University of Bristol) discussed this research when she met up with us at DinoCon. We congratulate Tess and the rest of the team on their remarkable research, and we wish them every success with their future studies.

Researcher Tess Gallagher at the Mother’s Day Site in 2023 with a Diplodocus femur. Picture credit: Elevation Science Institute.

Picture credit: Elevation Science Institute

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Fossilized melanosomes reveal colour patterning of a sauropod dinosaur” by Tess Gallagher, Dan Folkes, Michael Pittman, Tom G. Kaye, Glenn W. Storrs and Jason Schein published in the Royal Society Open Science.

For sauropod models and other prehistoric animal figures: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Tristan the T. rex skeleton celebrates ten years at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.  Since its arrival on December 16th 2015, it has received over five million visitors.  The specimen, representing the first original fossil Tyrannosaurus rex to be exhibited in Europe at the time, has proved to be a huge success.  It has had a measurable impact on tourism in the German city.

Tristan the T. rex exhibit on display at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Picture credit: Carola Radke Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.

Picture credit: Carola Radke Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

Specimen Number MB. R. 91216 (Tristan the T. rex)

The fossil (specimen number MB. R. 91216) is one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons known to science.  Approximately, one hundred and seventy bones have been preserved.  It has proved to be an extremely popular exhibit. In the years before the coronavirus pandemic (2016–2019), the museum recorded up to 821,489 visitors annually thanks to Tristan (Tristan Otto). The millionth visitor was recorded as early as March 2017.

This iconic fossil has been the subject of numerous television documentaries.  For example, in 2017 naturalist Chris Packham narrated an hour-long documentary on how this twelve-metre-long tyrannosaur was shaping thinking about Tyrannosaurus rex.

To read our article about this broadcast: Tyrannosaur Specimen to Feature in New Television Documentary.

The exhibit’s loan to the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen (2020–2022) and its return in August 2022 made headlines.  On the last day, prior to the exhibit closing for packing and shipping to Denmark, Tristan the T. rex received over twenty-five thousand visitors.

A Treasure Trove for Scientific Research

The Tyrannosaurus rex specimen known as Tristan acquired its nickname simply because it was discovered by a private collector called Tristan Otto during excavations in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana in 2010.

The skull is almost complete.  It is one of the best-preserved tyrannosaur skulls known.  As such, it is a treasure trove for research. For instance, detailed scans of the skull have allowed palaeontologists to reconstruct tyrannosaur nerve fibres and permitted insights into the sense of smell. Traces of disease discovered, including evidence of a bone tumour and toothache, also provide rare insights into the individual life of this animal. Its deep black colouring, typical of fossils from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana (USA), gives it additional visual impact.  Tristan the T. rex has become an icon.

Analysis of fossil material helped Everything Dinosaur team members to reconstruct a scientifically accurate, 1:33 scale replica of Tyrannosaurus rex.  This model has been widely praised by palaeontologists and model collectors.

Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex model on top of its beautiful box. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Models.

Accessible to Scientists

Despite being privately owned, Tristan is fully accessible to scientists.  Research can continue using this specimen.  It has been catalogued and secured for long-term research and exhibition.  This is an exemplary model of co-operation between public bodies and private ownership.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“This tyrannosaur specimen is an excellent example of how a museum and a patron can work together for the benefit of science.  The specimen might be privately owned but it is on public display and also accessible to the scientific community.”

Tristan the T. rex remains a strong brand ambassador for the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.  A total of 5,764,218 people have visited Tristan Otto since 2015.  These visitor numbers demonstrate the lasting appeal of the “King of the Tyrant Lizards”.

Happy tenth anniversary Tristan.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.

The multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Buy Prehistoric Animal Models.