Fossilized skin of Tridentinosaurus found to be modern paint

[Oxytropidoceras]

Ancient Fossil That Baffled Scientists For Decades Finally

Reveals Its True Identity, Michelle Starr, Nature, February 16, 2024

 

280-Million-Year-Old Mystery Solved As Forged Fossil's

"Skin" Identified As Paint The "soft tissues" of this partial

forgery were painted on, but it isn't a total fake.

Rachael Funnell, IFL Science, February 16, 2024

 

The open access paper is;

 

Rossi, V., Bernardi, M., Fornasiero, M., Nestola, F., Unitt, 

R., Castelli, S. and Kustatscher, E. (2024), Forged soft

tissues revealed in the oldest fossil reptile from the early

Permian of the Alps. Palaeontology, 67: e12690. 

https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12690

 

Yours, 

Paul H.

[rocket]

Oh yes, this is a horrible situation. But..., we thought 15 years ago it has been overpainted. When you see it in the exhibition and have some experience with fossils and restoring you will see it from a meter away....

But nevertheless good to hear that parts are original and that is it not a total fake...