There have been some discoveries of unusually well-preserved fossil dinosaur specimens which bear remnants of tissues and bodily structures. Organic tissue was previously thought to decay too quickly to enter the fossil record, unlike more mineralised bones and teeth, however, research now suggests the potential for the long-term preservation of original soft tissues over geological time,[1] leading to the formulation of various hypotheses regarding the underlying mechanisms involved.[2]
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
INREC K3/109 | Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Cryology | Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus | Bathonian | Ukureyskaya Formation | Russia | A basal ornithischian that preserves protofeathers. | ![]() |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dakota | MRF-03 | Marmarth Research Foundation | Edmontosaurus annectens | Maastrichtian | Hell Creek Formation | United States | On display at North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum | ![]() |
Trachodon mummy | AMNH 5060 | American Museum of Natural History | Edmontosaurus annectens | Maastrichtian | Lance Formation | United States | ![]() | |
Big Paul | LACM 17715 | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | Magnapaulia laticaudus | Campanian | El Gallo Formation | Mexico | ![]() Impression of Big Paul's skin, being displayed at LACM | |
AMNH 5220, AMNH 5221,and AMNH 5271 | American Museum of Natural History | Saurolophus osborni | Maastrichtian | Horseshoe Canyon Formation | Canada | |||
Various | Dinosaurium, among others | Saurolophus angustirostris | Maastrichtian | Nemegt Formation | Mongolia, and China | Many specimens are known from the locale called the Dragon's Tomb, which often perseveres soft tissues. This makes it a target for fossil poachers | ||
Leonardo | The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (on ten-year loan from Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station, 2013-2023) | Brachylophosaurus canadensis | Campanian | Judith River Formation | United States | Well-preserved mummified specimen | ![]() |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMF R 4970 | Naturmuseum Senckenberg | Psittacosaurus sp. | Aptian | Jehol Biota | China | This animal displays pigment preservation, bristles as well as a preserved Cloaca. | ![]() | |
Triceratops[3] | Maastrichtian | |||||||
Lane | Formerly BHI-6273 | Houston Museum of Natural Science[4] | Triceratops horridus | Maastrichtian | Lance Formation | United States | Preserves extensive skin impressions, including large "nipple" scales on the sacrum and dorsum.[4] | ![]() |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suncor Nodosaur | TMP 2011.033. 0001[5] | Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology | Borealopelta markmitchelli | Albian | Clearwater Formation | Canada | This animal displays pigment preservation, as well as keratinous sheaths and stomach contents. | ![]() |
Zuul (originally Sherman) | Royal Ontario Museum | Zuul crurivastator | Campanian | Judith River Formation | United States |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GMV 2123 and its counter slab, NIGP 127587, and D 2141 | Geologic Museum of China, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and the Dalian Natural History Museum | Sinosauropteryx prima | Aptian | Yixian Formation | China | Three Specimens of Sinosauropteryx have been discovered to date, coloration is known from this dinosaur. | ![]() | |
JMP-V-05-8-01 and CAGS-IG-T1 | Sinocalliopteryx gigas | Aptian | Yixian Formation | China | Preserves extensive protofeathers on the body and tail | ![]() | ||
SMNK PAL 29241 | Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe | Ubirajara jubatus | Aptian | Crato Formation | Brazil | The specimen is controversial in it legality, and it possesses feather “spikes” on its shoulders |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZCDM V5000,[12] | Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum and Erlianhaote Dinosaur Museum | Yutyrannus huali | Early Cretcaeous (Aptian; 120 mya) | Yixian Formation | China | Feathered | ||
Bloody Mary | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences | Tyrannosaurus rex | Maastrichtian | Hell Creek Formation | ||||
Wyrex | Houston Museum of Natural Science | Tyrannosaurus rex | Maastrichtian | Hell Creek Formation | USA | Fragment of skin on tail |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MACN-CH 894[13][14] | Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales | Carnotaurus sastrei | Cretaceous | La Colonia Formation | Argentina | Skin impressions |
Nickname | Catalogue Number(s) | Institution(s) | Taxon | Age | Unit | Country(s) | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
none | MDS-2019-028[15] | Diplodocus | Jurassic | Morrison Formation | Montana, United States | |||
??? | ??? | Royal Ontario Museum | Jurassic | Morrison Formation | ![]() |