The process of desiccation and deflation explains why dinosaurs aren't as exceptional as we might think.
The term "mummy" is used to describe dinosaur fossils which are rare. It is thought that fossils only form under exceptional circumstances and that a carcass must be buried quickly and desiccated in order for skin to become fossils. A new explanation for how "mummies" might form is proposed by Drumheller and colleagues in this study.
There are large patches of desiccated and deflated skin on the limbs and tail of the Edmontosaurus, which was found in North Dakota. Bite marks from animals were found on the dinosaur's skin. This is the first example of unhealed damage to dinosaur skin, and it shows that the dinosaur carcass was not protected from scavengers.
As scavengers and decomposers target internal tissues, modern animal carcasses are often emptied out. A similar process to occur after which the skin and bones became desiccated and buried is proposed by the authors.
The process of deflation and desiccation is common with modern carcasses and explains how dinosaur mummies might form. There are many pathways by which a dinosaur mummy could develop. Paleontologists will use these mechanisms to collect and interpret fossils.
The Senior Paleontologist at the North Dakota Geological Survey says that Dakota has taught us that durable soft tissues like skin can be preserved on partially scavenged carcasses and that these soft tissues can provide a unique source of information about the other animals that interacted with a carcass.
More information: Biostratinomic alterations of an Edmontosaurus "mummy" reveal a pathway for soft tissue preservation without invoking "exceptional conditions", PLoS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275240 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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