Deception in Paleontology: The Painted ‘Skin’ on a 280-Million-Year-Old Fossil

Recent research has shown that the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil, once thought to contain preserved skin, is actually a forgery with painted “soft tissues,” highlighting the need for caution in paleontological research.

Preserved skin in a 280-million-year-old fossil may not be all that it seems.

New research has found that soft tissue in Tridentinosaurus antiquus is a forgery and warns against using the reptile in future research.

The importance of an ancient reptile fossil appears to be less than skin deep.