What Color Were Dinosaurs? Test Of Ancient Skin Sample May Reveal Answer

[n2doc]

A dinosaur skin sample from a 70-million-year-old hadrosaur is being tested at the Canadian Light Source. This is one of only a few skin samples ever found (Photo : Canadian Light Source synchrotron)


Our books and films have long depicted dinosaurs to be some shade of green or brown- and for all we know, that might be accurate. But by testing one of the world's only well-preserved dinosaur skin samples at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron, researchers hope to determine a more definitive answer on dinosaur skin color as well as explain how a 70-million-year-old hunk of skin has been so well preserved.

The sample of hadrosaur skin was found close to a riverbed near Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 2012. The hardosaur was a duck-billed dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period (100-65 million years ago).


"As we excavated the fossil, I thought that we were looking at a skin impression. Then I noticed a piece came off and I realized this is not ordinary - this is real skin. Everyone involved with the excavation was incredibly excited and we started discussing research projects right away," said University of Regina physicist Mauricio Barbi in a statement from CLS.

Barbi said this is only the third three-dimensional dinosaur skin specimen ever found worldwide.

"This fossil is fascinating because it can tell us so much about the life and the appearance of the dinosaurs in the area."

more
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/1649/20130429/what-color-dinosaurs-test-ancient-skin-sample-will-reveal-final.htm

[Botany]

1. like we don't already know

[Politicalboi]

28. Yaba Daba Doo!

That's the first thing I thought of too.

[mindwalker_i]

2. They were plaid

Disco dinos used to roam the Earth.

[longship]

3. And what color were the feathers on velociraptors?

Chinese digs are quite prolific in revealing feathered therapods. It seems that they have exposed a prolific window into the past.

This stuff is always interesting.

[fitman]

4. The earth is only 5898 years old

so no wonder they found a soft skin sample... The Bible has numerous quotes of giant "behmoths".
The Bible is 100% correct and never wrong..more people should read it and follow it's teachings verbatim.

Now excuse me while I go and beat my disrepective wife-she questioned my command this morning ..THE WHORE !!! Can you believe it?

[Rozlee]

7. What? You only have one wife?

Slacker.

[stlsaxman]

10. "disrespective"... i like you- you're thilly!

well played!

[Curmudgeoness]

11. You should come visit the A&A group.

We love people who believe in following the Bible teachings verbatim.

And are there really "numerous" verses about giant behmoths? Every time I have had someone tell me that dinosaurs lived side by side with man, it has been the same verse. One verse.

[CTCharlie]

14. Sarcasm font

Fitman should have had a sarcasm font available. I doubt is he was serious, but I do wish he would not use "it's" (it is) for the possessive pronoun "its." That is a pet peeve of mine.

[jmondine]

20. They're their, CTCharlie. Your just two picky.

[Politicalboi]

29. Your write

[Shrike47]

5. Gray.

Happy to be of help.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Blue... NO RED!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

[liberal N proud]

8. It's common knowledge that all dinosaurs were...

[Callmecrazy]

9. Maybe they were like chamelions and could chage their color?

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I remember reading the book Raptor Red

by Robert T Bakker.....and ever since, my picture of dinosaurs is colorful. And Utahraptors are red.

[freshwest]

13. Whatever colors birds are under their feathers. Or komodo dragons, gators or snakes. Many colors.

Last edited Sat May 4, 2013, 03:57 AM - Edit history (1)

Birds have different skin colors, but are warm-blooded. Snakes come in many different colors but are cold-blooded.
And komodo dragons have been around a very long time:

The evolutionary development of the Komodo dragon started with the Varanus genus, which originated in Asia about 40 million years ago and migrated to Australia. Around 15 million years ago, a collision between Australia and Southeast Asia allowed the varanids to move into what is now the Indonesian archipelago, extending their range as far east as the island of Timor. The Komodo dragon was believed to have differentiated from its Australian ancestors 4 million years ago. However, recent fossil evidence from Queensland suggests the Komodo dragon evolved in Australia before spreading to Indonesia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon

They appear to have skin like the picture in the OP:



But some look like this:



Others look like this:



I wonder if that's just dirt on them.

[alfredo]

15. They could be quite colorful.

[freshwest]

16. Could be. That bird is beautiful. Thanks.

[alfredo]

18. Their feet are lethal weapons.

[freshwest]

22. Rather like ostriches. Well able to defend themselves. What is that man's up to there?

[alfredo]

24. I think that Cassowary is in a zoo, and I guess the workers have to go into the containment area

from time to time.

[freshwest]

17. Three colors. And why they're extinct:

[meti57b]

21. LOL!!!

[freshwest]

23. I can't help myself. Just have to do stuff like that at times.

[chknltl]

25. Two dinos sported rainbow colors.....

The Lickalotapus and the Megasoreass. (My inner Beavis and Butthead periodically takes the wheel too)

[freshwest]

26. Why aren't you on my Ignore list, LOL.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

27. Gary Larsen was right! I knew it!!!

[santamargarita]

19. They should ask a Republican; didn't they ride those

things?

[GreenStormCloud]

30. That will only reveal the color of that breed of hadrosaur.

Different species likely had different colors, depending upon what they needed for local camouflage. The feathered ones may have changed colors with the seasons.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

31. But the color of this skin specimen can be altered by what

minerals it came in contact with.

But the main point here is that those colors are not the original color of the bone, they were made when the bone was replaced by silica and different minerals and turned to quartz or commonly called agate.

Just look at the beautiful colors of this rare agatized dinosaur bone that's made into jewelry and is known in the trade as "gembone".

http://ganoksin.com/blog/differentseasons/2011/01/30/renee-newmans-exotic-gemstones-vol-2

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

32. More gem dinosaur bone photos.

Yes it's expensive.

http://ganoksin.com/blog/differentseasons/2010/09/15/agatized-dinosaur-bone/