It’s not always easy inferring behavior from the fossil record because most often all the squishy bits are gone and we’re left to fill in the gaps from the odd bony bits n’ bobs. Sometimes, however, ancient creatures make palaeontologists' lives a bit easier by remaining virtually complete for say, oh I don’t know, 240 million years? A round of applause, please, for Lariosaurus valceresii . The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

A new paper describes the near-perfect specimen that dates back to the Middle Triassic. It was found in the UNESCO World Heritage area of Monte San Giorgio, and has preserved skin that reveals the shape of the scales.

Fossil skin like this is invaluable because, for starters, it’s the first time w

See Full Page