Paleontologists have unearthed fossilized skin from a dinosaur species, revealing a unique anatomical feature previously unknown in extinct reptiles. The finding,made on a specimen of *Mirasaura*,showcases a sheet of living tissue with blood vessels,a finding that challenges previous understandings of dinosaur integument.
Richard Prum, a paleontologist, speculated that this vascularized skin might have played a role in thermoregulation, possibly allowing the dinosaur to absorb solar energy for increased activity.The find underscores the diverse capabilities of reptile skin, a characteristic that continues to fascinate researchers.
This discovery highlights the often-overlooked complexity and adaptability of reptilian skin throughout evolutionary history.
