Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia)
Preserved labile tissues (e.g., skin, muscle) in the fossil record of terrestrial vertebrates are increasingly becoming recognized as an important source of biological and taphonomic information. Here, we combine a variety of synchrotron radiation techniques with scanning electron and optical micros...
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PeerJ Inc.
2019-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/7875.pdf |
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| author | Mauricio Barbi Phil R. Bell Federico Fanti James J. Dynes Anezka Kolaceke Josef Buttigieg Ian M. Coulson Philip J. Currie |
| author_facet | Mauricio Barbi Phil R. Bell Federico Fanti James J. Dynes Anezka Kolaceke Josef Buttigieg Ian M. Coulson Philip J. Currie |
| author_sort | Mauricio Barbi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Preserved labile tissues (e.g., skin, muscle) in the fossil record of terrestrial vertebrates are increasingly becoming recognized as an important source of biological and taphonomic information. Here, we combine a variety of synchrotron radiation techniques with scanning electron and optical microscopy to elucidate the structure of 72 million-year-old squamous (scaly) skin from a hadrosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. Scanning electron and optical microscopy independently reveal that the three-dimensionally preserved scales are associated with a band of carbon-rich layers up to a total thickness of ∼75 microns, which is topographically and morphologically congruent with the stratum corneum in modern reptiles. Compositionally, this band deviates from that of the surrounding sedimentary matrix; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and soft X-ray spectromicroscopy analyses indicate that carbon appears predominantly as carbonyl in the skin. The regions corresponding to the integumentary layers are distinctively enriched in iron compared to the sedimentary matrix and appear with kaolinite-rich laminae. These hosting carbonyl-rich layers are apparently composed of subcircular bodies resembling preserved cell structures. Each of these structures is encapsulated by calcite/vaterite, with iron predominantly concentrated at its center. The presence of iron, calcite/vaterite and kaolinite may, independently or collectively, have played important roles in the preservation of the layered structures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:03:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc79a46bcc6f408ea7ef9515b4dd8f35 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:03:38Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc79a46bcc6f408ea7ef9515b4dd8f352023-12-03T09:47:34ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592019-10-017e787510.7717/peerj.7875Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia)Mauricio Barbi0Phil R. Bell1Federico Fanti2James J. Dynes3Anezka Kolaceke4Josef Buttigieg5Ian M. Coulson6Philip J. Currie7Department of Physics, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, CanadaSchool of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, AustraliaDipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna, ItalyCanadian Light Source Inc., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaDepartment of Physics, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, CanadaDepartment of Geology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, CanadaBiological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaPreserved labile tissues (e.g., skin, muscle) in the fossil record of terrestrial vertebrates are increasingly becoming recognized as an important source of biological and taphonomic information. Here, we combine a variety of synchrotron radiation techniques with scanning electron and optical microscopy to elucidate the structure of 72 million-year-old squamous (scaly) skin from a hadrosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. Scanning electron and optical microscopy independently reveal that the three-dimensionally preserved scales are associated with a band of carbon-rich layers up to a total thickness of ∼75 microns, which is topographically and morphologically congruent with the stratum corneum in modern reptiles. Compositionally, this band deviates from that of the surrounding sedimentary matrix; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and soft X-ray spectromicroscopy analyses indicate that carbon appears predominantly as carbonyl in the skin. The regions corresponding to the integumentary layers are distinctively enriched in iron compared to the sedimentary matrix and appear with kaolinite-rich laminae. These hosting carbonyl-rich layers are apparently composed of subcircular bodies resembling preserved cell structures. Each of these structures is encapsulated by calcite/vaterite, with iron predominantly concentrated at its center. The presence of iron, calcite/vaterite and kaolinite may, independently or collectively, have played important roles in the preservation of the layered structures.https://peerj.com/articles/7875.pdfIntegumentPreservationSkinFossilHadrosaurCell layer |
| spellingShingle | Mauricio Barbi Phil R. Bell Federico Fanti James J. Dynes Anezka Kolaceke Josef Buttigieg Ian M. Coulson Philip J. Currie Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) PeerJ Integument Preservation Skin Fossil Hadrosaur Cell layer |
| title | Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) |
| title_full | Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) |
| title_fullStr | Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) |
| title_short | Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) |
| title_sort | integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well preserved hadrosaur dinosauria ornithischia |
| topic | Integument Preservation Skin Fossil Hadrosaur Cell layer |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/7875.pdf |
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