Ancient Crocodylomorph's Skin and Color Patterns Revealed by Extraordinary Fossil
A recent study, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, has provided the first detailed description of soft tissues from *Montsecosuchus depereti*, a 125-million-year-old Lower Cretaceous crocodylomorph. Researchers utilized ultraviolet light to analyze a fossil from the Pedrera de Meià site in Spain, revealing new insights into the animal's coloration and the evolution of its respiratory system.
An extraordinary fossil discovered in the Pyrenees region of Spain has allowed scientists to uncover the skin and color patterns of a 125-million-year-old crocodylomorph.
The detailed analysis focuses on *Montsecosuchus depereti*, a Lower Cretaceous crocodylomorph. The study, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, marks the first time its soft tissues have been described in such detail.
The fossil was found at the Pedrera de Meià site, located in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. Researchers employed ultraviolet light for the analysis, a technique that helped reveal previously unseen details.
This research provides new clues regarding the coloration of these ancient animals. Additionally, the study offers insights into the evolutionary development of the respiratory system in crocodylomorphs. The Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont led the research.
