Proposed soft tissue preservational pathway based on examination of the Edmontosaurus mummy. (IMAGE)

PLOS

Proposed soft tissue preservational pathway based on examination of the Edmontosaurus mummy.

Caption

Illustrations on the left show incomplete predation and/or scavenging of the carcass creates openings in the body wall through which fluids and gasses can escape. Invertebrates and microbes use those openings to access the internal tissues. Removal of internal soft tissues and drainage of fluids and gasses associated with decomposition allows the deflated skin and other dermal tissues to desiccate and drape over the underlying bones. This process facilitates longer-term persistence of the skin and other resistant soft tissues until eventual burial and fossilization.

Credit

Paleoart by Becky Barnes, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.