Discovery of dermal spines reveals a new look for sauropod dinosaurs

The smooth, quasi-elephantine form of the huge, long-necked sauropods is a familiar image widely repeated in both scientific and general literature. Recent discovery of fossilized sauropod (diplodocid) skin impressions reveals a significantly different appearance for these dinosaurs. The fossilized skin demonstrates that a median row of spines was present over the tail and may have continued anteriorly along the body and neck.