Renowned Lizard Fossil Exposed as Forgery

An ancient fossil that has mystified paleontologists for years is actually partially forged.

The fossilized specimen of Tridentinosaurus antiquus was first discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931 and was thought to be around 280 million years old. The 8-inch lizard fossil appears dark against the surrounding rock and the color was assumed to be preserved soft tissues.

New analysis has found, however, that the fossil is actually black paint on a carved piece of stone surrounding a few fossilized bones, according to a paper in the journal Palaeontology.

"The peculiar preservation of Tridentinosaurus had puzzled experts for decades. Now, it all makes sense. What it was described as carbonized skin, is just paint," paper co-author Evelyn Kustatscher, a paleontologist at the Museum of Nature South Tyrol, said in a statement.

Researchers analyzed the black material under a microscope and found that its texture and composition did not match that of genuine fossilized soft tissues and was painted on top of the rock. Ultraviolet light photography found that the entire specimen had been coated in some type of varnish.

The paper reveals that the body outline of the Tridentinosaurus antiquus specimen was likely forged to enhance the fossil's appearance, which went unnoticed until now, as it had before not been studied in detail.

The fossil is not a complete fake, though. The bones of the hindlimbs are genuine, though poorly preserved. Additionally, the paper reveals that there are tiny bony scales called osteoderms on the back of the animal.

The presence of the apparent skin has mystified scientists as to what the geological history of the animal might be, but eventually led the specimen to be classified as a member of the reptile group Protorosauria.

"Fossil soft tissues are rare, but when found in a fossil they can reveal important biological information, for instance, the external coloration, internal anatomy and physiology," Valentina Rossi, a researcher at University College Cork's School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, said in a statement.

"The answer to all our questions was right in front of us, we had to study this fossil specimen in detail to reveal its secrets – even those that perhaps we did not want to know."

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