Newly detected data from Haestasaurus and review of sauropod skin morphology suggests Early Jurassic origin of skin papillae

Abstract

Haestasaurus becklesii claims the crown as owner of the first non-avian dinosaur skin to ever be described. Using modern imaging approaches, and considering known fossil skin across the long-necked sauropod dinosaurs, an Early Jurassic origin of the papillae within their scales is suggested.