A remarkably well-preserved fossil of a dinosaur has revealed hitherto unknown biological facts about this extinct species of animal.

Specimens of a 66 million-year-old hadrosaur found in Dakota, in the U.S., have shown the skin to be very similar to that of dinosaurs’ modern day descendents such as crocodiles and birds.

Scientists writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B say while the proteins that made up the hadrosaur's skin had degraded, the amino acid building blocks that once made up the proteins were still present.

Phil Manning of the University of Manchester and his colleagues have been employing a number of different techniques to obtain as much information as they can from the fossil.

The discovery of “Dakota”, as it has been named, was made in 2004, but scientists have only been able to properly study it since last year when it was removed from its rocky tomb.

Manning said that the tests carried out on the fossil had confirm what was once theory or hypothesis about the nature of dinosaurs’ reptilian skin. Describing the findings as “gobsmacking”, Dr Manning said the exceptionally well preserved specimen had allowed scientists to confirm long suspected hypotheses for the first time.

The skin was probably quite thick, Manning said, probably something like that of an elephant.

Manning said that work would continue for some time to help draw more secrets from the past about these fascinating creatures.

Meanwhile in the U.S scientists at Montana's Two Medicine Dinosaur Center are continuing to study “Leonardo”, a 77 million-year-old duck-billed dinosaur which is also very well preserved.

According to Cory Coverdell, a field instructor at the center, their specimen offered many potential discoveries because 70 percent of its body was covered with mineralized skin and there may even be fossilized organs within the remains.

Source: Agencies