Feature scales

Feature scales are enlarged scales found on various reptiles. Despite their close resemblance to osteoderms, they have no boney component to them.¹ Examples of reptiles that are known to possess feature scales are iguanas,² and many non-avian dinosaurs such as Carnotaurus,¹ Brachylophosaurus,³ diplodocids,⁴ and various ceratopsians.⁵ The term was coined by Australian paleontologist Phil R. Bell in 2012 in reference to the midline scutes of the hadrosaurid Saurolophus.⁶

Feature scales are distinguished from basement scales (typical, small scales that make up most of the overall scales), by their notable size difference, being significantly wider and taller.⁶

References

Czerkas, Stephen A.; Czerkas, Sylvia J. (1997). "The Integument and Life Restoration of Carnotaurus". In Wolberg, D. I.; Stump, E.; Rosenberg, G. D. (eds.). Dinofest International. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. pp. 155–158.
"Anoles, Iguanas, and Relatives: Iguanidae | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
Murphy, N.L.; Trexler, D.; Thompson, M. (2006). ""Leonardo," a mummified Brachylophosaurus from the Judith River Formation". In Carpenter, K. (ed.). Horns and Beaks: Ceratopsian and Ornithopod Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press. pp. 117–133. ISBN 0-253-34817-X.
Czerkas, S.A. (1993). "Discovery of dermal spines reveals a new look for sauropod dinosaurs". Geology. 20 (12): 1068–1070. Bibcode:1992Geo....20.1068C. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<1068:dodsra>2.3.co;2.
Bell, Phil R.; Hendrickx, Christophe; Pittman, Michael; Kaye, Thomas G.; Mayr, Gerald (August 12, 2022). "The exquisitely preserved integument of Psittacosaurus and the scaly skin of ceratopsian dinosaurs". Communications Biology. 5 (1): 809. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03749-3. ISSN 2399-3642. PMC 9374759. PMID 35962036.
Bell, P.R. (2012). "Standardized Terminology and Potential Taxonomic Utility for Hadrosaurid Skin Impressions: A Case Study for Saurolophus from Canada and Mongolia". PLOS ONE. 7 (2) e31295. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...731295B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031295. PMC 3272031. PMID 22319623.
Samuelson, Phillip (1995-06-01), "The Lizard King", Reptiles Magazine, 3 (2): 64–84, Bibcode:1996SciAm.274f..26M, doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0696-26a

[czerkas1997-1] Czerkas, Stephen A.; Czerkas, Sylvia J. (1997). "The Integument and Life Restoration of Carnotaurus". In Wolberg, D. I.; Stump, E.; Rosenberg, G. D. (eds.). Dinofest International. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. pp. 155–158.

[:1-2] "Anoles, Iguanas, and Relatives: Iguanidae | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.

[murphy2006-3] Murphy, N.L.; Trexler, D.; Thompson, M. (2006). ""Leonardo," a mummified Brachylophosaurus from the Judith River Formation". In Carpenter, K. (ed.). Horns and Beaks: Ceratopsian and Ornithopod Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press. pp. 117–133. ISBN 0-253-34817-X.

[Czerkas1993B-4] Czerkas, S.A. (1993). "Discovery of dermal spines reveals a new look for sauropod dinosaurs". Geology. 20 (12): 1068–1070. Bibcode:1992Geo....20.1068C. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<1068:dodsra>2.3.co;2.

[5] Bell, Phil R.; Hendrickx, Christophe; Pittman, Michael; Kaye, Thomas G.; Mayr, Gerald (August 12, 2022). "The exquisitely preserved integument of Psittacosaurus and the scaly skin of ceratopsian dinosaurs". Communications Biology. 5 (1): 809. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03749-3. ISSN 2399-3642. PMC 9374759. PMID 35962036.

[bell2012-6] Bell, P.R. (2012). "Standardized Terminology and Potential Taxonomic Utility for Hadrosaurid Skin Impressions: A Case Study for Saurolophus from Canada and Mongolia". PLOS ONE. 7 (2) e31295. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...731295B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031295. PMC 3272031. PMID 22319623.

[Samuelson-7] Samuelson, Phillip (1995-06-01), "The Lizard King", Reptiles Magazine, 3 (2): 64–84, Bibcode:1996SciAm.274f..26M, doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0696-26a

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See also

References