List of dinosaur specimens with preserved soft tissue

There have been some discoveries of unusually well-preserved fossil dinosaur specimens which bear remnants of tissues and bodily structures. Organic tissue was previously thought to decay too quickly to enter the fossil record, unlike more mineralised bones and teeth, however, research now suggests the potential for the long-term preservation of original soft tissues over geological time, leading to the formulation of various hypotheses regarding the underlying mechanisms involved.

Ornithischians

Basal ornithischians

Nickname	Catalogue number	Institution	Taxon	Age	Unit	Country	Notes	Images
	INREC K3/109	Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Cryology	Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus	Bathonian	Ukureyskaya Formation	Russia	A basal ornithischian that preserves protofeathers.

Theropods

Avialans

Nickname	Catalogue number	Institution	Taxon	Age	Unit	Country	Notes	Images
Beijing Specimen	BMNHC PH828	Beijing Museum of Natural History	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	An anchiornithid; smaller specimen with preserved feathers covering the legs and arm with fossilized melanosomes indicating a dark grey and black coloration. May not belong to Anchiornis
	BMNHC PH804	Beijing Museum of Natural History	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Nearly complete and articulated specimen with preserved feathers on the tail, forelimb, and hindlimb
	IVPP V14378	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Holotype specimen with faint preservation of feathers on the back
	LPM-B00169	Liaoning Paleontological Museum	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Nearly complete and articulated specimen with extensive feather preservationon the wings, legs and feet. Along with long head feathers with preserved pigments which indicate a red color
	YTGP-T5199	Yizhou Fossil & Geology Park	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen with preserved feathers on the legs, tail, and some around the body. There are also preserved melanosomes indicating the presence of eumelanin, implying a dark coloration
	PKUP V1068	Peking University	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen with some feather impressions around the tail
	STM-0-38, 224, 227, 228	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Preserved plumage and gastric pellets
	STM-0-214	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen with preserved scant feathers around the wing and legs
	STM-0-179	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Exceptionally preserved specimen with fossilized plumage and gastric pallet in the oesophageal region containing lizard bones
	STM-0-4, 7, 114, 118, 125, 127, 132, 133, 144, 147	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Anchiornis huxleyi	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	Multiple specimens with preserved feathers on the arms, legs, and around the body. As well as skin impressions showing scales on the feet, ankles, fingers and claws
	YFGP T5198	Yizhou Fossil & Geology Park	Aurornis xui	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	An anchiornithid bird with traces of preserved feathers on the tail, chest, and neck. Possibly synonymous with Anchiornis huxleyi
Urfeder	BSP 1869 VIII and 1MB.Av.100	Natural History Museum, Berlin	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A single isolated fossil feather with preserved melanosomes indicating a probable black coloration for at least the wings. Has in the past been considered to belong to another avialan, but recent studies reaffirm Archaeopteryx affinties
London Specimen	NHMUK 37001	Natural History Museum, London	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Body missing the head with preserved feathers on the tail and wings
Maxberg Specimen	S5	Maxberg Museum	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	A now lost specimen with light feather impressions on the wings and legs
Munich Specimen	BSP 1999 I 50	Munich Paleontological Museum	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Nearly complete specimen with preserved feathers on the tail and wings
Bürgermeister-Müller Specimen	Counterslab	Bürgermeister-Müller Museum	cf. Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Slight feather impressions on the counterslab around the second finger
Altmühl Specimen		Naturmuseum Senckenberg	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Nearly complete specimen with preserved feathers on the body and legs
Chicago Specimen	PA 830	Field Museum	Archaeopteryx lithographica	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Nearly complete specimen with preserved feathers on the wings and tail
Berlin Specimen	MB.Av.101	Natural History Museum, Berlin	Archaeopteryx siemensii	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Exceptionally preserved specimen with detailed feather preservation around the wings, tail, legs, and body
Thermopolis Specimen	WDC CSG 100	Wyoming Dinosaur Center	Archaeopteryx siemensii	Tithonian	Solnhofen Limestone	Germany	Well preserved specimen with faintly preserved feathers on the right wing and tail
	IVPP V14287	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Archaeorhynchus spathula	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	A nearly complete articulated subadult euornithine bird with preserved plumage around the body and three dozen gastroliths in the stomach
	IVPP V17075/91	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Archaeorhynchus spathula	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Two specimens with preserved plumage around the body and gastroliths within the stomach
	STM7-11	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Archaeorhynchus spathula	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Exceptionally preserved specimen with preserved feathers, approximately 100 gastroliths within the stomach region, and impressions of probable lung tissue
	LNTU-WLMP-18	Western Liaoning Museum of Paleontology	Archaeorhynchus spathula	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A juvenile specimen with preserved feathers on the wings and gastric contents containing propagules, fruits, seeds, and ovules, although no gastroliths
	STM7-145/163	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Archaeornithura meemannae	Aptian	Huajiying Formation	China	A hongshanornithid bird with extensively preserved feathers on the wings and body
	IVPP V25371	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Avimaia schweitzerae	Aptian	Xiagou Formation	China	Lower body of an enantiornithine with some small patches of feathers preserved near the tail
	IVPP V17970	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Bellulornis rectusunguis	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	An ornithuromorph bird with faintly preserved feathers on the right wing and tail, as well as gastroliths within the stomach
	LPM B00167	Liaoning Paleontological Museum	Bohaiornis guoi	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A bohaiornithid enantiornithine with preserved two ribbon-like tail feathers
	IVPP V 17963	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Bohaiornis guoi	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Large stones, interpreted as gastroliths in the stomach cavity. But are more likely rocks deposited on top of the specimen and are not in the stomach at all
	IVPP V26197	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Brevidentavis zhangi	Aptian	Xiagou Formation	China	An ornithuromorph bird with a possible gastric pellet preserved alongside the vertebrae
	IVPP V13266	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Brevirostruavis macrohyoideus	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	An enantiornithine bird with faintly preserved feathers around the wings, body, and tail
	PMoL-B00175	Paleontological Museum of Liaoning	Caihong juji	Oxfordian	Tiaojishan Formation	China	A probable anchiornithid paravian with preserved plumage around the body that possesses pigments that might indicate black and iridescent "rainbow" colors, similar to that of a common grackle
	AMNH 30560/78	American Museum of Natural History	Calciavis grandei	Ypresian	Green River Formation	Wyoming, United States	A lithornithid bird with two specimens each with preserved wing feathers, skin impressions of pes scales, and plumage around the body which preserves pigments indicating a glossy, iridescent black, like that of a crow
	IMG 5191	Beijing Museum of Natural History	Cathayornis aberransis	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Preserved plumage, wing feathers, and bifurcated tail
	FMNH PA730	Field Museum of Natural History	Celericolius acriala	Ypresian	Green River Formation	Wyoming, United States	An Eocene mousebird with preserved tail feathers
	GMV-2129	Geological Museum of China	Changchengornis hengdaoziensis	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	A confuciusornithid bird with extensively preserved feathers around the body, wings, and a bifurcated tail
	AGB5840	Anhui Paleontological Museum	Changzuiornis ahgmi	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A gansuid ornithuromorph with feather impressions on the tail and wings, with preserved melanosomes indicating a black coloration, and gastroliths within the stomach
	STM29-11	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Chiappeavis magnapremaxillo	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A pengornithid enantiornithine with preserved wing and tail feathers
	STM9-9	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Chongmingia zhengi	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A jinguofortisid basal bird with preserved plumage around the body and gastroliths in the stomach
	MCCM-LH-1184	Science Museum of Castilla-La Mancha	Concornis lacustris	Barremian	La Huérguina Formation	Spain	An enantiornithine bird with slight feather impressions on the wings and tail
	IVPP V11553	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis dui	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	A now lost female specimen with preserved plumage around the body and keratin on the beak
	DNHM D2454	Dalian Natural Museum	Confuciusornis feducciai	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A well preserved specimen with preserved plumage and bifurcated tail feathers. Probably a synonym of C. sanctus
	IVPP V13168, V13156	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Nearly complete specimens with preserved plumage, wing feathers, and bifurcated tail feathers. Furthermore, skin impressions on the feet
	IVPP V10920-10925	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	cf. Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Specimen with scant and slight feather impressions
	IVPP V13313	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A well preserved specimen with slight feather impressions and scales of Jinanichthys sp. in the throat
	IVPP V13171	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen with preserved skin impressions and feathers with preserved melanosomes, indicating colors of grey, black, brown, and red, similar to a modern zebra finch
	IVPP V12352	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen with preserved keratin on the tip of the beak
	IVPP V110304	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with preserved wing feathers
	GMV-2130, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2141, 2142, 2146, 2147, 2154	Geological Museum of China	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved plumage around the bodies
	BMNHC PH766	Beijing Museum of Natural History	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with plumage and skin impressions of scales on the feet
	BMNHC PH925, 931, 986, and 987	Beijing Museum of Natural History	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved plumage around the bodies and bifurcated tail feathers
	DNHM D2859	Dalian Natural Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with fossilized plumage around the body
	DNHM D1874	Dalian Natural Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	A probable female specimen with preserved plumage
	DNHM D2508/2151	Dalian Natural Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimens with indents of plumage and bifurcated tail feathers
	LPM 0228/9	Liaoning Paleontological Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimens with indents of plumage and bifurcated tail feathers
	LPM 0233	Liaoning Paleontological Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with fossilized plumage around the body
	MCFO 0589	CosmoCaixa Barcelona	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with fossilized plumage around the body
	NIGPAS-139379	Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Two specimens with preserved plumage around the bodies, one with bifurcated tail feathers and the other without, probably representing a male and female
	HGM 41HIII0400/1	Henan Geological Museum	Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimen with plumage around the body and bifurcated tail feathers
	MGSF315		Confuciusornis sanctus	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	A well preserved specimen with wing feathers with preserved pigments possibly indicating a lighter white coloration for the wings
	CUGB P1401	China University of Geosciences	Confuciusornis sp.	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Preserved feathers with fossilized melanosomes indicating a darker black coloration
	STM13-133/162	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Confuciusornis sp.	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	Well preserved specimens with feather impressions and a keratinous rhampotheca
	UFrJ-Dg 031	Federal University of Rio de Janeiro	Cratoavis cearensis	Aptian	Crato Formation	Brazil	A small enantiornithine bird with preserved body feathers and bifurcated tail feathers. Furthermore, two specimens of Dastilbe sp. near the digestive track
	IVPP V31106	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Cratonavis zhui	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	A jinguofortisd basal bird with preserved plumage around the body
	IVPP 21711	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Cruralispennia multidonta	Hauterivian	Huajiying Formation	China	A small enantiornithine bird with preserve plumage present with fossilized melanosomes, indicating a dark brown or black iridescent coloration
	LPM 00039	Liaoning Paleontological Museum	Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus	Aptian	Jiufotang Formation	China	Nearly complete specimen of an enantiornithine with preserved plumage and long bifurcated tail feathers
	USNM 10908	National Museum of Natural History	Diatryma? filifera	Ypresian	Green River Formation	Wyoming, United States	Fossilized impressions of what were believed to be feathers belonging to the flightless galloanserae Diatryma, but were in fact Sedge material belonging to the unique species Cyperacites filiferus
	IVPP V20284	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Dingavis longimaxilla	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China	An ornithuromorph bird with preserved gastroliths within the stomach
		Museum of Natural Sciences, Brussels	Dynamopterus tuberculata	Lutetian	Messel Formation	Germany	A fossil cuckoo bird with preserved tail feathers and gastroliths in the stomach
	HPG-15-2	Hupoge Amber Museum	Elektorornis chenguangi	Cenomanian	Hukawng Valley	Myanmar	Hindlimb of a small enantiornithine bird found in Burmese amber with preserved plumage and skin
	LH13500	Science Museum of Castilla-La Mancha	Eoalulavis hoyasi	Barremian	La Huérguina Formation	Spain	An enantiornithine bird with faintly preserved wing feathers
	IVPP V11977	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Eoconfuciusornis zhengi	Hauterivian	Dabeigou Formation	China	An early confuciusornithid bird with preserved plumage around the body and bifurcated tail feathers
	STM7-144	Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature	Eoconfuciusornis zhengi	Hauterivian	Dabeigou Formation	China	Preserved skin impressions of scales on the feet, possibly remnants of an ovarian follicle meaning the individual was female, and extensive plumage preservation with fossilized melanosomes indicating a black iridescent coloration
	SMF-ME 1450	Senckenberg Research Institute	Eocoracias brachyptera	Lutetian	Messel Formation	Germany	A stem roller bird with preserved plumage with fossilized melanosomes indicating a non-iridencent blue and black coloration
	WDC-CGR-109	Wyoming Dinosaur Center	Eocypselus rowei	Ypresian	Green River Formation	Wyoming, United States	An early apodiform with preserved feathers with fossilized melanosomes indicating a black possibly iridescent coloration
			Eoenantiornis buhleri	Aptian	Yixian Formation	China
			Eofringillirostrum boudreauxi
			Eoglaucidium sp.	Lutetian	Messel Formation	Germany
			Eogranivora edentulata
			Eopengornis martini
			Eosinopteryx brevipenna
			Enantiophoenix electrophyla
			Feitianius paradisi
			Fortipesavis prehendens
			Fortunguavis xiaotaizicus
			Gansus zheni
			Gastornis sp.
			Gretcheniao sinensis
			Hassiavis laticauda
	DNHM D2946		Hongshanornis longicresta
			Holbotia ponomarenkoi
			Houornis caudatus
			Ilerdopteryx viai
			Imparavis attenboroughi
	MUSM 1444		Inkayacu paracasensis	Divisaderan-Tinguirirican	Otuma Formation	Peru	A fossil penguin; pigments are preserved on this specimen.
			Iteravis huchzermeyri
			Jeholornis prima
			Jianchangornis microdonta
			Jianianhualong tengi
	IVPP V24194	Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology	Jinguofortis perplexus	Barremian	Dabeigou Formation	China	A pygostylian bird with feather preservation.
			Juehuaornis zhangi
			Junornis houi
			Kaririavis mater
			Longicrusavis houi
	BMNHC PH826		Longipteryx chaoyangensis
			Liaoxiornis delicatus
			Linyiornis amoena
			Longirostravis hani
			Longusunguis kurochkini
			Masillatrogon pumilio
			Mengciusornis dentatus
			Messelornis nearctica
			Messelornis sp.
			Messelirrisor halcyrostris
			Morsoravis sedilis
			Musivavis amabilis
	FMHH PA 778	Field Museum of Natural History	Nahmavis grandei	Eocene	Green River Formation	United States	A bird from the Eocene lagerstätte of the Green River in Wyoming
			Neobohaiornis lamadongensis
			Noguerornis gonzalezi
			Ningyuansaurus wangi
			Oligocolius psittacocephalon
			Ostromia crassipes
			Orienantius ritteri
	MLP 14-I-10-22		Palaeeudyptes gunnari
			Paleoglaux artophoron
			Parahesperornis alexi
			Parapengornis eurycaudatus
			Paraprefica kelleri
			Paraprotopteryx gracilis
			Parargornis messelensis
			Parvavis chuxiongensis
			Pellornis mikkelseni
			Pedopenna daohugouensis
			Piscivorenantiornis insusitatus
			Piscivoravis lii
			Pumiliornis tessellatus
			Praeornis sharovi
			Primobucco mcgrewi
			Cf. Primotrogon sp.
			Primozygodactylus eunjooae
	IVPP V11665		Protopteryx fengningensis
			Salmila robusta
	HGM 41HIII0405		Sapeornis chaoyangensis
	DNHM D3078		Sapeornis chaoyangensis
			Scaniacypselus szarskii
			Schizooura lii
			Septencoracias morsensis
Siky			Serikornis sungei
			Shanweiniao cooperorum
			Shenqiornis mengi
			Shuilingornis angelai
			Similiyanornis brevipectus
			Tianyuornis cheni
			Tynskya eocaena
			Wellnhoferia grandis
			Xiaotingia zhengi
			Xingtianosaurus ganqi
	STM 9-531		Yanornis martini
			Yixianornis grabaui
			Yuanchuavis kompsosoura
			Yuanjiawaornis viriosus
			Zhongornis haoae
	CUGB P1202		Bohaiornithidae indent.
	HPG-15-1		Enantiornithe indent.				A complete juvenile specimen stuck in Burmese amber
	GSGM-07-CM-001		Enantiornithe indent.
	YLSNHM00813	Yingliang Stone Natural History Museum	Enantiornithe indent.				Both wings and hndlimbs with wing feathers of an anantiornithine bird preserved in Burmese amber
	CUGB G20120001		Enantiornithe indent.
	CUGB P1201		Enantiornithe indent.
	BMNHC PH1154/56		Enantiornithe indent.
			Neoaves indent.		Fur Formation
	CUGB G20100053		Ornithurine indent.