Scientists Construct Most Accurate Depiction Of Dinosaur Ever

Paleoartist Bob Nicholls has made a model of a Psittacosaurus that has been hailed as the most accurate dinosaur reconstruct ever, and it looks totally different than anything we are used to seeing in the movies.

The reconstruction was based on the studies of a fossil found in China, with the research being helmed by Dr. Jakob Vinther of the University of Bristol in the UK.

Nichols is most well known for depicting vivid paleontological artwork, and has worked with the likes of BBC, National Geographic, and several museums.

“Some of my earliest memories are of drawing dinosaurs as a child, and that passion for illustrating extinct animals and environments has never left me,” Nicholls stated. “Jakob [Vinther] called me one morning in 2014 and asked if I was interested in reconstructing a fossil dinosaur with accurate colour patterns. I said, yes!”

The creation took around three months to complete. While using detailed drawings to construct the fibreglass model, Nicholls created a steel frame and then used wire mesh and polystyrene to bulk it out. While discussing sculpting the surface in clay, Nicholls told Flipboard: “This is where the subject finally comes to life by adding all the skin details such as scales and wrinkles, and beaks and horns.”

When asked what makes this dinosaur reconstruction so accurate and special, Nicholls explained: “The most surprising features include an unusually large and wide head, highly pigmented clusters of scales on the shoulders, robust limbs, patagiums (skin flaps) behind the hind limbs, and a highly pigmented cloaca.” He continued, “When the anatomy surprises me – it confirms that I’ve followed the fossil evidence rather than any preconceived ideas of my own.”

Jakob Vinther said about the dinosaur model “We had only looked at feathered dinosaurs and ones that are close to birds and lived in trees, which is a very different mode of life than this ground dwelling dinosaur.” He continued, “This little guy was clearly exhibiting camouflage on most of its body – except for the strong pigmentation in the face, which might actually be for show rather than concealment.”

Check out the gallery below to see this insanely cool depiction of the Psittacosaurus.

Is this what you thought the most accurate dinosaur depiction would look like?

[H/T Flipboard]