Curr Biol August 2017 PMID 28781051

An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics.

Caleb M Brown, Donald M Henderson, Jakob Vinther, Ian Fletcher, Ainara Sistiaga, Jorsua Herrera, Roger E Summons

Mentions

198
Peak: 3 in Jul 2021
across 6 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

201,239
potential audience

Total likes

6,773

Video views

167,045

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News129 articles
  • Blogs26 articles
  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • Facebook16 posts
  • YouTube5 videos
  • Reddit3 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions highlight the importance of the discovery by referencing details like the specimen’s preservation and pigmentation analysis, with posts using technical language to explore ecological implications. Words like 'insight' and 'example' suggest interest in scientific contributions, while sharing of related articles shows active engagement and a recognition of the research's potential impact on understanding prehistoric predator-prey interactions.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the significance of the discovery, with mentions of its contribution to understanding dinosaur ecology and coloration.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity, referencing specific details like the age of the specimen and pigmentation analysis, indicating strong engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Reactions include referencing related studies, discussing methods used to analyze pigmentation, and sharing original articles, showing active participation.

ImpactModerate impact

The findings appear to influence ongoing debates about predator-prey dynamics and dinosaur ecology, though some responses are more informational than transformative.

Abstract in brief

  • Predator-prey dynamics play a crucial role in the evolution of camouflage and anti-predation strategies, with countershading being a common adaptation among many species.
  • Large, isolated herbivores, like some dinosaurs, typically do not exhibit countershading due to limited predation pressure.
  • The discovery of the large nodosaurid ankylosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli, which shows evidence of countershading despite its formidable armor, suggests that even massive herbivores faced significant predation pressures in the Mesozoic era, highlighting differences between ancient and modern ecological interactions.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Marine Life Project
@MarineLifeProj · X

Su característica principal era la presencia de una armadura que recubría sus cuerpos. https://t.co/gkqrN3GnOu https://t.co/Ot82ChIvYn

Jul 21, 2021 · 64 likes · 3 shares · 16,627 followers View post →
加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん
@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

@RoyalTyrrell ボレアロペルタ・マークミッチェリの原記載論文(Brown @Brown_Caleb_M et al. 2017 https://t.co/ZUnkr6DP48)とホロタイプ標本(標本番号: TMP 2011.033.0001)のデータ https://t.co/LCxF7gP65T

Aug 31, 2023 · 6 likes · 3 shares · 4,926 followers View post →
Ansh Saxena ✨ COMMISSIONS OPEN ✨
@AnshTheDinoGuy · X

@Antrodemus @nyrorosaurus @PermianSailback In the study, they categorised the melanin present on the specimen as pheomelanin, this would be easy to do as pheomelanosomes (organelles containing melanin) are more spherical in shape as compared to the other one (image below) It's a great read bte https://t.co/7EeEwZ9dx6 https://t.co/cWP5VLVnUz

Jan 8, 2022 · 3 likes · 616 followers View post →
Prof. Christine Böhmer
@VertEvo · X

Camouflage in #fossils: In situ osteoderms reveal countershading in ankylosaur. Brown et al (2017) @CurrentBiology An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored #Dinosaur Reveals Insights into #Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics https://t.co/yNoHuLgFMx https://t.co/wcbHerZ2FO

Apr 23, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,181 followers View post →
Eloy Manzanero
@EloyManzanero · X

* #Scelidosaurus #harrisonii This work is mainly inspired by Norman, (2020). https://t.co/YcmOE4FrPJ While color have a slightly countershaded pattern, "like" holotype of Borealopelta markmitchelli : https://t.co/HtiWuyqnS1

Feb 28, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,030 followers View post →
Brendan Takahashi (恐竜ブレンダン)
@DinosaurBrendan · X

An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics https://t.co/KcZidrZhmq

Jul 16, 2019 · 2 likes · 337 followers View post →

All mentions

xarop
@xaropante · X

@Mitsui2325 @CaioVeras23 @senshi_real An exceptionally preserved three-dimensional armored dinosaur reveals insights into coloration and Cretaceous predator-prey dynamics Artigo sobre o Borealopelta, exemplo clássico de dinossauro com pigmento preservado. E não é o único. Todos os dinossauros dessa imagem são. https://t.co/OrnUVeLOPH

Sep 5, 2025 · 1 like · 152 followers View post →
N. J. Edmonds
@nedmonds_ · X

@lukeappleton We actually do know how old it is, since it was buried in the Clearwater Formation’s Wabiskaw Member, which has been reliably dated to have been laid down 110-112 million years ago. https://t.co/pUD4sXDMmK

Apr 15, 2024 · 142 followers View post →
TitanusPixel55 - Commissions open!
@TPixel55 · X

@botoneslocos @FilosofiasEl @InformaCosmos DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071 Ahí tienes el paper.

Mar 25, 2024 · 1 like · 1,977 followers View post →
アキヒコ(Akihiko)
@medical_paleo · X

RT @Hiro_DinoPaleo: @RoyalTyrrell ボレアロペルタ・マークミッチェリの原記載論文(Brown @Brown_Caleb_M et al. 2017 https://t.co/ZUnkr6DP48)とホロタイプ標本(標本番号: TMP 2011.0…

Sep 10, 2023 · 3 shares · 357 followers View post →
ゴマホビー
@dinopianosaurus · X

RT @Hiro_DinoPaleo: @RoyalTyrrell ボレアロペルタ・マークミッチェリの原記載論文(Brown @Brown_Caleb_M et al. 2017 https://t.co/ZUnkr6DP48)とホロタイプ標本(標本番号: TMP 2011.0…

Sep 1, 2023 · 3 shares · 481 followers View post →
y.araumi
@kaosdrake · X

RT @Hiro_DinoPaleo: @RoyalTyrrell ボレアロペルタ・マークミッチェリの原記載論文(Brown @Brown_Caleb_M et al. 2017 https://t.co/ZUnkr6DP48)とホロタイプ標本(標本番号: TMP 2011.0…

Aug 31, 2023 · 3 shares · 325 followers View post →
加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん
@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

@RoyalTyrrell ボレアロペルタ・マークミッチェリの原記載論文(Brown @Brown_Caleb_M et al. 2017 https://t.co/ZUnkr6DP48)とホロタイプ標本(標本番号: TMP 2011.033.0001)のデータ https://t.co/LCxF7gP65T

Aug 31, 2023 · 6 likes · 3 shares · 4,926 followers View post →
TitanusPixel55 - Commissions open!
@TPixel55 · X

@u_void Here you have the original article with the description of the specimen: https://t.co/t5ciw22WQB

Apr 30, 2023 · 1,977 followers View post →
Thomas Schwartz
@ThomasS65969135 · X

@MikaelBlomgren @SimonJ1989 @HenrikJalalian https://t.co/WEqmJDqPpz

Sep 26, 2022 · 1 like · 97 followers View post →
Ansh Saxena ✨ COMMISSIONS OPEN ✨
@AnshTheDinoGuy · X

@Antrodemus @nyrorosaurus @PermianSailback In the study, they categorised the melanin present on the specimen as pheomelanin, this would be easy to do as pheomelanosomes (organelles containing melanin) are more spherical in shape as compared to the other one (image below) It's a great read bte https://t.co/7EeEwZ9dx6 https://t.co/cWP5VLVnUz

Jan 8, 2022 · 3 likes · 616 followers View post →
Alex
@Aac87654 · X

RT @MarineLifeProj: Su característica principal era la presencia de una armadura que recubría sus cuerpos. https://t.co/gkqrN3GnOu https://…

Jul 22, 2021 · 3 shares · 1,562 followers View post →
Rubén
@IamRubenMejia · X

RT @MarineLifeProj: Su característica principal era la presencia de una armadura que recubría sus cuerpos. https://t.co/gkqrN3GnOu https://…

Jul 21, 2021 · 3 shares · 317 followers View post →
Marine Life Project
@MarineLifeProj · X

Su característica principal era la presencia de una armadura que recubría sus cuerpos. https://t.co/gkqrN3GnOu https://t.co/Ot82ChIvYn

Jul 21, 2021 · 64 likes · 3 shares · 16,627 followers View post →
Gregory Wirtel
@GregWirtel · X

An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics https://t.co/X9dFeRCVed

Jan 28, 2021 · 986 followers View post →
Liko Tiongson
@tweetsnitiong · X

RT @VertEvo: Camouflage in #fossils: In situ osteoderms reveal countershading in ankylosaur. Brown et al (2017) @CurrentBiology An Except…

Apr 23, 2020 · 1 share · 602 followers View post →
Prof. Christine Böhmer
@VertEvo · X

Camouflage in #fossils: In situ osteoderms reveal countershading in ankylosaur. Brown et al (2017) @CurrentBiology An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored #Dinosaur Reveals Insights into #Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics https://t.co/yNoHuLgFMx https://t.co/wcbHerZ2FO

Apr 23, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,181 followers View post →
Carlos Mosqueda
@carlosmen945 · X

RT @EloyManzanero: * #Scelidosaurus #harrisonii This work is mainly inspired by Norman, (2020). https://t.co/YcmOE4FrPJ While color have a…

Feb 29, 2020 · 1 share · 454 followers View post →
Eloy Manzanero
@EloyManzanero · X

* #Scelidosaurus #harrisonii This work is mainly inspired by Norman, (2020). https://t.co/YcmOE4FrPJ While color have a slightly countershaded pattern, "like" holotype of Borealopelta markmitchelli : https://t.co/HtiWuyqnS1

Feb 28, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,030 followers View post →
Brendan Takahashi (恐竜ブレンダン)
@DinosaurBrendan · X

An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics https://t.co/KcZidrZhmq

Jul 16, 2019 · 2 likes · 337 followers View post →