Breakthrough Discovery: Haolong Dongi Rewrites Dinosaur Skin Evolution

Chinese paleontologists have made headlines with the announcement of Haolong dongi, a newly identified iguanodontian dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous period. This remarkable find, detailed in a groundbreaking paper published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on February 6, 2026, features a nearly complete juvenile skeleton with skin preserved at the cellular level—a rarity in the fossil record. The specimen, unearthed from the renowned Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, northeastern China, showcases unprecedented hollow cutaneous spikes, offering fresh insights into ornithischian dinosaur integument and defense mechanisms.

The name Haolong dongi honors Dong Zhiming, the late pioneer of Chinese vertebrate paleontology who described over 27 dinosaur species during his career at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP). This discovery underscores China's ongoing leadership in paleontological research, driven by dedicated teams at universities and geological museums.

The Exceptional Fossil from Yixian Formation

The holotype specimen, measuring 2.45 meters in length, represents a juvenile individual preserved in exquisite detail. Found in the Lower Cretaceous strata of the Yixian Formation—famous for the Jehol Biota's feathered dinosaurs and early birds—the fossil includes an articulated skeleton with skull, limbs, and tail intact. Unlike typical dinosaur fossils with eroded surfaces, Haolong dongi's skin impressions reveal overlapping scutate scales along the tail and tuberculate scales on the neck and thorax.

This formation, spanning about 125 million years ago, has yielded thousands of fossils, highlighting the volcanic and lacustrine environments that facilitated such preservation. Chinese researchers' expertise in excavating and analyzing these sites has positioned the country as a global hub for Early Cretaceous vertebrates.

Unparalleled Skin Preservation at Cellular Level

What sets Haolong dongi apart is the cellular-level fossilization of its skin, analyzed using advanced tomographic and histological techniques. The epidermis shows pluristratified layers with preserved keratinocytes down to their nuclei, overlaid by a highly cornified stratum corneum. This level of detail is unprecedented outside of feathered theropods, providing a window into non-avian dinosaur dermatology.

Such preservation likely resulted from rapid burial in fine sediments following volcanic events, a hallmark of Yixian deposits. This find challenges assumptions about dinosaur skin diversity, showing basal iguanodontians had complex integuments beyond simple scales or filaments.

The Enigmatic Hollow Cutaneous Spikes

Interspersed among scales are hollow, cylindrical spikes up to several centimeters long, covering much of the body. Unlike bony osteoderms or protofeathers, these structures consist of a porous dermal pulp core surrounded by epidermal layers—structurally akin to porcupine quills but uniquely dinosaurian. Their independent evolutionary origin suggests functions like predator deterrence against small theropods, thermoregulation via air trapping, or mechanoreception for environmental sensing.

Distribution on the neck, thorax, and possibly elsewhere implies a defensive role for vulnerable juveniles in a predator-rich ecosystem. This innovation expands our understanding of ornithischian adaptations during the diversification of iguanodontians toward hadrosaurs.

Research Team: Spotlight on Chinese Expertise

The study was led by Jiandong Huang from the Anhui Geological Museum's Observation and Research Station of Stratigraphy, Paleontology, and Environmental Geology. Key Chinese contributors include Lei Mao and Xuezhi He (Anhui Geological Museum), Wenhao Wu from Jilin University's College of Earth Sciences Research Center of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, and Xuri Wang from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences' Key Laboratory of Stratigraphy and Paleontology.

International collaborators like Pascal Godefroit (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) and Michael Pittman (Chinese University of Hong Kong) enhanced the analysis with expertise in histology and phylogenetics. This multinational effort exemplifies modern paleontology's collaborative nature, with Chinese institutions providing the core fossil data.

For those interested in similar research, higher ed research jobs in earth sciences are abundant at institutions like Jilin University.

Photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash

Jilin University's Pivotal Role in Dinosaur Research

Wenhao Wu, Associate Professor at Jilin University's College of Earth Sciences, played a crucial role in describing Haolong dongi's osteology and phylogenetic position. Jilin University, located in Changchun, boasts a robust paleontology program within its Research Center of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, focusing on Mesozoic vertebrates from northeastern China.

The university's contributions to Yixian Formation studies have led to multiple new species descriptions, training PhD students and postdocs in fieldwork, CT scanning, and cladistic analysis. Jilin's emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches—combining geology, biology, and bioinformatics—positions it as a leader in Chinese paleontology higher education.

Prospective academics can explore university opportunities in China, including lecturer positions in earth sciences.

Yixian Formation: China's Fossil Goldmine

The Yixian Formation, part of the Jehol Biota, has revolutionized dinosaur science since the 1990s with discoveries like feathered Sinosauropteryx and early birds. Over 60 dinosaur taxa have emerged from Liaoning, far surpassing other global sites. Universities like Peking University, China University of Geosciences, and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (NIGPAS) have driven excavations here.

• Feathered theropods revealing flight evolution
• Basal birds like Confuciusornis
• Diverse ornithischians, now including spiny Haolong dongi

This Lagerstätte's fine-grained sediments preserve soft tissues, enabling studies impossible elsewhere.

China's Global Leadership in Dinosaur Discoveries

China boasts over 350 identified dinosaur species—more than any nation—thanks to vast exposures and university-led expeditions. IVPP under CAS has described hundreds, while universities like China University of Geosciences (Beijing and Wuhan) offer top paleontology programs with postdoc positions.

Statistics highlight the boom: Liaoning alone yields 40+ new species. Government funding supports fieldwork, CT labs, and international collaborations, fostering careers in academia.

Check scholarships for paleontology studies in China or faculty jobs at leading earth sciences departments.

Implications for Iguanodontian and Ornithischian Evolution

Phylogenetic analysis places Haolong dongi as a basal hadrosauroid, sister to taxa like Bolong yixianensis from the same formation. Its spikes suggest integument experimentation in early duck-billed dinosaur ancestors, paralleling theropod filaments but via distinct pathways.

This fills gaps in basal iguanodontian diversity, showing defensive innovations amid theropod pressures. Future studies may explore spike development ontogenetically.

Advancing Paleontology Through Chinese Higher Education

Discoveries like Haolong dongi stem from rigorous training at Chinese universities. Programs at Sun Yat-sen University, Peking University School of Earth and Space Sciences, and Zhejiang University emphasize vertebrate paleontology, offering PhDs and postdocs.

Recent reforms boost R&D funding, with 2026 budgets allocating billions to earth sciences. This supports global collaborations, elevating China's academic output.

Photo by Ricky Richard on Unsplash

Career Opportunities in Chinese Paleontology

With booming discoveries, demand grows for paleontologists. Jilin University and China University of Geosciences recruit lecturers, researchers, and adjunct professors. Postdoc roles focus on Jehol biota analysis using AI and 3D modeling.

• Postdoctoral positions in vertebrate morphology
• Faculty jobs in stratigraphy and paleontology
• Research assistant roles at geological museums

Visit university jobs or research assistant jobs for openings. For career advice, see higher ed career advice.

Future Outlook: More Revelations from China's Fossils

Haolong dongi signals untapped potential in Yixian outcrops. Ongoing university digs, backed by tech like laser scanning, promise more soft-tissue fossils. This bolsters China's role in evolutionary biology, inspiring students worldwide.

Engage with professors via Rate My Professor. Explore higher ed jobs, university jobs, and career advice to join this exciting field.