"Renowned 280-Million-Year-Old Fossil Revealed as Painted Forgery"

A 280 million-year-old reptilian fossil discovered in the Italian Alps, known as Tridentinosaurus antiquus, has been revealed to be a forgery due to the presence of bone-black paint creating the illusion of preserved soft tissue. The fossil, discovered in 1931, was believed to be a significant find for understanding early reptile evolution, but a recent analysis using advanced techniques concluded that the dark outline surrounding the skeleton is not genuine. This discovery highlights the importance of careful analysis and reporting of fossil finds to prevent misinformation and irreversible damage to specimens.