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Description

Edmontosaurus is one of the few non-avian dinosaur genera for which we know almost the exact life appearance. This is thanks to several fantastically preserved skin casts - whatever the hell the Saurolophines were doing in life (and death) led them to be mummified 23 times more often than the next most common dinosaur mummy, the Nodosaurs. Thank you, Saurolophines!

Sources for features:
Premaxillary nail (LACM 23502 ) - “duckbill” beaks were much deeper than previously assumed, having a vertical overhang of keratin
Deep neck tissue (AMNH 5060 ) - folded skin impressions are found several inches above the cervical vertebrae. The edges of this tissue were accidentally destroyed in preparation but the contour between the neck and torso would probably be indistinct.
Soft dorsal frill above head and neck (Inferred, Edmontosaurus regalis, UALVP 53722 ) - This specimen only preserves a small lobe directly over the head but AMNH 5060 suggests it extended further in annectens
Dewlap (NMSG P 0001 ) - Skin impressions are found well below the mandible.
Large, vertically elongated scaly tubercules covering the neck (Inferred, Edmontosaurus regalis UALVP 53722 , Maiasaura peeblesorum ROM 44770)
Hoofed manus (MRF-03 ”Dakota” ) - The 3rd digit supports a large weight-bearing hoof and the smaller 2nd digit bears an elongate claw. The 4th and 5th digit are covered entirely in skin and the 1st digit (thumb) is absent. There were no birdlike tarsal scutes, small pavement scales extend all the way to the edge of the nail. The skin of the forearm is thick and horizontally furrowed.
Midline feature scales (MOR V007 ) - Several Edmontosaurus specimens display a row of rectangular scales or scutes, around 45mm tall, above the dorsal midline
Deep tail tissue (MOR V007 & MRF-03 “Dakota ) - The tail’s height was augmented almost 50% by superficial tissue and powerful muscle connections to the legs, indicating the animal was a fast runner.
Striped coloration (Speculative, MRF-03 “Dakota” & AMNH 5060 ) - Henry Osborn theorized that the clusters of feature scales clusters correlate to areas of darker pigment, and Dakota appears to have a faint stripey discoloration. I’m not totally sold on this since neither has been submitted (justifiably, since they’re priceless specimens) to molecular analysis and it doesn’t match color patterns in modern reptiles, but it makes for an interesting “king cheetah” sort of look
Dorsal spines (Speculative) - Floppy neck; iguana comparison is inevitable. The unfolded sections of the neck frill are thinner than the scale clusters supporting the MFS along the back so I figure the structures there would be different.

Description

Edmontosaurus is one of the few non-avian dinosaur genera for which we know almost the exact life appearance. This is thanks to several fantastically preserved skin casts - whatever the hell the Saurolophines were doing in life (and death) led them to be mummified 23 times more often than the next most common dinosaur mummy, the Nodosaurs. Thank you, Saurolophines!

Sources for features:
Premaxillary nail (LACM 23502 ) - “duckbill” beaks were much deeper than previously assumed, having a vertical overhang of keratin
Deep neck tissue (AMNH 5060 ) - folded skin impressions are found several inches above the cervical vertebrae. The edges of this tissue were accidentally destroyed in preparation but the contour between the neck and torso would probably be indistinct.
Soft dorsal frill above head and neck (Inferred, Edmontosaurus regalis, UALVP 53722 ) - This specimen only preserves a small lobe directly over the head but AMNH 5060 suggests it extended further in annectens
Dewlap (NMSG P 0001 ) - Skin impressions are found well below the mandible.
Large, vertically elongated scaly tubercules covering the neck (Inferred, Edmontosaurus regalis UALVP 53722 , Maiasaura peeblesorum ROM 44770)
Hoofed manus (MRF-03 ”Dakota” ) - The 3rd digit supports a large weight-bearing hoof and the smaller 2nd digit bears an elongate claw. The 4th and 5th digit are covered entirely in skin and the 1st digit (thumb) is absent. There were no birdlike tarsal scutes, small pavement scales extend all the way to the edge of the nail. The skin of the forearm is thick and horizontally furrowed.
Midline feature scales (MOR V007 ) - Several Edmontosaurus specimens display a row of rectangular scales or scutes, around 45mm tall, above the dorsal midline
Deep tail tissue (MOR V007 & MRF-03 “Dakota ) - The tail’s height was augmented almost 50% by superficial tissue and powerful muscle connections to the legs, indicating the animal was a fast runner.
Striped coloration (Speculative, MRF-03 “Dakota” & AMNH 5060 ) - Henry Osborn theorized that the clusters of feature scales clusters correlate to areas of darker pigment, and Dakota appears to have a faint stripey discoloration. I’m not totally sold on this since neither has been submitted (justifiably, since they’re priceless specimens) to molecular analysis and it doesn’t match color patterns in modern reptiles, but it makes for an interesting “king cheetah” sort of look
Dorsal spines (Speculative) - Floppy neck; iguana comparison is inevitable. The unfolded sections of the neck frill are thinner than the scale clusters supporting the MFS along the back so I figure the structures there would be different.