For paleoartists (and the scientists who work with them), properly restoring the skeleton is merely the beginning of the process, since the various muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues can make the final shape of an animal quite different than the skeleton alone. Most of the time this requires an extensive knowledge of comparative anatomy from living organisms, which we can occasionally test against occasional "mummy" dinosaur specimens with extensive soft-tissue preservation. With bird-like dinosaurs we have often been treated to preservation of their feathers and fluff, but not their skin or muscles...until today. Join me below the fold for a look at a truly amazing bit of soft-tissue preservation in Anchiornis.