Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology
Abstract The sauropodomorph Plateosaurus is one of the best-known dinosaurs from Europe due to the large numbers of articulated skeletons discovered from bonebed horizons in Switzerland and Germany. Plateosaurus exhibits high degrees of developmental plasticity, which makes investigations of specime...
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SpringerOpen
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00368-3 |
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| author | Sina F. J. Dupuis Jordan Bestwick Dennis M. Hansen Esben Horn Stacey Wiik Rasmus Frederiksen Robert Zboray Kiarash Tajbakhsh Ursina Bachmann Ben Pabst Torsten M. Scheyer |
| author_facet | Sina F. J. Dupuis Jordan Bestwick Dennis M. Hansen Esben Horn Stacey Wiik Rasmus Frederiksen Robert Zboray Kiarash Tajbakhsh Ursina Bachmann Ben Pabst Torsten M. Scheyer |
| author_sort | Sina F. J. Dupuis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The sauropodomorph Plateosaurus is one of the best-known dinosaurs from Europe due to the large numbers of articulated skeletons discovered from bonebed horizons in Switzerland and Germany. Plateosaurus exhibits high degrees of developmental plasticity, which makes investigations of specimen life-histories from gross morphology alone difficult. Furthermore, comparatively few specimens have been rigorously examined for possessing any evidence of pathology, i.e., injury or disease, that could provide insight into how these dinosaurs lived. Here, we provide an osteological description of a nearly complete Plateosaurus trossingensis (excavation ID SMF 18.1, collection NMZ 1000001) from the Late Triassic Klettgau Formation from Frick, Switzerland, with an unusual pathology in its right scapula and proximal portion of the right humerus. We also perform histological analyses on two dorsal ribs to investigate the relative ontogenetic stage and life history of the specimen and investigate the morphology and aetiology of its scapula-humerus pathology using Micro-Computed Tomography and comparisons with a previously undescribed Plateosaurus from Frick (SMF 11.4; comprising left and right radii and ulnae) that exhibits pathological tissues. We infer that NMZ 1000001 was an adult of around 23–25 years of age when it died. We estimate a total body length of around 7.7 m, making NMZ 1000001 one of the largest known specimens from Frick and an above average-sized adult for the species overall. The scapula-humerus pathology is characterised by highly rugose surface textures, possible element fusion and extensive remodelling of internal bone structures. We infer the pathology to be a chronic case of osteomyelitis (bone tissue infection). Based on the size and extent of the infected area it is likely one of most advanced cases known from the fossil record. We further document the process of producing an exhibit with a museum-grade life reconstruction based on the pathological fossil. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-127c8b501b22454983590f5b99071591 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-2376 1664-2384 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
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| series | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
| spelling | doaj-art-127c8b501b22454983590f5b990715912025-08-20T02:39:47ZengSpringerOpenSwiss Journal of Palaeontology1664-23761664-23842025-06-01144113910.1186/s13358-025-00368-3Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathologySina F. J. Dupuis0Jordan Bestwick1Dennis M. Hansen2Esben Horn3Stacey Wiik4Rasmus Frederiksen5Robert Zboray6Kiarash Tajbakhsh7Ursina Bachmann8Ben Pabst9Torsten M. Scheyer10Department of Paleontology, University of ZurichDepartment of Paleontology, University of ZurichNatural History Museum, University of Zurich10 Tons10 Tons10 TonsSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Center for X-Ray AnalyticsSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Center for X-Ray AnalyticsSauriermuseum FrickSauriermuseum AathalDepartment of Paleontology, University of ZurichAbstract The sauropodomorph Plateosaurus is one of the best-known dinosaurs from Europe due to the large numbers of articulated skeletons discovered from bonebed horizons in Switzerland and Germany. Plateosaurus exhibits high degrees of developmental plasticity, which makes investigations of specimen life-histories from gross morphology alone difficult. Furthermore, comparatively few specimens have been rigorously examined for possessing any evidence of pathology, i.e., injury or disease, that could provide insight into how these dinosaurs lived. Here, we provide an osteological description of a nearly complete Plateosaurus trossingensis (excavation ID SMF 18.1, collection NMZ 1000001) from the Late Triassic Klettgau Formation from Frick, Switzerland, with an unusual pathology in its right scapula and proximal portion of the right humerus. We also perform histological analyses on two dorsal ribs to investigate the relative ontogenetic stage and life history of the specimen and investigate the morphology and aetiology of its scapula-humerus pathology using Micro-Computed Tomography and comparisons with a previously undescribed Plateosaurus from Frick (SMF 11.4; comprising left and right radii and ulnae) that exhibits pathological tissues. We infer that NMZ 1000001 was an adult of around 23–25 years of age when it died. We estimate a total body length of around 7.7 m, making NMZ 1000001 one of the largest known specimens from Frick and an above average-sized adult for the species overall. The scapula-humerus pathology is characterised by highly rugose surface textures, possible element fusion and extensive remodelling of internal bone structures. We infer the pathology to be a chronic case of osteomyelitis (bone tissue infection). Based on the size and extent of the infected area it is likely one of most advanced cases known from the fossil record. We further document the process of producing an exhibit with a museum-grade life reconstruction based on the pathological fossil.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00368-3SauropodomorphPlateosaurusFrickKlettgau FormationOsteologyComputed tomography |
| spellingShingle | Sina F. J. Dupuis Jordan Bestwick Dennis M. Hansen Esben Horn Stacey Wiik Rasmus Frederiksen Robert Zboray Kiarash Tajbakhsh Ursina Bachmann Ben Pabst Torsten M. Scheyer Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology Swiss Journal of Palaeontology Sauropodomorph Plateosaurus Frick Klettgau Formation Osteology Computed tomography |
| title | Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| title_full | Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| title_fullStr | Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| title_short | Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic of Switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| title_sort | osteology and histology of a plateosaurus trossingensis dinosauria sauropodomorpha from the upper triassic of switzerland with an advanced chronic pathology |
| topic | Sauropodomorph Plateosaurus Frick Klettgau Formation Osteology Computed tomography |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00368-3 |
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