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Study Reveals Dinosaurs' Battle with Ancient Bone Infection

9/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study reveals that long-necked dinosaurs in Brazil suffered from osteomyelitis around 80 million years ago.
Six sauropod skeletons exhibit signs of this infection, caused by various microorganisms.
Fossils were collected from the "Vaca Morta" site in Sao Paulo from 2006 to 2023.
No healing evidence suggests the infection persisted until death.
The findings, published in The Anatomical Record, show even dominant dinosaurs were susceptible to small pathogens.

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Story summary

A study reveals that long-necked dinosaurs in Brazil suffered from osteomyelitis around 80 million years ago.
Six sauropod skeletons exhibit signs of this infection, caused by various microorganisms.
Fossils were collected from the "Vaca Morta" site in Sao Paulo from 2006 to 2023.
No healing evidence suggests the infection persisted until death.
The findings, published in The Anatomical Record, show even dominant dinosaurs were susceptible to small pathogens.