Iguanodon shinbone growth may be first evidence of an infected skin ulcer in a dinosaur
Fossilized bones can reveal a wealth of details about animals, including their size, appearance, what they ate and any injuries they may have suffered. In a paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, researchers in Spain describe a swollen patch on the shinbone of an Iguanodon, which they say may be evidence of an advanced skin ulcer that had reached the underlying bone. If so,…
A swollen patch discovered on the shinbone of an Iguanodon fossil could be the first evidence of an infected skin ulcer in a dinosaur, according to a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Researchers from Spain examined two Iguanodon bernissartensis remains from the Early Cretaceous period found at the Mas de la Parreta quarry in Morella, eastern Spain.
One set of remains exhibited a 17.4-centimeter (6.9-inch) overgrowth along the middle of the shinbone, covering approximately 17% of its length. Advanced imaging techniques revealed that the lesion did not penetrate the marrow cavity, suggesting the issue originated in the surrounding soft tissue. The scientists compared the findings with known patterns of fractures, tumors, and other bone diseases but found no similarities.
Instead, the swelling matched the response typically seen in bone tissue when an open skin sore directly above it triggers inflammation and new bone formation. The researchers propose that the overgrowth was likely caused by an infected skin ulcer that led to persistent pain when the ulcer progressed towards the periosteum, the tissue covering the bone.
This report represents the first documented case of such a bone reaction to a bacterial infection in dinosaurs, marking a unique pathological response to bacterial infection in these ancient animals.
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