Researchers Identified The First Dinosaur Respiratory Infection In This New Study
Dinosaurs have fascinated the scientific community and general public alike since the first Megalosaurus bone discovery in 1824.
The extinct creatures have earned leading roles in various acclaimed films– most famously, Jurassic Park– and spurred endless research interest.
However, one new study published in Nature has made a groundbreaking discovery. A group of researchers throughout the United States worked together and identified traces of a respiratory infection that affected a dinosaur almost 150 million years ago.
The dinosaur was a young diplodocid, which– much like the Brontosaurus– had a long neck and ate primarily plants.
Named “Dolly,” this diplodocid was discovered in Montana and sparked intrigue after researchers observed infection evidence near its neck.
Cary Woodruff, a paleontologist from the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, led the study. She noticed abnormal protrusions near Dolly’s respiratory system and, after conducting a CT scan, learned that the protrusions formed in response to a respiratory infection.
The most interesting part of this discovery is that Dolly’s respiratory infection is something nearly every human has suffered in our modern-day age.
“We have all experienced these same symptoms– fever, coughing, and trouble breathing. Here is a 150-million-year-old dinosaur that likely felt as miserable as we all do when we are sick,” Woodruff noted.
Dolly’s respiratory infection also spurred questions in the field of paleontology. Dolly was a non-avian dinosaur– so, in other words, she did not evolve to become a bird.
Kovalenko I – stock.adobe.com
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Thus, the researchers believe her infection could have resulted from a fungal infection much like aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is a common infection that still affects both reptiles and birds to this day.
While popular media often highlights dinosaurs as extremely tough and nearly invincible creatures, this respiratory infection suggests otherwise.
Ewan Wolff, a research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico, described how Dolly would have been “remarkably and visibly sick.” Before Dolly, there were no known respiratory infections that affected dinosaurs.
“This fossil infection in Dolly not only helps us trace the evolutionary history of respiratory-related diseases back in time, but it also gives us a better understanding of what kinds of diseases dinosaurs were susceptible to,” Woodruff explained.
In addition, the researchers believe that understanding diseases of the past can only help illuminate the development of illness throughout history.
“We have to continue to expand our knowledge of ancient diseases. If we look hard enough, we may begin to understand more about the evolution of immunity and infectious disease. When we work together between multiple specialties, we can come away with a more complete picture of ancient disease,” Wolff said.
To read the complete scientific study, visit the link here.
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