FIRST EVIDENCE OF A PATHOLOGICAL PHALANX IN A CTENOCHASMATIDAE PTEROSAUR FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

CODORNIU LAURA; GONZÁLEZ ROMINA

Chubut

Jornada; XXXV Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados; 2022

Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio

Paleopathology is the study of diseases and traumatic injuries that cause visible abnormalities of the skeleton in fossil vertebrates. In pterosaurs, only very few osteopathologies cases have been mentioned, such as infections, arthritis and possible tumors, being the fractures rarely reported. The aim of this work is to describe and analyze a bone anomaly present in Pterodaustro guinazui. The MIC-V47 was recover from the “Loma del Pterodaustro” site, from Lagarcito Formation (Lower Cretaceous) the collection of the Museo Interactivo de Ciencias (MIC). comparisons with observations from the paleopathological and modern veterinary literature, potential etiologies are discussed. Macroscopic examination reveals that MIC-V47 exhibits a conspicuous bowing and a localized proliferative bone growth. This extends around the entire circumference of the distal diaphysis. The surface of the bone growth is mainly smooth with exception of certain areas where an irregular texture is observed. The rest of the phalanx shows a robust appearance compared with other phalanges preserved of the same species. The abnormal bone of the phalanx is consistent with a fracture follow by infection, but other possible causes such as osteopetrosis can't be ruled out. Additional information regarding the internal aspect of the element, such as that derived from histological or computed tomography data necessary to clarify the cause of the anomaly. Poor healing of the infection could lead to misalignment of the fracture parts which possibly compromised the survival.