Dinosaur’s Ancient Bone Infection Reveals Harsh Prehistoric Life

A remarkable discovery at the Natural History Museum in Zurich reveals the grim reality of life for dinosaurs millions of years ago. The skeleton of a Plateosaurus, nicknamed “Teoplati,” showcases a severe bone infection, offering a unique glimpse into the challenges these creatures faced.

Unearthing Teoplati’s Story

The eight-meter-long Plateosaurus, which roamed the earth around 220 million years ago in modern-day Switzerland, met its demise in the mud. Researchers found that the dinosaur’s right arm was severely infected, an indication of the struggles this animal endured.

Scientists from the University of Zurich, alongside the Frick Dinosaur Museum, examined the fossil. They identified one of the oldest and most serious cases of bone infection recorded in a dinosaur.

A Useless Limb and a Muddy Grave

During the Late Triassic epoch, the Frick Valley in Aargau was a flat, dry region with a propensity for flooding. These sudden floods could trap enormous animals like the Plateosaurus in the sticky mud. This particular dinosaur faced even greater adversity because it was already injured.

The dinosaur’s right shoulder and upper arm exhibited the effects of a chronic infection. The researchers identified inflammation and deformation in the bones. This demonstrates the animal’s limb was already unusable before it became trapped in the mud.

Advanced Technology Uncovers the Truth

Unearthed in 2018, the complete skeleton provided ample material for study by paleontologists from the University of Zurich. They employed advanced CT scanners from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, to examine the damaged limb.

These scanners, usually used for industrial research, were large enough to handle the dinosaur’s huge bones. The results were startling: the Plateosaurus suffered from osteomyelitis, a serious infection that affects bone tissue.

“Osteomyelitis affects many living animals, including mammals such as humans, as well as birds and reptiles,”

—Jordan Bestwick, Postdoctoral Fellow

Today, osteomyelitis affects approximately 2 in every 10,000 people each year in the United States (CDC 2024). It is a testament to the ubiquity of disease across species and time.

Ancient Infection’s Lasting Impact

The extent of the infection in Teoplati’s shoulder and upper arm is exceptional. Previous research found that similar infections in dinosaurs were confined to toe bones or parts of the spine. This unusual case indicates the dinosaur likely suffered a long-term illness, potentially rendering its right arm useless.

Teoplati’s story, displayed at the Natural History Museum at the University of Zurich, stands as an illustration of survival and an untimely end. The exhibit includes a life-sized reconstruction of the dinosaur, highlighting the infected arm.

The display provides an individual glimpse into the life of an ancient creature. Visitors encounter an individual with a history written in its bones.