Researchers found high rates of osteochondrosis in the joints of Ice Age saber-toothed tigers and dire wolves, based on more than 1,500 limb bones examined from the La Brea Tar Pits. This study suggests a potential link between the health problems of these ancient species and those of modern livestock. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Studies have found that the incidence of osteochondrosis in these extinct predators is surprisingly high.
Ice Age saber-toothed tigers and direwolves had higher rates of bone disease in their joints, according to a recent study published in an open access journal. Pro Swan By Hugo Schmökel and colleagues at the Evidencia Academy in Sweden.
Ancient species of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a developmental bone disease known to affect joints. vertebrateincluding humans and various domestic animals. seed. However, the disease is not well documented in wild species, and published cases are extremely rare. In this study, Schmökel and colleagues identified signs of the disease in fossil limb bones of Ice Age saber-toothed tigers. (Smilodon fatalis) and dire wolf (Aenosion Dyras) Approximately 55,000 to 12,000 years ago.
Reconstructed photo of a dire wolf on display at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum. Credit: La Brea Tar Pits and Los Angeles County Museum and Natural History Museum; CC-BY 4.0
Research results from the La Brea Tar Pits
Researchers examined more than 1,000 limb bones of saber-toothed tigers and 500 limb bones of dire wolves taken from the late Pleistocene La Brea Tar Pits, and found that many bones contained dissecting bones. They discovered small defects that matched certain symptoms of a bone disease called osteochondrosis (OCD). These defects were primarily found in the shoulder and knee joints, and their incidence was as high as 7% of the bones examined, significantly higher than that observed in extant species.
Implications and future research
Because this study was limited to bones isolated from a single fossil locality, further research on other fossil sites will reveal patterns of prevalence of the disease and from there provide insight into the lives of these animals. aspects may be clarified. For example, it remains unclear whether problems with these joints hindered the hunting ability of these predators. Additionally, OCD is common in highly inbred modern domestic dogs, so the high incidence of this disease in these fossil animals could be a sign that populations are declining as these ancient species approach extinction. It may be.
Detail of a 1911 illustration of a saber-toothed cat in the La Brea Tar Pits. Credit: Robert Bruce Horsfall & Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; CC-BY 4.0
Connection with modern animals
The authors add: “The study adds: Smilodon Direwolf paleopathology made possible by La Brea Tar Pits & Museum’s unparalleled large sample size. This collaborative research between paleontologists and veterinarians shows that these animals, despite having survived harsh times and are now extinct large predators, share diseases with the dogs and cats in our homes today. It confirms what I was holding. ”
Reference: “Subchondral defects resembling osteochondrosis dissecans in the articular surfaces of the extinct saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis and the dire wolf Aenocyon dyrus,” by Hugo Schmökel, Aisling Farrell, and Mairin F. Balisi. July 12, 2023 Pro Swan.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287656
Source: scitechdaily.com
