tumors & tracks

[m.moser@lrz.uni-muenchen.de]

Two new papers in Naturwissenschaften prepublished:

B. M. Rothschild, D. H. Tanke, M. Helbling II & L. D. Martin (2003):
Epidemiologic study of tumors in dinosaurs. ? Naturwissenschaften, online
first, 14 October 2003. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-003-0473-9

Fluoroscopical screening, together with CT scans and cross-sectioning, of
more than 10000 dinosaur bones (incl. ca. 7500 non-hadrosaurian bones)
revealed that (several kinds of) tumors occurred only in hadrosaurs.


Abstract:  Occasional reports in isolated fragments of dinosaur bones have
suggested that tumors might represent a population phenomenon. Previous
study of humans has demonstrated that vertebral radiology is a powerful
diagnostic tool for population screening. The epidemiology of tumors in
dinosaurs was here investigated by fluoroscopically screening dinosaur
vertebrae for evidence of tumors. Computerized tomography (CT) and
cross-sections were obtained where appropriate. Among more than 10,000
specimens x-rayed, tumors were only found in Cretaceous hadrosaurs
(duck-billed dinosaurs). These included hemangiomas and metastatic cancer
(previously identified in dinosaurs), desmoplastic fibroma, and
osteoblastoma. The epidemiology of tumors in dinosaurs seems to reflect a
familial pattern. A genetic propensity or environmental mutagens are
suspected.



Theagarten Lingham-Soliar, Tim Broderick & Ali Ait Kaci Ahmed (2003):
Closely associated theropod trackways from the Jurassic of Zimbabwe. ?
Naturwissenschaften, online first, 15 October 2003.
DOI: 10.1007/s00114-003-0477-5

Abstract:  Eighty-eight tracks of large theropod dinosaurs were found in
the mid-Jurassic of Zimbabwe. Among the tracks, at least five adjacent
trackways are recorded. The adjacent tracks were probably made by animals
traveling as a group, given that they are in relatively close succession;
that there are three overlapping tracks (among just 23) suggesting
reasonably close associations of the animals; that all the tracks are
apparently of the same ichnotaxon; that the preservational types of the
tracks are similar; and that the tracks are all of animals traveling in
one general direction closely associated in time (there are no returning
tracks of the same animals or of those of other species; presence of such
tracks would be highly probable if the tracks were made over a period of
time of even several hours). Nearby, recently discovered giant sauropod
tracks, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, indicate a realistic potential of
predator/prey interactions between the two groups of dinosaurs.



Dr. Markus Moser
Staatliches Museum fuer Naturkunde Stuttgart
Rosenstein 1
D-70191 Stuttgart
Germany
?
Bayerische Staatssammlung fuer
Palaeontologie und Geologie
Richard-Wagner-Str. 10
D-80333 Muenchen
Germany
?
m.moser@lrz.uni-muenchen.de