Ancient pliozauri, which resembled the legendary and controversial Loch Ness Monster, had arthritis in old age, as confirmed by a series of detailed studies of fossils of these ancient reptiles adapted to life in the marine environment.
Paleontologists from the University of Bristol have reached this conclusion after studying the fossils of a female pliozaur which reached a length of about 8 meters, whose skull measure not less than 3 meters. His head was similar to the crocodile, short neck, like a body and four limbs of the Cetacea asemănătoate of the sea turtle fins.
“Pliozaurul, like most of his relatives had a huge size. A grown man would have enough room to sit inside his mouth stretched,” said Professor Michael Benton from Bristol University. Armed to the teeth of length to 20 inches, this species was a predator pliozaur ancient seas dangerous.
The skeleton belongs to a specimen which lived 150 million years ago and was discovered in 1994 by Simon Carpenter fossil collector. The animal lived in the south of England, which was then covered by ocean. His skull is adorned with a small bony ridge. In comparison, males have a higher ridge. Its large size indicates that it was an adult female.
Pliozaur compared with the size of a man, a killer whale and white shark
“The most surprising aspect was the discovery of traces of arthritis, were not discovered fossil reptile from the Mesozoic. This degenerative joint eroded left mandibular female. Just as the people usually install degenerative arthritis the hip-femoral joint, these marine reptiles, the same affection mandibular joint erode, “said Judy Sasoon in the same Department of Paleontology, University of Bristol.
Source: Live Science
