Shocking fossils: Having the same problems as humans, super beasts die painfully

Newly-published research presents surprising details about the fossil record of a sauropod, also known as a long-necked dinosaur, the largest dinosaur in the world.

The specimen nicknamed Dolly was discovered in Southwest Montana (USA), dating from the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago.

Dolly while alive

Analysis by Dr Cary Woodruff from the Grat Plains Dinosaur Museum in Malta on three of Dolly's cervical vertebrae revealed abnormal bony protrusions, which appeared to have been penetrated by air-filled sacs.

According to PHYS, the ill-fated dinosaur had a respiratory infection before his death. The flu, of course, without treatment, did not go away on its own, but caused severe inflammatory complications, so that the bones deformed and made the dinosaur continuously have fever, cough, difficulty breathing . just like humans severe respiratory infection, pneumonia.

The researchers thought it was infected with a fungus similar to aspergillosis, a respiratory disease common to birds and reptiles today. This disease can be fatal in birds if not treated promptly by a veterinarian.

It seems this unfortunate dinosaur too, based on the complications it had, the disease could be so severe that it caused its death. Knowing what diseases these early beasts suffered could provide important insights into the evolutionary map of species.

The work also has the participation of the University of New Mexico, the Western University of Health Sciences, the College of Osteopathic Medicine of Ohio State University.