 |
| Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi Samathi, Chanthasit & Sander, 2019 in Samathi, Weluwanarak, Duanyai, Kaikaew & Suteethorn, 2023. |
ABSTRACT
A pathological metatarsal of the early-branching megaraptoran Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand is here studied. It was CT-scanned and compared with pathology in other dinosaurs and living animals. The result shows that the palaeopathology in Phuwiangvenator was a traumatic fracture, specifically a greenstick fracture, based on the incomplete breakage of the bone, which occurred only on one side and twisted or distorted in the opposite direction to the force that caused the pathology. The cause of the fracture was possibly by accidentally hitting or kicking hard material, fighting, or falling to the ground. Phuwiangvenator was probably an adolescent when it was injured and survived the incident. This is the second report of a greenstick fracture in Theropoda after Akansaurus fridayii; the first detailed analysis of palaeopathology in Megaraptora; and the first record and detailed description of palaeopathology in non-avian theropods in Southeast Asia.
KEYWORDS: Theropoda, megaraptora, Thailand, palaeopathology, fracture, metatarsal
Adun Samathi, Jakkrapat Weluwanarak, Punyawee Duanyai, Siripat Kaikaew and Suravech Suteethorn. 2023. An Unusual Metatarsal of Theropod Dinosaur from the lower Cretaceous of Thailand: the First detailed Study of Paleopathology in Megaraptora. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2166833
