Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40138005›Full record

ArticleDie Naturwissenschaften2025

Craniofacial lesions in the earliest predatory dinosaurs indicate intraspecific agonistic behaviour at the dawn of the dinosaur era.

Mauricio S Garcia, Ricardo N Martínez, Rodrigo T Müller

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Die Naturwissenschaften, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mauricio S GarciaPrograma de Pós-Graduação Em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-120, Brazil. mauriciossauro@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5317-0140
Ricardo N MartínezInstituto y Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Avda. España 400 Norte, 5400, San Juan, Argentina.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6013-1139
Rodrigo T MüllerPrograma de Pós-Graduação Em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-120, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8894-9875

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 303034/2022-0Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 404095/2021-6Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 406902/2022-4Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 88887.608076/2021-00Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 88887.826787/2023-00Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul 21/2551-0000680-3
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Herrerasauridae were among the first large carnivorous dinosaurs. Although their anatomy and phylogenetic relationships have been previously studied, little is known about their paleobiology. Bone pathologies provide clues about the behaviour of ancient organisms, and this study evaluates presumed craniofacial pathologies in herrerasaurid specimens to infer their etiology and implications. Our analysis reveals that the craniofacial marks analysed are most likely pathological in nature and possibly result from intraspecific agonistic interactions, rather than post-mortem alterations. The relatively high frequency of lesions identified supports this claim. In the sample of herrerasaurids with preserved skulls analysed, nearly half presented craniofacial lesions. The bone traumas identified here are the oldest evidence of pathology in dinosaurs. Identification and analysis of pathologies in early dinosaurs can provide insights into their paleobiology and evolution of behavioural characteristics.

Indexed as

Agonistic BehaviorDinosaursFossilsPredatory BehaviorSkullAnimalsBioerosionBite marksBone traumaCandelária SequenceDentalitesHerrerasauriaIschigualasto FormationPathology

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.