Bone diseases are commonly found in the fossil record, especially in mammals of the Pleistocene megafauna, which exhibit signs of overload in the articulations. However, pathologies that affect soft tissues are not usually reported, even due to the nature of fossilization that rarely preserves such materials. In paleoneurological research using CT scan and three‐dimensional reconstructions of Pleistocene sloths, an anomaly is discovered in the space that houses the pituitary gland, the sella turcica. The tomographic analysis of a Valgipes bucklandi skull revealed a great enlargement at the sella turcica, at the medial region in the body of the basisphenoid bone. The images delimit an enlarged dorsal–ventral projection, measuring approximately 15 mm height, at the tridimensional reconstructed endocranium. Taphonomic processes, such as the action of necrophagous agents, were discarded due to the shape and conditions of the structure, which also showed signs of bone remodeling. Thus, it is possible to affirm that a paleopathological process altered the size of the pituitary gland of the specimen MCT 3993‐M, being probably a pituitary tumor.

Background The southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common species of anteater. Even though much is known about its ecology, behavior, and parasites, there is very limited information about bone diseases in Tamandua and other anteaters. Here, we examined postcranial skeletons of 64 T. tetradactyla museum specimens covering most of the material available in Brazilian collections. Results The following bone diseases were identified for the first time in Tamandua and other extant and fossil vermilinguans: osteophytes, osteitis, osteoarthritis, periostitis, exostoses, enthesopathies, and a severe chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis associated with fistulae, cloacae (pus), bone loss, and neoformation processes. Musculoskeletal reconstruction revealed that an old specimen was restricted to terrestrial locomotion due to osteopathological processes that impaired its climbing. Conclusions New osteopathological informations are presented for T. tetradactyla , favoring a better understanding of the expression of some bone diseases in wild animals. In addition, the diagnosis of these bone diseases in living anteaters provides useful information for studies on animal health and welfare, as well as contributing to the more effective recognition of paleodiseases in fossil xenarthrans.

No abstract

No abstract