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February 12, 2021Open Access

Can we distinguish taphonomic distortion and (paleo)pathology from normal biological variation?

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Key Points

The study identifies differences in aspect ratios of cervical vertebrae, indicating significant taphonomic distortion and potential (paleo)pathology.
Photographs of cervical vertebrae from Giraffatitan brancai reveal extensive and unpredictable crushing, complicating biological interpretations.
Assessment of vertebral distortion involves analyzing specific traits, which may be affected by environmental factors across geological time.
Understanding this distortion is crucial for accurate identification of biological variations and their implications in paleobiology.

Implication

Analysis reveals taphonomic distortion and (paleo)pathology in cervical vertebrae of Giraffatitan, suggesting complexity in interpreting skeletal variations.

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Cite This Study

Matt Wedel (2021) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68eb6f7ceea689731b30068c https://doi.org/10.59350/fsf1b-5th83

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