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Evidence of intestinal parasites of dinosaurs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

G. POINAR  and
A. J. BOUCOT
G. POINAR
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
A. J. BOUCOT
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Abstract

Protozoan cysts and helminth eggs preserved in a coprolite from the Early Cretaceous Bernissart Iguanodon shaft in Belgium demonstrate that representatives of 3 phyla parasitized dinosaurs by that period. These fossil parasite stages are described and their possible effect on dinosaurs discussed. These findings represent the earliest fossil records of protozoan and helminth parasites of terrestrial vertebrates.

Keywords

dinosaur coproliteEntamoebites antiquusDigenites proterusAscarites priscusAscarites gerus
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 133 , Issue 2 , August 2006 , pp. 245 - 249
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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