Theropod dinosaur suffered tremendous bone pain

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Bone abnormalities were fairly common among dinosaurs. But until now, the most abnormalities found in single specimen was four.

Recently, researchers in North Carolina discovered a dinosaur with a record eight bone problems, a combination of injuries and growth deformities.

The therapod dinosaur, Dilophosaurus wetherilli, lived between 183 and 190 million years ago and used its large hind legs to run down prey. The dinosaur's shorter front arms were used for killing prey and fighting off rivals.

Scientists believe the majority of its injuries were likely sustained during a single fight -- a fight that left the dinosaur with a fractured left shoulder blade and left radius, as well as a number of smaller bone injuries that led to infections.

Researchers also found a growth abnormalities.

"The deformities of the humerus and the right third finger may be due to developmental osteodysplasia, a condition known in extant birds but unreported in non-avian dinosaurs before now," researchers wrote in the journal PLOS ONE.

Though the dino was likely in considerable pain by the end of its life -- and probably suffered a limp that made running and hunting difficult -- it survived its injuries. Its many fractures show signs of healing.