The oldest tumor in a fossil amphibian

Neoplasms are diseases that develop when body cells divide uncontrollably. They affect all vertebrates, and as it turns out, they have been doing so for more than 210 million years. Among a great number of vertebrae of the Triassic amphibian Metoposaurus krasiejowensis found in Krasiejów, one specimen was identified with a case of a malignant neoplasm: osteosarcoma.

Reconstruction of the tumor growth and invasion stages. Illustrator: Jakub Zalewski
Metoposaurs, representatives of temnospondyl amphibians in their habitat. Illustrator: Jakub Zalewski