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PACHYOSTOSIS
Pachyostosis is a term applied to bones showing an unusual amount of thickening. As Cruickshank et al. (1996) note, the condition may be recognised in three types:
- Increase in size
- Increase in density (less empty space in the bone)
- Increased mineral content
Today, the only organisms with pachyostic bones are the fully marine mammals, manatees and dugongs. Analogies may be drawn from these extant animals to determine the functional significance of pachystosis in many genera of Sauropterygia. It is common in basal members of the group, especially in the pachypleurosaurs but also in some pliosaurs (e.g. Pachycostasaurus and Kronosaurus). The function is probably related to ballasting the body, pachyostic sauropterygians may have been bottom dwellers, hunting among the benthic (sea floor) community.