The Bone Disease Plaguing Saber-Tooth Cats and Dire Wolves

Saber-tooth cats and dire wolves from the Pleistocene epoch may have suffered from osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), a severe bone disease that can cause holes in bone tissue. Researchers discovered defects associated with OCD in the bones of these ancient predators, suggesting that the disease may have contributed to their extinction. The higher prevalence of OCD in these animals could be a result of inbreeding due to dwindling, isolated populations. While the exact impact of OCD on their quality of life and mobility is unclear, further research is needed to understand the role of this bone disease in the extinction of these apex predators.