The recognition of taphonomic alterations is an important step previously to any paleopathological analysis, as some taphonomic features can simulate pathological change on bones. This is a difficult task, but there are some diagnostic criteria that can be used to differentiate them. Here we demonstrate how these features can be macroscopically distinguished using skeletal remains of Quaternary mammals as a model and pointing out how some specific pathological bone changes and diseases can be misinterpreted as taphonomic features (e.g. abrasion marks, corrosion marks, incrustation, post-mortem breakages, and punctures). Although this study has been specifically conducted with Quaternary mammals, the criteria used herein can be employed to any other fossil mammal of equivalent body mass and bone size.

中文翻译：

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脊椎动物古生物学的区分开来和古病理特征：第四纪哺乳动物的研究案例

早于任何古病理学分析，认识到拓扑变化是重要的一步，因为某些拓扑学特征可以模拟骨骼的病理变化。这是一项艰巨的任务，但是可以使用某些诊断标准来区分它们。在这里，我们演示了如何使用第四纪哺乳动物的骨骼遗骸作为模型来宏观区分这些特征，并指出如何将某些特定的病理性骨变化和疾病误认为是透声特征（例如，磨损痕迹，腐蚀痕迹，结壳，尸体破裂）和穿孔）。尽管这项研究是专门针对第四纪哺乳动物进行的，但此处使用的标准可用于体重和骨骼大小相同的任何其他化石哺乳动物。