Striped hyenas as bone modifiers in dual human-to-carnivore experimental models

Arriaza, Mari Carmen; Organista, Elia; Yravedra, José; Santonja, Manuel; Baquedano, Enrique; Domı́nguez-Rodrigo, Manuel

doi:10.1007/s12520-018-0747-y

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…It has also been fundamental in interpretations of hominin-carnivore interactions 1 – 4 . Additionally, BSM have also been used for determining carnivore type 5 – 8 , and the potential order of carnivore intervention in assemblage formation and modification 9 – 12 . Aside from biotic agents and processes, physical modifications on bone surfaces, such as abrasion marks and biochemical modifications provide important information to assess site formation processes and paleoecological conditions of assemblage formation 13 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 3D taphonomic model of long bone modification by lions in medium-sized ungulate carcasses

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo¹,

Gidna

Baquedano³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Here, we present the first three-dimensional taphonomic analysis of a carnivore-modified assemblage at the anatomical scale of the appendicular skeleton. A sample of ten carcasses composed of two taxa (zebra and wildebeest) consumed by wild lions in the Tarangire National Park (Tanzania) has been used to determine element-specific lion damage patterns. This study presents a novel software for the 3D spatial documentation of bone surface modifications at the anatomical level. Combined with spatial statistics, the present analysis has been able to conclude that despite variable degrees of competition during carcass consumption, lions generate bilateral patterning consisting of substantial damage of proximal ends of stylopodials and zeugopodials, moderate damage of the distal ends of femora and marginal damage of distal ends of humeri and zeugopodials. Of special interest is, specifically, the patterning of tooth marks on shafts according to element, since these are crucial to determine not only the type of carnivore involved in any given bone assemblage, but also the interaction with other agents (namely, hominins, in the past). Lions leave few tooth marks on mid-shaft sections, mostly concentrated on certain sections and orientations of stylopodials and, to a lesser extent, of the proximal tibia. Redundant occurrence of tooth marks on certain bone sections renders them as crucial to attest lion agency in carcass initial consumption. Indirectly, this can also be used to determine whether hominins ever acquired carcasses at lion kills.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 3D taphonomic model of long bone modification by lions in medium-sized ungulate carcasses

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo¹,

Gidna

Baquedano³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…Hyenas, namely striped hyenas, have also been seen active near the lair. A recent experiment carried out about 300 m away from the lair showed the presence of a striped hyena during the night [19]. In a second leopard lair, we documented the alternation in the use of the space by leopards and hyenas; in both cases, both agents used the spot as a denning place.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Neo-taphonomic analysis of the Misiam leopard lair from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania): understanding leopard–hyena interactions in open settings

et al. 2022

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Misiam is a modern wildebeest-dominated accumulation situated in a steep ravine covered with dense vegetation at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). It is interpreted here as a leopard lair to which carcasses have been transported for several years. Felid-specific bone damage patterns, felid-typical skeletal part profiles, taxonomic specialization and the physical presence of leopards observed by the authors show that leopards at Misiam can be specialized medium-sized carcass accumulators. Hyenas also intervened at intervals in the modification of the retrieved faunal assemblage. This makes Misiam a carnivore palimpsest. Here, we additionally show that leopards only transport and accumulate carcasses on occasions, that they can seem highly specialized despite being dietary generalists, and that such a behaviour may be prompted by seasonal competition or during the breeding season or both. Misiam is the first open-air leopard lair with a dense bone accumulation reported. There, leopards engaged in intensive accumulation of carcasses during the wet season, when the southern Serengeti short-grass plains undergo the effect of the famous wildebeest migration and this migratory species reaches the gorge. The ecological importance of this behaviour and its relevance as a proxy for reconstructing prehistoric carnivore behaviours are discussed.

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“…Green breaks observed on the rib blades probably reflect the impact of teeth during evisceration and defleshing. Interestingly, most of the rib heads, which are commonly destroyed by scavengers as they consume the axial bones 49 , 50 , are unmodified. This suggests that the rib cage was articulated to the thoracic column throughout the consumption sequence and after deposition—a typically felid pattern of modification (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sabertooth carcass consumption behavior and the dynamics of Pleistocene large carnivoran guilds

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo

Egeland

Cobo‐Sánchez

et al. 2022

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Apex predators play an important role in the top-down regulation of ecological communities. Their hunting and feeding behaviors influence, respectively, prey demography and the availability of resources to other consumers. Among the most iconic—and enigmatic—terrestrial predators of the late Cenozoic are the Machairodontinae, a diverse group of big cats whose hypertrophied upper canines have earned them the moniker “sabertooths.” Many aspects of these animals’ paleobiology, especially their prey preferences and carcass consumption behavior, remain unsettled. While skeletal anatomy, dental morphology and wear, and isotopic profiles provide important insights, the most direct way to resolve these issues is through the fossil remains of sabertooth prey. Here, we report on a taphonomic analysis of an early Pleistocene faunal assemblage from Haile 21A (Florida, USA) that preserves feeding damage from the lion-sized sabertooth Xenosmilus hodsonae. Patterns of tooth-marking and bone damage indicate that Xenosmilus fully defleshed the carcasses of their prey and even engaged in some minor bone consumption. This has important implications for Pleistocene carnivoran guild dynamics, including the carcass foraging behavior of the first stone-tool-using hominins.

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Striped hyenas as bone modifiers in dual human-to-carnivore experimental models

Cited by 15 publications

References 44 publications

A 3D taphonomic model of long bone modification by lions in medium-sized ungulate carcasses

A 3D taphonomic model of long bone modification by lions in medium-sized ungulate carcasses

Neo-taphonomic analysis of the Misiam leopard lair from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania): understanding leopard–hyena interactions in open settings

Sabertooth carcass consumption behavior and the dynamics of Pleistocene large carnivoran guilds

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