The role of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) as a bone accumulator in cliff rock shelters: an analysis of modern bone nest assemblages from North-eastern Iberia

Análisis Comparativo de los Patrones de Modificaciones Óseas de Dos Carnívoros Sudamericanos: El Gato Montés (Leopardus Geoffroyi) y el Zorro Pampeano (Lycalopex Gymnocercus). Aportes para la Identificación de la Acción de Pequeños Carnívoros en el Registro Arqueológico

“…En el caso de los restos no ingeridos, los conjuntos generados por las aves suelen presentar escasas modificaciones óseas. No obstante, algunos autores mencionan la presencia de fracturas y pérdida ósea por aves rapaces que producen perforaciones con sus picos y garras (Montalvo et al 2011;Lloveras et al 2014). Con respecto a los mamíferos carnívoros, los restos no ingeridos presentan mayores frecuencias de modificaciones, las cuales son características de este Orden, tales como los arrastres, hoyuelos, furrows y cilindros óseos.…”

Taphonomy and dispersion of bones scavenged by New World vultures and caracaras in Northwestern Patagonia: implications for the formation of archaeological sites

“…This is supported by the scavenging results showing a high completeness of skeletal elements remaining for large-sized carcasses and less completeness for small-sized carcasses, with scarce damage on the bones and the absence of digestive corrosion marks. Similarly, this taphonomic signature also occurs with Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus, Accipitridae) scavenging (Sanchis Serra et al 2014;Lloveras et al 2014). This bird transports uneaten remains to nests frequently located in caves and rock shelters, and subsequently punctures bones with its beak during consumption.…”

“…This bird transports uneaten remains to nests frequently located in caves and rock shelters, and subsequently punctures bones with its beak during consumption. Thus, scavenging birds, such as the Egyptian vulture and southern caracara, produce bone accumulations representing differential consumption of body parts and bone modification (e.g., digestive corrosion) by prey size and diversity (Lloveras et al 2014;Tallade 2009, 2010;Montalvo et al 2011). These results, however, are contrary to Ballejo et al (2012) for American black vulture pellets with phalanges that exhibited strong digestive corrosion.…”

“…Skeletal remains were examined using a stereomicroscope for bone integrity (degree of completeness/fracturing), punctures, notching on the edges of bones, and scratches caused by bird scavenging (Brain 1981;Binford 1981;Andrews 1990;Borrero and Martin 1997;Reeves 2009;Lloveras et al 2014). There are two types of scratches.…”

“…World vulture examples exist for differential bone accumulation from bird scavenging and carcass transport Vigne 2002a, 2002b;Benson et al 2004;Marín-Arroyo et al 2009;Robert and Reumer 2009;Marín-Arroyo and Margalida 2012;Lloveras et al 2014;Sanchis Serra et al 2014). However, there are few studies examining transport of bones consumed by New World vulture (e.g., Reeves 2009;Spradley et al 2012;Dadds and Martin 2013).…”