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Neo-taphonomic anal...
Neo-taphonomic analysis of the Misiam leopard lair from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) : understanding leopard-hyena interactions in open settings
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Domínguez-Rodrigo, Manuel (author)
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- Organista, Elia (author)
- Stockholms universitet,Osteoarkeologiska forskningslaboratoriet,Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), Spain; Alcalá University, Spain; Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, Spain
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Baquedano, Enrique (author)
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Cifuentes-Alcobendas, Gabriel (author)
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Pizarro-Monzo, Marcos (author)
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Vegara-Riquelme, Marina (author)
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Gidna, Agness (author)
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Uribelarrea, David (author)
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Martin-Perea, David (author)
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(creator_code:org_t)
- 2022-07-20
- 2022
- English.
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In: Royal Society Open Science. - : The Royal Society. - 2054-5703. ; 9:7
- Related links:
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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https://urn.kb.se/re...
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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Abstract
Subject headings
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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.
Subject headings
- NATURVETENSKAP -- Biologi (hsv//swe)
- NATURAL SCIENCES -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)
Keyword
- leopard
- Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)
- hyena
- taphonomy
- ethology
Publication and Content Type
- ref (subject category)
- art (subject category)
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