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

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

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.

Organista, EliaStockholms universitet,Osteoarkeologiska forskningslaboratoriet,Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), Spain; Alcalá University, Spain; Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, Spain(Swepub:su)elor3012 (författare)
Baquedano, Enrique (författare)
Cifuentes-Alcobendas, Gabriel (författare)
Pizarro-Monzo, Marcos (författare)
Vegara-Riquelme, Marina (författare)
Gidna, Agness (författare)
Uribelarrea, David (författare)
Martin-Perea, David (författare)
Stockholms universitetOsteoarkeologiska forskningslaboratoriet (creator_code:org_t)

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