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Cajus G Diedrich - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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late pleistocene crocuta crocuta spelaea goldfuss 1823 populations from the emscher river terrace open air Hyena den near bottrop and other sites in nw germany their bone accumulations along rivers in lowland mammoth steppe environments and scavengin
Quaternary International, 2012Co-Authors: Cajus G DiedrichAbstract:Abstract Crocuta crocuta spelaea ( Goldfuss, 1823 ) remains (NISP = 50) are present in the early to middle Upper Pleistocene Emscher River terrace open air den site along the Rhine–Herne Canal near Bottrop (Westphalia, NW Germany). The population includes bones from cubs and bones with pathological features from old animals but is predominantly made up of adult Hyenas (NISP = 3820) found within the glacial mammoth steppe fauna of the Munsterland Bay Lowlands. A larger quantity of woolly rhinoceros ( Coelodonta antiquitatis ) bones (NISP = 1601) are present than in other bone-rich open air Hyena den sites, of which about 67% are damaged. This damage can be shown to have resulted mainly from Hyena activities, and shows repetitions of the same three stages of destruction on the massive woolly rhinoceros bones. Those bone shafts that the Hyenas were unable to break were left with irregular jagged margins. The taphonomy of bones from the Bottrop open air site indicates that the rhinoceros body parts had only been transported over short distances, in contrast to those from the Perick Caves Hyena den where longer transport distances resulted in a higher proportion of limbs compared to other body parts. The large woolly rhinoceros was an important second megafauna prey for Hyenas in the lowland areas (after the woolly mammoth), in contrast to the nearby Sauerland Karst mountain areas that are rich in Hyena dens and their associated bone assemblages, although the higher proportions of rhinoceros bones present is also to some extent a result of the incomplete destruction of their massive bones. The proportions of woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros remains in the Hyena prey bone assemblages gradually decrease from the lowlands towards the nearby Sauerland Karst mountain regions. In these mountainous boreal forest regions cave bears were instead the main food source for Hyenas, as result of the scarcity or absence of mammoth steppe fauna. The large bone accumulations along the Emscher River terraces near Bottrop can mostly be attributed to the activities of Hyenas, which were responsible for the repeated incomplete state of bone preservation. The bone accumulations are predominantly of leg bones and include a relatively high proportion of Hyena bones which, together with the faunal composition and the size of the accumulations, indicate a mixed long-term use of the terraces along the Emscher River as an extensive communal Hyena den and prey storage site, and also probably somewhere in the area, as a birth den. Some of the bone material may also have been accumulated by natural processes, or even by Neanderthals.
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late pleistocene steppe lion panthera leo spelaea goldfuss 1810 footprints and bone records from open air sites in northern germany evidence of Hyena lion antagonism and scavenging in europe
Quaternary Science Reviews, 2011Co-Authors: Cajus G DiedrichAbstract:Abstract Bone remains and a trackway of Pantheraichnus bottropensis nov. ichg. ichnsp. of the Late Pleistocene lion Panthera leo spelaea ( Goldfuss, 1810 ) have been recovered from Bottrop and other open air sites in northern Germany. Some of these bones are from open air Hyena den sites. A relative high proportion of lion bones (20%) exhibit bite, chew or nibble marks, or bone crushing and nibbling caused by a large carnivore. Repeated patterns of similar bone damage have been compared to bone remains found at Hyena dens in gypsum karst areas and cave sites in northern Germany. Ice Age spotted Hyenas have been the main antagonists and the main scavengers on lion carcasses. The remains appear to have been imported often by Hyenas into their communal dens, supporting the theory of strong Hyena-lion antagonism, similar to the well documented antagonism between modern African lions and spotted Hyenas. Most of the lion bones from the open air Hyena den at Bottrop are probably a result of such antagonism, as are the rare remains of these carnivores found within large Hyena prey bone accumulations along the Pleistocene rivers. The Emscher River terrace also has the largest quantity of Hyena remains from open air river terrace sites in northern Germany. Their cub remains, and incomplete chewed prey bones from mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses, typical of Hyena activity, underline the character of these sites as cub-raising and communal dens, where their prey was accumulated along the riverbanks in a similar manner to modern African Hyenas.
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pleistocene panthera leo spelaea goldfuss 1810 remains from the balve cave nw germany a cave bear Hyena den and middle palaeolithic human cave and review of the sauerland karst lion cave sites
Quaternaire, 2011Co-Authors: Cajus G DiedrichAbstract:Pleistocene remains of Panthera leo spelaea (Goldfuss 1810) from Balve Cave (Sauerland Karst, NW-Germany), one of the most famous Middle Palaeolithic Neandertalian cave sites in Europe, and also a Hyena and cave bear den, belong to the most important felid sites of the Sauerland Karst. The stratigraphy, macrofaunal assemblages and Palaeolithic stone artefacts range from the final Saalian (late Middle Pleistocene, Acheulean) over the Middle Palaeolithic (Micoquian/Mousterian), and to the final Palaeolithic (Magdalenien) of the Weichselian (Upper Pleistocene). Most lion bones from Balve Cave can be identified as early to middle Upper Pleistocene in age. From this cave, a relatively large amount of Hyena remains, and many chewed, and punctured herbivorous and carnivorous bones, especially those of woolly rhinoceros, indicate periodic den use of Crocuta crocuta spelaea. In addition to those of the Balve Cave, nearly all lion remains in the Sauerland Karst caves were found in Hyena den bone assemblages, except those described here material from the Keppler Cave cave bear den. Late Pleistocene spotted Hyenas imported most probably Panthera leo spelaea body parts, or scavenged on lion carcasses in caves, a suggestion which is supported by comparisons with other cave sites in the Sauerland Karst. The complex taphonomic situation of lion remains in Hyena den bone assemblages and cave bear dens seem to have resulted from antagonistic Hyena-lion conflicts and cave bear hunting by lions in caves, in which all cases lions may sometimes have been killed and finally consumed by Hyenas. The lion remains, and not only in the Balve Cave seem to have been selected, as suggested by cranial and distal limb bone overrepresentations, which consist of 99 % of grown ups and with 58 % remains of dominantly females. Such limbs, and especially the pedal bone dominance, is not a criterion for "human hunt and fur import", on the contrary, at Hyena dens all prey remains are overrepresented by distal leg remains, a fact also very well known in the case of horse remains. The only articulated lion cub skeleton remain in the Sauerland Karst from the Wilhelms Cave might indicate a Hyena kill that seems to be imported into the much frequented cub raising Hyena den site.
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the late pleistocene spotted Hyena crocuta crocuta spelaea goldfuss 1823 population with its type specimens from the zoolithen cave at gailenreuth bavaria south germany a Hyena cub raising den of specialised cave bear scavengers in boreal forest envi
Historical Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Cajus G DiedrichAbstract:The upper Pleistocene Ice Age spotted Hyena remains (number of bones per species (NISP) = 206; minimum individual number (MNI) = 7 young, 12 adult) from the German Zoolithen Cave include the Crocuta crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss 1823) holotype skull, and all cranial and postcranial paratypes which were found in the ‘cave bear bonebeds’. Those bones are on secondary positions in the vertical shafts especially of the central cave part, where they were redeposited due to quick flooding events of the Wiesent River at the final late Pleistocene. The young animal bones (NISP = 13%) indicate a natal/birth den site. Cannibalism within the Hyenas is demonstrated by several skulls and few long bones. The scarcity of steppe megafauna Hyena prey (NISP = 1%, woolly rhinoceros remains) and high amounts of damaged cave bear long bones (17%), similarly preserved at many other dens in Central Europe, indicate prey specialisation of Hyenas (and other carnivores such as steppe lions, leopards and wolves) onto cave bear feeding ...
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the crocuta crocuta spelaea goldfuss 1823 population and its prey from the late pleistocene teufelskammer cave Hyena den besides the famous paleolithic neandertal cave nrw nw germany
Historical Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Cajus G DiedrichAbstract:Remains from at least seven individuals of the Late Pleistocene Ice Age spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823) from the Teufelskammer Cave in the Neandertal valley (North Rhine-Westphalia, northwest Germany) are described. The small cave was a well-frequented Hyena den of the Early to Middle Late Pleistocene which was only 100 m from the famous small Feldhofer Cave, where the first Neandertal human skeleton was found. The high amount of Hyena bone material (37%) and its strongly chewed and incomplete prey remains of the mixed mammoth steppe and boreal forest megafauna prove one more of 11 recently known Hyena den caves in the Rhenish Massif. Hyenas and cave bears have used the cave, but Neandertal humans lived possibly not at the same time in the same valley. Although Hyenas occupied mainly the smaller caves such as the Teufelskammer Cave, humans preferred large portal cave entrances such as in the Neandertal valley with the Small Feldhofer Cave.
Kay E Holekamp - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Lions, Hyenas and mobs (oh my!).
Current Zoology, 2016Co-Authors: Kenna D. S. Lehmann, Tracy M. Montgomery, Sarah M. Maclachlan, Jenna M. Parker, Olivia S.b. Spagnuolo, Kelsey J. Vandewetering, Patrick S. Bills, Kay E HolekampAbstract:: Understanding the factors that facilitate the emergence of cooperation among organisms is central to the study of social evolution. Spotted Hyenas Crocuta crocuta frequently cooperate to mob lions Panthera leo, approaching the lions as a tightknit group while vocalizing loudly in an attempt to overwhelm them and drive them away. Whereas cooperative mobbing behavior has been well documented in birds and some mammals, to our knowledge it has never been described during interactions between 2 apex predators. Using a 27-year dataset, we characterize lion-Hyena encounters, assess rates of mobbing behavior observed during these interactions, and inquire whether mobbing results in successful acquisition of food. Lions and Hyenas interacted most often at fresh kills, especially as prey size and the number of Hyenas present increased. Possession of food at the beginning of an interaction positively affected retention of that food by each predator species. The presence of male lions increased the probability of an interspecific interaction but decreased the likelihood of Hyenas obtaining or retaining possession of the food. Hyena mobbing rates were highest at fresh kills, but lower when adult male lions were present. The occurrence of mobbing was predicted by an increase in the number of Hyenas present. Whether or not mobbing resulted in acquisition of food from lions was predicted by an increase in the number of mobs formed by the Hyenas present, suggesting that cooperation among Hyenas enhances their fitness.
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Characterization of Toll-like receptors 1-10 in spotted Hyenas
Veterinary Research Communications, 2014Co-Authors: Andrew S Flies, Linda S Mansfield, Mary L Weldele, Matthew T. Maksimoski, Kay E HolekampAbstract:Previous research has shown that spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) regularly survive exposure to deadly pathogens such as rabies, canine distemper virus, and anthrax, suggesting that they have robust immune defenses. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize conserved molecular patterns and initiate a wide range of innate and adaptive immune responses. TLR genes are evolutionarily conserved, and assessing TLR expression in various tissues can provide insight into overall immunological organization and function. Studies of the Hyena immune system have been minimal thus far due to the logistical and ethical challenges of sampling and preserving the immunological tissues of this and other long-lived, wild species. Tissue samples were opportunistically collected from captive Hyenas humanely euthanized for a separate study. We developed primers to amplify partial sequences for TLRs 1-10, sequenced the amplicons, compared sequence identity to those in other mammals, and quantified TLR expression in lymph nodes, spleens, lungs, and pancreases. Results show that Hyena TLR DNA and protein sequences are similar to TLRs in other mammals, and that TLRs 1-10 were expressed in all tissues tested. This information will be useful in the development of new assays to understand the interactions among the Hyena immune system, pathogens, and the microbial communities that inhabit Hyenas.
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symbiotic bacteria appear to mediate Hyena social odors
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2013Co-Authors: Kevin R Theis, Kay E Holekamp, Aaron P Wagner, Arvind Venkataraman, Jacquelyn A Dycus, Keith D Koonter, Emily N Schmittmatzen, Thomas M SchmidtAbstract:All animals harbor beneficial microbes. One way these microbes can benefit their animal hosts is by increasing the diversity and efficacy of communication signals available to the hosts. The fermentation hypothesis for mammalian chemical communication posits that bacteria in the scent glands of mammals generate odorous metabolites used by their hosts for communication and that variation in host chemical signals is a product of underlying variation in the bacterial communities inhabiting the scent glands. An effective test of this hypothesis would require accurate surveys of the bacterial communities in mammals’ scent glands and complementary data on the odorant profiles of scent secretions—both of which have been historically lacking. Here we use next-generation sequencing to survey deeply the bacterial communities in the scent glands of wild spotted and striped Hyenas. We show that these communities are dominated by fermentative bacteria and that the structures of these communities covary with the volatile fatty acid profiles of scent secretions in both Hyena species. The bacterial and volatile fatty acid profiles of secretions differ between spotted and striped Hyenas, and both profiles vary with sex and reproductive state among spotted Hyenas within a single social group. Our results strongly support the fermentation hypothesis for chemical communication, suggesting that symbiotic bacteria underlie species-specific odors in both spotted and striped Hyenas and further underlie sex and reproductive state-specific odors among spotted Hyenas. We anticipate that the fermentation hypothesis for chemical communication will prove broadly applicable among scent-marking mammals as others use the technical and analytical approaches used here.
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forces shaping major histocompatibility complex evolution in two Hyena species
Journal of Mammalogy, 2013Co-Authors: Katy J Califf, Kay E Holekamp, Elizabeth K Ratzloff, Aaron P Wagner, Barry L WilliamsAbstract:Genes of the mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are central to adaptive immunity. High levels of observed polymorphism at MHC loci have been hypothesized to be maintained by natural selection acting to preserve alleles for pathogen resistance. Here we examined patterns of multilocus MHC diversity in natural populations of 2 closely related carnivore species: spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and striped Hyenas (Hyaena hyaena). We also tested hypotheses suggesting specific selection pressures favoring MHC diversity in these Hyena species. We found several lines of evidence consistent with positive selection acting at multiple MHC loci in both species. These included high allelic variation, pervasive gene duplication, transspecies segregation of alleles, and codons evolving under positive selection that disproportionately map to known antigen-binding regions. Despite striking behavioral differences between these 2 hyaenids with respect to their mating systems and social behavior, we found no qualitative species differences in MHC loci, nor did we detect differences in the strength of natural selection. Our findings suggest that ancient shared selection pressures, including a common ancestral pattern of carrion feeding, has influenced MHC diversity more strongly in these Hyena species than have selection pressures imposed relatively recently by sociality or sexual selection.
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society demography and genetic structure in the spotted Hyena
Molecular Ecology, 2012Co-Authors: Kay E Holekamp, Heather E. Watts, Jennifer E Smith, Christopher C Strelioff, Russell C Van HornAbstract:Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are large mammalian carnivores, but their societies, called ‘clans’, resemble those of such cercopithecine primates as baboons and macaques with respect to their size, hierarchical structure, and frequency of social interaction among both kin and unrelated group-mates. However, in contrast to cercopithecine primates, spotted Hyenas regularly hunt antelope and compete with group-mates for access to kills, which are extremely rich food sources, but also rare and ephemeral. This unique occurrence of baboon-like sociality among top-level predators has favoured the evolution of many unusual traits in this species. We briefly review the relevant socioecology of spotted Hyenas, document great demographic variation but little variation in social structure across the species’ range, and describe the long-term fitness consequences of rank-related variation in resource access among clan-mates. We then summarize patterns of genetic relatedness within and between clans, including some from a population that had recently gone through a population bottleneck, and consider the roles of sexually dimorphic dispersal and female mate choice in the generation of these patterns. Finally, we apply social network theory under varying regimes of resource availability to analyse the effects of kinship on the stability of social relationships among members of one large Hyena clan in Kenya. Although social bonds among both kin and non-kin are weakest when resource competition is most intense, Hyenas sustain strong social relationships with kin year-round, despite constraints imposed by resource limitation. Our analyses suggest that selection might act on both individuals and matrilineal kin groups within clans containing multiple matrilines.
Heribert Hofer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Coronavirus genotype diversity and prevalence of infection in wild carnivores in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Archives of Virology, 2013Co-Authors: Katja V Goller, Jorns Fickel, Heribert Hofer, Sandra Beier, Marlene Lynette EastAbstract:Knowledge of coronaviruses in wild carnivores is limited. This report describes coronavirus genetic diversity, species specificity and infection prevalence in three wild African carnivores. Coronavirus RNA was recovered from fresh feces from spotted Hyena and silver-backed jackal, but not bat-eared fox. Analysis of sequences of membrane (M) and spike (S) gene fragments revealed strains in the genus Alphacoronavirus , including three distinct strains in Hyenas and one distinct strain in a jackal. Coronavirus RNA prevalence was higher in feces from younger (17 %) than older (3 %) Hyenas, highlighting the importance of young animals for coronavirus transmission in wild carnivores.
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Severe Streptococcus infection in spotted Hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
Veterinary microbiology, 2006Co-Authors: Oliver P Honer, Heribert Hofer, Bettina Wachter, Stephanie Speck, Gudrun Wibbelt, Arne Ludwig, Robert D Fyumagwa, Peter Wohlsein, Dietmar Lieckfeldt, Marion L EastAbstract:In a population of spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) monitored between 1996 and 2005 in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, 16 individuals from five of eight social groups displayed clinical signs of an infection, including severe unilateral swelling of the head followed by abscess formation at the mandibular angle, respiratory distress, mild ataxia, and lethargy. Two (12.5%) of these 16 individuals died within days of developing signs. Clinical signs in Hyenas were first noted in 2001, and most cases occurred between September 2002 and February 2003, suggesting an outbreak of infection during this period. Histopathological examination of internal organs from one Hyena that died with signs revealed morphological changes consistent with severe bacterial infection. Phenotypic examination and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the causative agent of infection revealed a Lancefield group C Streptococcus with a high level of homology to S. equi subsp. ruminatorum, a subspecies of S. equi recently described in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) with mastitis in Spain. Strains similar to this bacterium were also isolated from two Hyenas without obvious clinical signs, suggesting that Hyenas may be 'carriers' of this bacterium, and from a sympatric Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli), a herbivore species often consumed by Hyenas. To our knowledge this is the first report of a Streptococcus infection in these two wildlife species. The high genetic similarity between the Hyena and zebra isolates indicates that inter-specific transmission may occur, possibly when Hyenas consume infected zebra carcasses.
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Short communication Severe Streptococcus infection in spotted Hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
2006Co-Authors: Oliver P Honer, Heribert Hofer, Bettina Wachter, Stephanie Speck, Gudrun Wibbelt, Arne Ludwig, Robert D Fyumagwa, Peter Wohlsein, Dietmar Lieckfeldt, Marion L EastAbstract:AbstractIn a population of spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) monitored between 1996 and 2005 in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania,16 individuals from five of eight social groups displayed clinical signs of an infection, including severe unilateral swelling of thehead followed by abscess formation at the mandibular angle, respiratory distress, mild ataxia, and lethargy.Two(12.5%) of these16 individuals died within days of developing signs. Clinical signs in Hyenas were first noted in 2001, and most cases occurredbetween September 2002 and February 2003, suggesting an outbreak of infection during this period. Histopathologicalexamination of internal organs from one Hyena that died with signs revealed morphological changes consistent with severebacterial infection. Phenotypic examination and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the causative agent of infectionrevealed a Lancefield group C Streptococcus with a high level of homology to S. equi subsp. ruminatorum, a subspecies of S.equi recently described in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) with mastitis in Spain. Strains similar to thisbacterium were also isolated from two Hyenas without obvious clinical signs, suggesting that Hyenas may be ‘carriers’ of thisbacterium, and from a sympatric Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchelli), a herbivore species often consumed by Hyenas. To ourknowledge this is the first report of a Streptococcus infection in these two wildlife species. The high genetic similarity betweenthe Hyena and zebra isolates indicates that inter-specific transmission may occur, possibly when Hyenas consume infected zebracarcasses.# 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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the effect of prey abundance and foraging tactics on the population dynamics of a social territorial carnivore the spotted Hyena
Oikos, 2005Co-Authors: Oliver P Honer, Bettina Wachter, Marion L East, Victor Runyoro, Heribert HoferAbstract:We used naturally occurring spatial and temporal changes in prey abundance to investigate whether the foraging behavior of a social, territorial carnivore, the spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), conformed to predictions derived from the ideal free distribution. We demonstrate that Hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, redistributed themselves from less profitable to more profitable areas, even when this required them to undertake foraging trips to areas beyond their clan territory boundary, or required normally philopatric females to emigrate. As expected for a system with rank related access to food resources in the territory, females of low social status foraged more often outside their territory and were more likely to emigrate than dominant females. Probably because Crater Hyenas regularly foraged outside their territories, there was no correlation between clan size and prey density within territories, suggesting that clan sizes may have exceeded the carrying capacity of territories. A substantial decline of the Hyena population in the Crater from 385 adults in the mid 1960s to 117 in 1996 was most likely due to a substantial decline of their main prey. The decline in the Hyena population was associated with a decline in the size of clans but not in the number of clans. The number of clans probably remained constant due to emigration by females from large clans into vacant areas or clans with no adult females, and because Hyenas regularly fed in areas containing concentrations of prey beyond their territory boundary. Between 1996 and 2003 annual recruitment rates of Crater Hyenas consistently exceeded annual mortality rates, resulting in an almost doubling of the adult population. This increase was most likely due to an increase in prey abundance, a relatively low level of predation on Hyenas by lions (Panthera leo), and an absence of high levels of disease related mortality.
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characterization of spotted Hyena crocuta crocuta microsatellite loci
Molecular Ecology Notes, 2003Co-Authors: Kerstin Wilhelm, Heribert Hofer, Marion L East, Deborah A Dawson, L K Gentle, Giles F Horsfield, Christian Schlotterer, Carolsyn Greig, Diethard Tautz, Terry BurkeAbstract:We have isolated 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the spotted Hyena, Crocuta crocuta . The loci displayed between eight and 14 alleles in a minimum of 12 individuals tested. These loci will be used to investigate relatedness within social groups, the genetic structure of populations, sexual selection, and mate choice in spotted Hyenas.
Gabriella Mangano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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first finding of a partially articulated elephant skeleton from a late pleistocene Hyena den in sicily san teodoro cave north eastern sicily italy
Quaternary International, 2012Co-Authors: Gabriella Mangano, Laura BonfiglioAbstract:Abstract Associated and partially articulated fossil remains of the endemic reduced size elephant Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis have been recently discovered at San Teodoro Cave, a large Late Pleistocene Hyena den in Sicily. The skeletal elements belong to both cranial and post-cranial portions, and are represented by a semi-complete mandible, a tusk fragment, a cervical vertebra, three thoracic vertebrae, a rib fragment, a scapula, a distal epiphysis of radius, a pyramidal bone, a III metacarpal bone, a coxal bone fragment, a femur shaft, two symmetrical pairs of tibias and fibulas, a patella and an astragalus. The bones were recovered mixed with remains belonging to other taxa, numerous Hyena coprolites and with a juvenile elephant mandible in the perinatal stage. On the basis of anatomical representation, spatial distribution and development stages, the partially articulated elephant bones from the San Teodoro Cave belong to a single adult individual, perhaps a female, which probably entered the cave before its death, and was afterwards scavenged and disarticulated by Hyenas. This is the first finding of a partially articulated elephant skeleton from a fossil Hyena den, and may attest to the intermittent use of the cave by Hyenas and elephants.
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an exclusively Hyena collected bone assemblage in the late pleistocene of sicily taphonomy and stratigraphic context of the large mammal remains from san teodoro cave north eastern sicily italy
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2011Co-Authors: Gabriella ManganoAbstract:A detailed taphonomic analysis of the large mammal assemblage from 1998 to 2006 excavations at San Teodoro Cave is presented, taking into account the stratigraphic context of the deposits. Three not strictly contemporary fossiliferous levels having different lithological features have been detected, here named B-I, B-II, and B-III. Fossil remains are prevalently accumulated in B-I and B-II. The three levels are characterized by evidence of Crocuta crocuta spelaea occupation, represented by their skeletal remains, coprolites, and distinctive damages on the bones, similar to fossil and modern spotted Hyena dens from Europe and Africa. A differential distribution of coprolites and small digested bones, probably due to different humidity conditions, has been recognized in B-I and B-II, and can be related to different topographic locations within the cave or to different climate conditions during the sedimentation phases. The very low density of fossil remains in B-III, which is the oldest level, could indicate an area that was less inhabited by Hyenas, probably due to geomorphological conditions. Taphonomic comparison of the three fossiliferous levels of the San Teodoro Cave deposits points to a long-term, perhaps cyclic, occupation of the cave by Hyenas and confirms the cave as one of the most important Pleistocene Hyena dens in Europe.
Laura Bonfiglio - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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first finding of a partially articulated elephant skeleton from a late pleistocene Hyena den in sicily san teodoro cave north eastern sicily italy
Quaternary International, 2012Co-Authors: Gabriella Mangano, Laura BonfiglioAbstract:Abstract Associated and partially articulated fossil remains of the endemic reduced size elephant Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis have been recently discovered at San Teodoro Cave, a large Late Pleistocene Hyena den in Sicily. The skeletal elements belong to both cranial and post-cranial portions, and are represented by a semi-complete mandible, a tusk fragment, a cervical vertebra, three thoracic vertebrae, a rib fragment, a scapula, a distal epiphysis of radius, a pyramidal bone, a III metacarpal bone, a coxal bone fragment, a femur shaft, two symmetrical pairs of tibias and fibulas, a patella and an astragalus. The bones were recovered mixed with remains belonging to other taxa, numerous Hyena coprolites and with a juvenile elephant mandible in the perinatal stage. On the basis of anatomical representation, spatial distribution and development stages, the partially articulated elephant bones from the San Teodoro Cave belong to a single adult individual, perhaps a female, which probably entered the cave before its death, and was afterwards scavenged and disarticulated by Hyenas. This is the first finding of a partially articulated elephant skeleton from a fossil Hyena den, and may attest to the intermittent use of the cave by Hyenas and elephants.
