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Evidence of carnivore gnawing on Pleistocene and Recent mammalian bones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2016

Gary Haynes
Gary Haynes*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560
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Abstract

Based on inspection of gnawing damage done to bones of modern prey animals, sets of typical damage types or patterns are recognized for certain elements. The presence of these damage patterns suggests carnivore activity even when bones exhibit no identifiable tooth marks or other obvious sign of gnawing. Observations are made of these damage types on bones of Pleistocene and Recent North American mammals, including Bison, proboscidean, Alces, Equus, Cervus, and Rangifer. Damage to the following elements is briefly described: antlers, vertebrae, scapulae, humeri, ulnae, radii, femora, tibiae, metapodials, and innominates.

Type
Articles
Information
Paleobiology , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , Summer 1980 , pp. 341 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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