Bone collecting by brown hyaenas Hyaena brunnea in the central Namib Desert, Namibia

Abstract

Results are presented of bone accumulations at two dens utilized by brown hyaenas in the Namib Desert. Seventy-seven percent of 3500 bones could be identified representing 142 different food items. Fur seals accounted for 2 5 of the assemblages, other carnivores a quarter, ungulates only 1 20 and the remaining 1 5 avifauna. The results confirm that such assemblages can accurately reflect the composition of the vertebrate fauna from which brown hyaenas scavenge food.