Bone collecting by hyaenas: a review

Abstract

Three species of hyaenas are discussed, comparing their scavenging, feeding and hunting habits in relation to bone collecting. Hyaena hyaena and Parahyaena brunnea can be classified as ineffectual hunters but as solitary scavengers, while Crocuta crocuta, although it does scavenge, subsists largely by hunting medium-sized to large ungulates in packs. These differences have given rise to a great deal of conjecture in the past but it is now unequivocally established that the smaller scavenging hyaenas carry food back to their cubs at maternity dens, thereby contributing to extensive bone assemblages at den sites, which, in turn, reflect the faunal assemblage in adjacent areas to the den. Bones such as mandibles and long bones do not disintegrate at the same rate as smaller bones. On the other hand, spotted hyaenas largely feed where they kill their prey on find their food, carrying predominantly long bones away.