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Abstract
Lions (Panthera leo) feed on diverse prey species, a range that is broadened by their cooperative hunting. Although humans are not typical prey, habitual man-eating by lions is well documented. Fathoming the motivations of the Tsavo and Mfuwe man-eaters (killed in 1898 in Kenya and 1991 in Zambia, respectively) may be elusive, but we can clarify aspects of their behaviour using dental microwear texture analysis. Specifically, we analysed the surface textures of lion teeth to assess whether these notorious man-eating lions scavenged carcasses during their depredations. Compared to wild-caught lions elsewhere in Africa and other large feliforms, including cheetahs and hyenas, dental microwear textures of the man-eaters do not suggest extreme durophagy (e.g. bone processing) shortly before death. Dental injuries to two of the three man-eaters examined may have induced shifts in feeding onto softer foods. Further, prompt carcass reclamation by humans likely limited the man-eaters’ access to bones. Man-eating was likely a viable alternative to hunting and/or scavenging ungulates due to dental disease and/or limited prey availability.
Highlights
Lions (Panthera leo) once inhabited much of Africa, southeastern Europe, and southwestern Asia[1]
For extant carnivorous taxa, increased complexity and increased textural fill volume are associated with increased durophagy[17, 18, 23,24,25,26]
Textural fill volume of wild-caught feliforms is lowest in A. jubatus, followed by P. leo, with A. jubatus and P. leo having significantly lower Tfv values than all hyenas (p < 0.05)
Summary
Lions (Panthera leo) once inhabited much of Africa, southeastern Europe, and southwestern Asia[1]. Lions (Panthera leo) occupy savannas and deserts in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding rainforests and the Sahara), with an isolated population located in the Gir Forest of India They are highly social, and males and females each live in persistent bonded groups[2]. The man-eater from Mfuwe had fractured its right mandibular ramus These injuries may have been decisive factors influencing their consumption of humans. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) can clarify the textural properties of consumed food, including durophagy in carnivorans, and clearly distinguishes feliforms that eat primarily flesh (the cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus), from generalists (P. leo), and various hyenas which are known to fully consume carcasses, including bone[17, 18]. For extant carnivorous taxa, increased complexity and increased textural fill volume are associated with increased durophagy[17, 18, 23,24,25,26]
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