Socioterritorial Units and Interspecific Competition: Modern Carnivores and Early Hominids

Abstract

Comparative study of social carnivores is a source of ideas about hominid behavior during the earlier stages of adaptation to cooperative big-game hunting. Within this framework, this paper supports and expands a theory previously presented. It was argued that the predominant social units of hyenas, lions, and wolves share several key features. Such units are defined by relative stability in personnel and home range, but they share the capacity to scatter into fluid subgroups that remain affiliated with each other. Evidence is now presented to show that the Indian wild dog, another social carnivore, is organized in the same way. The term "sept" is proposed to designate the comparable unit in all species. Based on data from the Indian wild dog and the hyena, it is argued that one important function of the sept is to provide numerical strength which allows a relatively small predator to compete effectively with larger ones, such as tigers and lions. The relevance of this interpretation to early hominids is discussed.