Brown Hyaena Research Articles

Middle Stone Age fauna from the RS sub-member (MSA I) at Cave 1B, Klasies River Main site, South Africa

Klasies River is an important site for the study of the evolution of Homo sapiens, understanding modern behaviour and human interaction with the environment during the Middle Stone Age. The faunal sample from the RS sub-member in Cave 1B (MSA I), dating to ca. 115 000 years ago and older, was recently analysed. The results indicate that humans were hunting a variety of prey. The most common taxa in the sample are indeterminate medium birds, indeterminate small mammals, rock hyraxes, and indeterminate medium mammals. Based on multiple lines of evidence including the presence of: cultural artefacts, shellfish, tortoises, large mammals, butchery marks, and burnt specimens; and, a lack of carnivore taxa compared to ungulates (as reflected in the low carnivore-ungulate ratio), hyena coprolites and beak damage, coupled with infrequent baboons and the absence of leopards (as reflected in the low leopard index), it is apparent that humans were the main agent of accumulation of the fauna. However, other agents of accumulation such as brown hyenas, leopards and raptors likely contributed some faunal remains, especially of smaller taxa.

Frugivory by carnivores: Black‐backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert

AbstractCarnivorous mammals have been reported to feed on fleshy fruits and disperse seeds, but these interactions are seldom observed and are poorly understood in hyper‐arid regions. Scent may play a key role in these interactions, given that most carnivores have sensitive olfactory systems and dichromatic vision. The !nara (Acanthosicyos horridus: Cucurbitaceae) in the Namib Desert produces large (10–20 cm diameter) melons that remain green while undergoing increased volatile emissions with a changing chemical profile as they ripen. Using extensive camera trapping, we found that the fruits are consumed mainly by black‐backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and rarely also by other carnivores such as cape fox (Vulpes chama) and brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea). We found that scent cues play a crucial role as jackals mainly sought fruits at night and easily located ripe fruits that were experimentally buried beneath the sand to remove visual cues. Seeds retrieved from jackal scat showed improved germination relative to un‐ingested seeds. This study highlights the importance of fruit scent in mediating seed dispersal mutualisms involving carnivores.

Finders' eaters: Increasing bush encroachment may shift carcass detection from diurnal avian to nocturnal mammalian scavengers

AbstractBush encroachment is increasingly becoming a problem for biodiversity conservation in African savannas. While this invasion by woody vegetation may hamper avian scavengers such as vultures, which primarily search by sight, it may benefit mammalian scavengers that search by smell. This study aimed to examine the ability of nocturnal mammalian and diurnal avian scavengers to locate carcasses at increasing vegetation densities. We successively placed 27 impala (Aepyceros melampus) carcasses five days apart in a 2000 ha fenced game camp that offered an extensive range of woody plant densities. Scavenger arrivals and first feedings were recorded with camera traps. The avian scavengers, mainly white‐backed Vultures (Gyps africanus), fed exclusively on carcasses during the day, and mammalian scavengers, predominantly brown hyenas (Parahyena brunnea), fed solely at night. The two guilds thus competed exploitatively without direct interaction between them. For vultures, the time taken to locate a carcass increased with woody plant density. The mean density of woody plants that avian scavengers located carcasses at was 2188 plants/ha, whereas mammalian scavengers located carcasses at appreciably higher densities of 5156 plants/ha. Resource managers need to understand the synergy between maintaining woody vegetation to benefit nocturnal mammalian scavengers and maintaining open savannas to benefit diurnal avian scavengers.

Recommendations for the development of a carnivore viewing site at a colony of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in southern Namibia

ABSTRACT This study examined the daily and monthly activity patterns of brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) and black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) at a Cape fur seal colony in southern Namibia, to provide recommendations for developing a sustainable wildlife viewing site. Observations conducted between November 2020 and October 2022 showed that the carnivores were most active between May and October, with jackals showing peak activity around sunrise and sunset, and brown hyenas mostly visiting around midday. The animals were more active during cloudy and cool weather. With the diurnal activity of carnivores and their predation behaviour on Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) pups, the area has high ecotourism potential. Brown hyenas, however, are sensitive to human disturbance, such as moving vehicles and unknown sounds and smells. Therefore, limiting the number of visitors and creating a fixed viewpoint is recommended to minimise disturbance. This study provides valuable input on how ecotourism activities could be developed at a seal colony without compromising the sensitive wildlife there.

Unravelling the origin of the brown hyena (Parahyena brunnea) and its evolutionary and paleoecological implications for the Pachycrocuta lineage

Unravelling the origin of the brown hyena (Parahyena brunnea) and its evolutionary and paleoecological implications for the Pachycrocuta lineage

Mammal diversity of an urbanised environment in an arid zone of south-west Africa

Thorough investigation of the entire mammalian assemblages has not been hitherto conducted in any African city. Most studies were limited to single species causing problems to citizens or to small mammals causing health hazard. In 2011–2020, 81 mammal species were recorded in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, although only 34 (42.0%) species occurred in the inner zone of the city (50 sq. km). The most speciose (25 species) order were rodents. Within this order the most speciose was the family Muridae (n = 13 species), while the most common rodent species were: Rhabdomys pumilio, Mastomys coucha, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, and Gerbillurus paeba. The second most speciose group of mammals were Chiroptera represented by 14 (17.3%) species in the outer zone (650 sq. km) and 8 species (23.5%) in the inner zone. Ungulates, although mostly rare or uncommon, were in the outer zone represented by eight (9.9%) species. None was, however, recorded in the inner zone. Nineteen Carnivora species (23.5%) were recorded in the outer zone, but only two of them in the inner zone. Other species recorded in Windhoek were representatives of seven other orders: Eulipotyphla (n = 4 spp.), Macroscelidea (n = 3), Lagomorpha (n = 3), Hyracoidea (n = 1), Primates (n=2), Tubulidentata (n = 1), and Pholidota (n = 1). Two species, Cynictis penicillata and Geosciurus inauris, were found to be relatively common in the inner zone. They have reached a population density (5.6 and >2.0 individuals per 100 ha, respectively) higher than in any other cities in Namibia, and probably in southern Africa at large. Despite intense searching in the inner zone, Hystrix africeaustralis and Procavia capensis were only recorded in a shrubby hill. The Procavia capensis population was estimated at 40–70 individuals. A few troops of Papio ursinus are resident only in the outer zone. The following species recorded in Windhoek are in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Acinonx jubatus, Panthera pardus, Felis nigripes, Hyaena brunnea, and Smutia temminckii. Noteworthy is the absence of any alien mammal species in the inner zone, and the presence of only Mus musculus in the outer zone of the city. The protection of mammals in Windhoek, especially in the outer zone, may act as a catalyst to move the municipality governance towards a more effective biodiversity conservation.

Impact of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild: a comparison of activity patterns at artificial waterholes to roads and trails.

Temporal partitioning in large carnivores have previously been found to be one of the main factors enabling co-existence. While activity patterns have been investigated separately at artificial waterholes and e.g., game trails, simultaneous comparative analyses of activity patterns at artificial waterholes and game trails have not been attempted. In this study, camera trap data from Maremani Nature Reserve was used to investigate whether temporal partitioning existed in a carnivore guild of four species (spotted hyena, leopard, brown hyena and African wild dog). Specifically, we investigated temporal partitioning at artificial waterholes and on roads and trails an average of 1,412 m away from an artificial waterhole. Activity patterns for the same species at artificial waterholes and roads/game trails were also compared. We found no significant differences in temporal activity between species at artificial waterholes. Temporal partitioning on game trails and roads was only found between spotted hyena (nocturnal) and African wild dog (crepuscular). Between nocturnal species (spotted hyena and leopard) no temporal partitioning was exhibited. Only African wild dog exhibited significantly different activity patterns at waterholes and roads/game trails. This indicates artificial waterholes may be a location for conflict in a carnivore guild. Our study highlights the impact of anthropogenic landscape changes and management decisions on the temporal axis of carnivores. More data on activity patterns at natural water sources such as ephemeral pans are needed to properly assess the effect of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild.

Estimating mesocarnivore abundance on commercial farmland using distance sampling with camera traps

AbstractMesocarnivores are of particular interest in wildlife management. Their adaptability makes them a focus of public attention globally, as negative interactions with people occur regularly, but their importance to wider ecosystem function is increasingly apparent. Robust methods for estimating mesocarnivore densities are essential for long‐term management strategies. Estimating densities of unmarked populations remains challenging, but new methods, based on camera trapping, have recently become available and require field testing.We conducted two camera trap surveys over two 200 km2areas of commercial farmland in South Africa. One survey sampled 25 locations, while the second used a migrating grid to sample 59 locations; total sampling effort was similar across the two surveys. We applied distance sampling with camera traps (CTDS), developing a method to estimate animal distances by applying a distance measurement overlay grid to camera trap images.We aimed to establish meaningful density estimates of the mesocarnivore guild and evaluate CTDS's suitability for broader use with these types of species. We obtained density estimates for four carnivores, African civetCivettictis civetta, black‐backed jackalCanis mesomelas, brown hyenaHyaena brunneaand caracalCaracal caracal, providing valuable insight into their status in commercial farmland. Imprecision in the estimates was almost exclusively due to encounter rate variance, which was not reduced with the migrating camera grid.We explored the sensitivity of our results to assumptions determining the value of the ‘snapshot interval’, demonstrating that careful selection of this parameter is vital to ensuring reliable estimates when using rapid‐fire photo burst modes.CTDS can provide useful density estimates for mesocarnivores, but future studies should aim to maximize precision and reliability by increasing sampling locations. More studies are required in areas with known densities to promote confidence in accuracy.

An Evaluation of Landmark-Based Methods to Explore Tooth Score Morphology: A Case Study on Felids and Hyenids

Taphonomic studies aim to identify the modifying agents that intervene in bone assemblages found at archaeopaleontological sites. Carnivores may modify, accumulate, or scavenge skeletal parts inflicting tooth marks, including scores, on the cortical surface. Several works have studied tooth score morphology to discern which carnivore group modified the bone assemblages, achieving different results. In the present study, different methods based on the use of landmarks and semilandmarks have been tested to describe and analyze the score profile cross-sections of spotted and brown hyenas, leopards, and lions. According to our results, the already published seven-landmark method is useful in order to differentiate between carnivore species from different families (e.g., felids and hyenids). Meanwhile, felid species (e.g., leopards and lions) cannot be consistently distinguished using any of the methods tested here. In contrast, hyenid species can be morphologically differentiated. On the other hand, the use of semilandmarks does not generally improve morphological characterization and distinction, but low numbers of landmarks and the inclusion of the score’s deepest point might provide the best results when semi-automatic semilandmark models are preferred to avoid sampling biases.

IceAgeSafari in Central Europe along the Rhine Valley migration channel – Mid‐Late Pleistocene spotted, brown, stripped hyena palaeobiogeography and evolution

AbstractAt the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 21, 800,000 BP), three distinct hyenas remained to appear in Europe with the spotted hyena (Crocuta), brown hyena (Parahyaena) and striped hyena (Hyaena). Each developed in monophyletic lineages, whereas rare brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea mosbachensis (Geib, 1915) and striped hyena Hyaena hyaena prisca De Serres, Dubreuil and Jeanjean, (1828) did not change in their dentition morphology much to their modern forms. Those warm period extinct hyenas did not migrate from Africa over the Rhine Graben migratory channel to Central Europe after the late Mid‐Pleistocene Holsteinian Interglacial (MIS 9). The spotted hyenas took over the niche of European hyenas with their appearance in warm and cold periods. Those used more and more cave entrances as dens between Spain and Siberia. Their more rapid dental change coevolved from the largest “giant hyena” Crocuta brevirostris Boule, (1893) (Early Pleistocene, MIS 40‐20), over Crocuta intermedia De Serres, Dubreuil and Jeanjean, 1828 (Early Mid‐Pleistocene, MIS 19‐12), C. praespelaea Schütt, 1971 (Early Mid‐Pleistocene, MIS 11‐6), to Crocuta crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823) (Early Mid‐Pleistocene, MIS 5‐3), which is genetically a subspecies to Modern African extant Crocuta crocuta crocuta Erxleben, 1777 (MIS 2‐1). Spotted hyenas developed a perfect thick‐skin cutter M1 by elongation and bone crusher conical P4 teeth. This adaptation to their main thick‐skin big game guilt: elephants, rhinos and hippos.

Seasonal variation in prey preference, diet partitioning and niche breadth in a rich large carnivore guild

AbstractLarge carnivore community structure is affected by direct and indirect interactions between intra‐guild members. Co‐existence between different species within a carnivore guild may occur through diet, habitat or temporal partitioning. Since carnivore species are highly dependent on availability and accessibility of prey, diet partitioning is potentially one of the most important mechanisms in allowing carnivores to co‐exist. Intra‐guild interactions may vary over time as carnivore prey preference and diet overlap can change due to seasonal changes in resource availability. We conducted scat analysis to compare the seasonal changes in prey preference, diet partitioning and niche breadth of four large carnivore species, namely leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta, brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea and wild dog Lycaon pictus in central Tuli, Botswana. Large carnivores in central Tuli display a high dietary overlap, with spotted hyena and brown hyena displaying almost complete dietary overlap and the other carnivore species displaying slightly lower but still significant dietary overlap. Dietary niche breadth for both hyena species was high possibly due to their flexible foraging strategies, including scavenging, while leopard and wild dog showed a relatively low niche breadth, suggesting a more specialised diet. High dietary overlap in central Tuli is possibly explained by the high abundance of prey species in the area thereby reducing competition pressure between carnivore species. Our research highlights the need to assess the influence of diet partitioning in structuring large carnivore communities across multiple study sites, by demonstrating that in prey rich environments, the need for diet partitioning by carnivores to avoid competition may be limited.

Leopard density and interspecific spatiotemporal interactions in a hyena-dominated landscape.

Scavenging is widespread in the carnivore guild and can greatly impact food web structures and population dynamics by either facilitation or suppression of sympatric carnivores. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, carnivores are increasingly forced into close sympatry, possibly resulting in more interactions such as kleptoparasitism and competition. In this paper, we investigate the potential for these interactions when carnivore densities are high. A camera trap survey was conducted in central Tuli, Botswana, to examine leopard Panthera pardus densities and spatiotemporal activity patterns of leopard and its most important competitors' brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea and spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta. Spatial capture–recapture models estimated leopard population density to be 12.7 ± 3.2 leopard/100 km2, which is one of the highest leopard densities in Africa. Time‐to‐event analyses showed both brown hyena and spotted hyena were observed more frequently before and after a leopard observation than expected by chance. The high spatiotemporal overlap of both hyena species with leopard is possibly explained by leopard providing scavenging opportunities for brown hyena and spotted hyena. Our results suggest that central Tuli is a high‐density leopard area, despite possible intense kleptoparasitism and competition.

Carnivores and hominins contributions to the Early Pleistocene bone accumulation of Cooper's D, South Africa

Carnivores have long been identified as one of the most important taphonomical agents of the Plio-Pleistocene hominin-bearing caves of South Africa. Cooper's D is an eroded cave deposit dated between 1.3 and 1.0 Ma and has yielded an abundant and diverse large mammal faunal assemblage. It has been previously argued that brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea) were the main accumulator agent. However, more recently the involvement of hominins has also been identified in the accumulation of at least a part of the assemblage. In this paper, we first describe the composition of the carnivore paleoguild from Cooper's D, which permits to highlight an important taxonomic diversity. The completeness indexes indicate good retention of bone material in our analysis. The carnivore ravaging index pointed out the relative moderate impact of carnivores in the destruction of the bone assemblage. Through skeletal part representation, mortality profiles and bone surface modifications, we argue that large felids, and especially leopards, can in fact be identified as the most probable main taphonomic agents. Moreover, we confirmed the involvement of hyenids but also canids in the accumulation and modification of the assemblage. Based on the multiple carnivore taphonomic signal, we proposed that the cave was not used as a carnivore den on a regular basis. Thus, we argue that Cooper's D faunal assemblage is the result of the independent accumulations of both hominins and carnivores.

The value of individual identification in studies of free-living hyenas and aardwolves.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42991-022-00309-4.

Diet and ecological niches of the Late Pleistocene hyenas Crocuta spelaea and C. ultima ussurica based on a study of tooth microwear

Extinct hyenas of the genus Crocuta were typical representatives of the Late Pleistocene mammoth fauna of Eurasia. The geographical distribution of these animals was vast, stretching from the British Isles to the Pacific coast. In this paper, we studied the tooth microwear of Crocuta spelaea from the Prolom 2 grotto in Crimea and the Bukhtarminskaya Cave in eastern Kazakhstan, and C. ultima ussurica from the Geographical Society Cave in the Russian Far East, to provide a comparative analysis of the feeding habits of these two species and to test for ecological differences. We also tested for ontogenic differences in diet through a comparison of juvenile and adult individuals. Our findings show that the microwear patterns of these Late Pleistocene hyenas resemble those of extant spotted hyenas (C. crocuta) but differ from those of extant stripped (Hyaena hyaena) and brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea). However, we noted that the number of scratches in the C. ultima ussurica specimens exceeded the variability observed in extant spotted hyenas and instead more closely resembled the microwear signal of typical predators (e.g., lions). Adults and juveniles exhibited similar microwear patterns in terms of the quantity of pits and scratches; however, most juveniles lacked cross scratches, as also observed in most individuals from Prolom 2. This pattern could be related to a higher proportion of meat in the diet of juveniles, without excluding the consumption of bones. Our tooth microwear analysis improves the knowledge of the paleobiology of extinct representatives of the genus Crocuta.

Camera traps reveal a large population of brown hyaena on a fenced reserve in southern Zimbabwe

AbstractInvestigations into the demographics of cryptic carnivores such as the near‐threatened brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea have been improved by recent developments in camera trap technology and survey methods. Here, we assess the population density and abundance of this species on the Bubye Valley Conservancy (BVC) in south‐west Zimbabwe, a largely unsurveyed portion of the brown hyaena's range. We estimated brown hyaena density from a camera trap survey across two sections of the BVC (namely Main Conservancy and Ripple Creek) using a spatially explicit capture‐recapture method from individually identifiable images. This resulted in population density estimates of 14.72 ± 0.99 per 100 km2 for the Main Conservancy and 6.39 ± 1.74 for the Ripple Creek. While similar results have been found in recent studies of small, fenced reserves in Southern Africa, to our knowledge, these high‐density findings are the first for a large (>1000 km2) fenced reserve. We estimated the brown hyaena population on the BVC to be in excess of 400 individuals. This considerable population size is likely due to the well‐protected nature of the reserve and the scavenging opportunities provided by the sympatric large carnivores on the BVC, suggesting that this is a key locale for the species' conservation.

The effect of body size on co‐occurrence patterns within an African carnivore guild

Intraguild interactions among mammalian carnivores are important in shaping carnivore guild composition. Competing species may inhabit different areas and/or being active during different times to reduce the risk of aggressive interactions, but the role of body size in intraguild interactions within carnivore guilds remains largely unknown. We determined spatial and temporal co‐occurrence of small, medium‐sized and large carnivores of the carnivore guild in central Tuli, Botswana: lion Panthera leo, leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta, brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea, black‐backed jackal Canis mesomelas, bat‐eared fox Otocyon megalotis, African wildcat Felis sylvestris lybica, African civet Civettictis civetta, honey badger Mellivora capensis and small‐spotted genet Genetta genetta. We used camera trap data over a two‐year period and quantified the degree of temporal and spatial overlap by comparing activity patterns and calculating Pianka's index respectively. Our results showed that temporal overlap in activity between all carnivore species was high, but complete overlap was possibly reduced by differences in peak activity periods. In addition, low to moderate levels of spatial overlap were found between the different carnivore species, supporting the idea that small carnivore species inhabit different areas than large species to reduce the risk of interference competition. Due to the possible strong competition amongst sympatric carnivores there is a need for more knowledge on co‐existence patterns for successful management and conservation of carnivore species, for example when carnivore species are (re)introduced in an area.

Feeding Ecology of the Large Carnivore Guild in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Southern Africa has a diverse large carnivore guild. When this large carnivore guild is confined to fenced protected areas, the degree of intraguild competition may increase. Dietary overlap is a notable point of competition and can have considerable effects on lower trophic levels. We considered the prey preferences, dietary overlap, and dietary niche breadth of the large carnivore guild in Madikwe Game Reserve through direct observations and scat analysis, over one year of sampling. These data were analysed using the Jacobs' index for prey preference, the Pianka's index for dietary overlap and Levin's index for dietary niche breadth. Leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) had a high degree of dietary overlap and were specialized in their diet selection. Lions (Panthera leo), brown (Parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) also showed a high degree of dietary overlap and had broad diets. Our results show similarities to those of open systems, suggesting that large carnivore diet selection may not be negatively affected when they are confined by fences. We recommend further investigations into the variables which may affect site-specific carnivore diet selection.

The hunted or the scavenged? Australopith accumulation by brown hyenas at Sterkfontein (South Africa)

In the present study, we report brown hyena tooth marks on australopiths from Sterkfontein's Plio-Pleistocene-age Member 4 (South Africa). Classic taphonomic analyses and the implementation of new techniques, including Geometric Morphometrics and Machine Learning, are combined to identify the modifying agent and provide the first direct evidence of hyenid scavenging on australopiths. This hypothesis adds a new perspective to the relationships between carnivores and hominins in the Cradle by expanding on previous hypotheses proposing that leopards were the primary predator and bone accumulator of early hominin remains at South African palaeocaves.

Estimates of carnivore densities in a human-dominated agricultural matrix in South Africa

AbstractPopulations of carnivore species outside protected areas may be of considerable importance for conservation, as many protected areas do not provide sufficient space for viable populations. Data on carnivore population sizes and trends are often biased towards protected areas, and few studies have examined the role of unprotected areas for carnivore conservation. We used camera-trapping data and spatial capture–recapture models to estimate population densities for four sympatric carnivores: the African leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta, brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea and African civet Civettictis civetta in Platjan, a predominantly agricultural, mixed land-use system, South Africa. Mean densities per 100 km2 for the leopard were 2.20 (95% CI 1.32–3.68) and 2.18 (95% CI 1.32–3.61) for left and right flank data, respectively; spotted hyaena, 0.22 (95% CI 0.06–0.81); brown hyaena, 0.74 (95% CI 0.30–1.88); and African civet 3.60 (95% CI 2.34–5.57; left flanks) and 3.71 (95% CI 2.41–5.72; right flanks). Our results indicate that although densities are lower than those reported for protected areas, humans and predators coexist in this unprotected agricultural matrix. We suggest that increased conservation effort should be focused in such areas, to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts. Our study improves the knowledge available for carnivore populations on privately owned, unprotected land, and may benefit conservation planning.