Cave Hyena
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| Cave Hyena Fossil range: Middle to Late Pleistocene |
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 Reconstruction of cave hyena
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Prehistoric
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The Cave Hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea) is an extinct subspecies of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) native to Eurasia, ranging from Northern China to Spain and into the British Isles. Though originally described as a separate species from the spotted hyena due to large differences in fore and hind extremities, genetic analysis indicates no sizeable differences in DNA between the two animals.[1] It is known from a range of fossils and prehistoric cave art. They became extinct across their range near the end of the last ice age (between 20,000 and 10,000 years BC).
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[edit] Description
The main distinction between the spotted hyena and the cave hyena is grounded on different lengths of the hind and fore limb bones. The humerus and femur are longer in the cave hyena, indicating an adaptation to a different habitat to that of the spotted hyena. It is unknown if they showed the same sexual dimorphism of the spotted hyena.[1]
Little is known of their social habits. It is widely accepted that they inhabited caves. There is no indication of cave hyenas living in large clans or on a more solitary basis, though large clans are not considered likely in their Pleistocene habitat.[1]
[edit] Dietary habits
Like modern hyenas, cave hyenas accumulated the bones and horns of their food at den sites for later consumption or for play, though it is unknown if the discovered remains were from scavenged or killed animals. Studies of animal remains in hyena den sites in the Bohemian Karst show that Przewalski's Horses were apparently their most common prey, which amounted to 16-51% of the cave hyena's prey. Their largest prey was the woolly rhinoceros, the bones and skulls of which have been found in many hyena den sites. In some regions, rhino remains can comprise 25-30% of the total prey bone material in den sites. Reindeer were another important food source, as they made up 7-15% of the cave hyena's prey. The Steppe Wisent made up only 1-6% of the cave hyena's prey. Red deer only comprised 3% of found remains, with Irish Elk being even rarer. The remains of alpine fauna including chamois and ibex are absent in some places, representing less then 3% of the prey, possibly due to their greater fragility.[2]
Cave hyenas are thought to be responsible for the dis-articulation and destruction of some cave bear skeletons. Such large carcasses were an optimal food resource for the hyenas, especially at the end of the winter, when food was scarce. The remains of cave lions, wolves and wolverines have also been found in den sites. There is also evidence that cave hyenas occasionally practiced cannibalism.[2]
[edit] Interaction with hominids
Kills partially processed by Neanderthal and then by cave hyena indicate that hyena would occasionally steal Neanderthal kills, and cave hyena and Neanderthal both competed for cave sites, often displacing one another within the fossil record of a given cave. Numerous hominid bones, including Neanderthal, have also been found partially consumed by cave hyena. Modern humans also lived alongside cave hyena, and may have had similar interaction with them.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Comparison of Crocuta crocutacrocuta and Crocuta crocutaspelaea through computertomography. Dockner, Martin. Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ a b Prey deposits and den sites of the Upper Pleistocene hyena Crocuta crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823)in horizontal and vertical caves of the Bohemian Karst. CAJUSG. DIEDRICH & KARELŽÁK. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
