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.
Original Source [2]
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Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/dietary-behaviour-man-eating-lions-revealed-dental-microwear-textures
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-00948-5
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/larisa-r-g-desantis
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/bruce-d-patterson
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/scientific-reports
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/lion
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wildlife
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/africa
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/people-animal-conflicts
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/research
