A BONE ASSEMBLAGE FROM A STRIPED HYAENA (HYAENA HYAENA) DEN IN THE NEGEV DESERT, ISRAEL

ABSTRACT

The den of a striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in the northern Negev desert, Israel, was excavated in 1986. The den and spatial distribution of its component parts are described. The skeletal parts and scats sampled are the richest known from any recent hyaena den and are described in detail, as they relate to available data on hyaena behaviour. Skeletal remains suggest that hyaenas of the Negev scavenge remains of domestic stock that have died naturally, including high proportions of equids, camels and caprines, and they may prey upon canids during conflicts over carcasses. Faeces provide unique insights into the dietary habits of striped hyaenas, revealing evidence of predation upon small mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. Finally, species and body parts represented by the skeletons, their sex and age ratios and the qualitative damage to bones may provide diagnostic criteria in the taphonomic interpretation of fossil and sub-fossil bone assemblages.