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Puncture marks on early African anthropoids.

D L Gebo, E L Simons

    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
    |September 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Predation on ancient primates, including Fayum Oligocene species, was more common than previously thought. Evidence suggests mammalian carnivores, not snakes or raptors, were the primary predators, impacting fossil articulation.

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    Area of Science:

    • Paleontology
    • Primate Evolution
    • Predator-Prey Dynamics

    Background:

    • Primate predation is considered a rare event in modern ecological studies.
    • This rarity is often extrapolated to ancient primate communities, influencing interpretations of fossil records.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate evidence of predation on Fayum Oligocene primates.
    • To identify potential predators responsible for observed damage to primate fossils.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of tooth puncture marks on fossil primate specimens from the Fayum Oligocene.
    • Comparison of potential predator groups (snakes, raptors, crocodiles, creodonts) with observed damage patterns.
    • Evaluation of feeding behaviors of extant crocodiles and mammalian carnivores.

    Main Results:

    • All four Upper Fossil Wood Zone primate species in the Fayum exhibit tooth puncture marks.
    • Crocodiles and creodonts are identified as the only plausible predators capable of inflicting such damage.
    • Evidence suggests Fayum primates were preyed upon or scavenged by mammalian carnivore-like animals.

    Conclusions:

    • Predation by mammalian carnivores was a significant factor in Fayum primate mortality during the Oligocene.
    • Predator-induced bone damage contributes to the dismemberment of primate carcasses, explaining the rarity of articulated fossils.
    • Predator activity influences the preservation and discoverability of primate fossil assemblages before depositional processes occur.

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