Actualistic study of puma (Puma concolor) bone surface modification on cow (Bos taurus) remains

Abstract

This actualistic study focuses on the bone surface modification patterns created by pumas (Puma concolor) on the bones of the animals they eat. The bones assessed in our study were modified by captive pumas from the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana. The assemblage consists of 203 cow (Bos taurus) specimens. We analyzed each element by bone part, then identified the types of tooth marks- pits, punctures, scores, and furrows- and the damage level on a scale of 0-4. We found that scores were the most prevalent type of mark (37% of total marks), followed by pits. The ribs had the most scores and highest damage level on average. The majority of damage took place on the epiphyses of long bones, especially around large joints such as the proximal humerus and femur, which is consistent with findings from previous studies. Puncture size varied between 1.88 mm and 11.79 mm. The information gathered in this actualistic study can help shed light on the puma tooth mark evidence from North and South America, where this carnivore occurs. It can also provide comparisons useful to interpret zooarchaeological and paleoecological assemblages.