Taphonomic Signature and Diet of Puma (Puma concolor): Study of Bones Recovered in Scats from Sierra de las Quijadas National Park (San Luis, Central Argentina)

Abstract

Carnivorous mammals are significant contributors to the formation of the fossil record; they transport, accumulate, destroy and modify the skeletal remains of several kinds of vertebrates. In particular, the puma is one of the top predators in the Americas and can interact with prey of different sizes. However, naturalistic research on bone remains ingested by this feline are still scarce. This article aims to provide data that helps characterise the puma’s taphonomic signature and add information about its diet. We present and discuss the results of the analysis of bones recovered in puma scats collected in Sierra de las Quijadas National Park, province of San Luis, Argentina. This analysis indicates a high taxonomic richness dominated by medium-sized taxa, particularly Dolichotis. The skeletal remains are highly fragmented, most show gastric digestion of varying intensity, while a low percentage exhibit tooth marks. This study is helpful for its application in the Americas, where puma has a wide distribution. It can also be relevant as an analog in other parts of the world where big cats have lived in the past.