Extinctions of Late Ice Age Cave Bears as a Result of Climate/Habitat Change and Large Carnivore Lion/Hyena/Wolf Predation Stress in Europe

Figure 8

Cave bear bones of the small cave bears from the Bear’s Passage of the Sophie’s Cave (southern Germany) that have been chewed, bitten, and cracked by large predators (lions, hyenas, and wolves). (1) Scapula from a cub with smaller puncture marks, possibly from wolves: lateral inner view. (2) Pelvic ileum from a cub, with small to medium-sized puncture marks, possibly from wolves or hyenas: lateral outer view. (3) Radius with bite scratch marks and small puncture marks, possibly only from wolves: lateral inner view. (4) Ulna, distally chewed and with proximal bite scratch marks, possibly from wolves or hyenas: lateral inner view. (5) Scapholunatum with small puncture marks from wolves: dorsal. (6) Femur, both ends showing chewed joints with typical zigzag margins produced by wolves or hyenas: cranial. (7) Fibula with chewed and cracked proximal joint, cranial. The broken off bone fragment was also found in the Bear’s Passage, proving scavenging on site. (8) Tibia shaft cracked by hyenas: lateral. Both parts were found in the Bear’s Passage, again proving scavenging on site. (9) Tibia, with chewed joints at both ends showing zigzag margins, produced by wolves or hyenas: cranial. (10) Calcaneus with bite scratch marks produced by wolves or hyenas: caudal (All from coll. Museum Castle Rabenstein).