A Guide for Differentiating Mammalian Carnivore Taxa Responsible for Gnaw Damage to Herbivore Limb Bones

The paper describes diagnostic characteristics of damage inflicted by large felids, canids, ursids, and hyenids to femora and tibiae of large mammals (body mass 300 kg or larger). The information may be applicable to studies of fossil bone assemblages. An understanding of patterns in carnivore utilization of prey carcasses in the past may provide clues to prey availability or vulnerability.