Bioerosion traces in bones of Cuvieronius hyodon from the Loltún Cave, Yucatán: First evidence of osteophagy by insects in Pleistocene caves of Mexico

his study describes and analyzes the first known case of osteophagy by insects in a continental cave setting from the Pleistocene of Mexico. The material consists of both bone and dental remains of Cuvieronius hyodon collected from layer X of the Lotun Cave, Yucatán, Mexico. The fossil remains expose a series of ovoid and ellipsoidal borings that strongly resembles the morphology and size reported for the ichnospecies Cubiculum ornatus, which has been attributed to pupal chambers of beetles of the family Dermestidae. The presence of these bioerosion traces in gomphother bones provides important information on its postmortem history, and the paleoenvironmental scenario established during the entire taphonomic process.