The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) as an Accumulator of Bones in Cave‐like Environments

Identifying the behavioural patterns of bone collecting animals is a crucial aspect of taphonomic studies. Although many studies have established criteria for identifying animal‐collected or animal‐modified bones, very few papers describe the distinguishing features of fox‐made bone assemblages. The bone assemblage collected in an inactive underground stone mine in Potok‐Senderki (Poland) is diagnostic of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) den. This site provides an ideal opportunity to develop an understanding of the bone collecting behaviour of red foxes in cave‐like environments. This study showed that bones collected by red foxes are concentrated in clusters. The bones represent a broad spectrum of local fox prey species, with most bones showing the marks of gnawing. Each cluster may contain from <10 to >100 bones. Furthermore, the long axes of the bones in clusters frequently show specific orientation. The analysis of bones at this site might make an important contribution towards the establishment of baseline criteria for the identification and evaluation of fox‐accumulated bone assemblages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A further example of long-bone damage due to chewing by deer

A central diaphyseal fragment of a red deer metacarpus of recent origin is described, showing signs of bone chewing by deer, the most prominent being fork formation at either end of the specimen. Compared with a red deer metacarpus from the same region described previously, the present one was in a much more advanced stage of bone destruction as a result of osteophagia. Additionally, alterations resulting from gnawing by small rodents and from root etching were present in the specimen. Detailed knowledge of the full spectrum of bone changes originating from chewing by ruminants may prevent the erroneous interpretation of such altered bones as human artefacts.