Primates and Predator Interactions

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Here is the case of a an adult male Gorilla that was suspected to have been killed by a Leopard.

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Figure 4. YPM MAM 006794 perimortem facial trauma. A. Microfractures and maxilla damage to right side of face. B. Details of orbital fractures. C. Mandible fractures and reconstruction. See text for details. Scale bars equal 1 cm.

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Figure 5. YPM MAM 006794 perimortem postcranial trauma. A. Crushing and splintering of C6-C7 vertebral spinous processes. B. Superior view of right rib showing splintering at distal end. C. Detail of same rib. See text for details. Scale bars equal 1 cm.

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Figure 6. YPM MAM 006794 postcranial trauma. A. Right innominate with puncture trauma at inferior aspect. B. Detail of anterior aspect illustrating puncture wounds (N 3) and gnawing at ischial tuberosity. C. Detail of crushing trauma associated with largest puncture wound. D. Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, YPM MAM 008918) maxillary canine of same over largest puncture. E. Superimposition of leopard mandible (Panthera pardus pardus, YPM MAM 008918) over most lateral puncture wounds. See text for details. Scale bars equal 1 cm




 'T2 has damage on the centrum appearing to result from a crushing force as well as two tooth marks on the right transverse process, one anteriorly and one inferiorly, both 2–5 mm in diameter. Multiple ribs present perimortem trauma including damage and splintering to the sternal ends in an internal to external pattern consistent with carnivore biting (Figure 5).'

'In toto, these trauma indicators (aside from maceration markers) are consistent with a single lethal perimortem predation event. The agent is most likely a leopard, Panthera pardus pardus (Figure 6)'

'Evidence of carnivore gnawing is present, indicating further cadaver/element disturbance. The right femur also has multiple shallow sharp force cuts/scrapes but they are too numerous and varied to be attributed to any one cause.'


source: McRae, Ryan, and Gary P. Aronsen. "Inventory and Assessment of the Gorilla gorilla (Savage, 1847) Skeletal Collection Housed at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History." Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History 59.2 (2018): 199-247. Reply