Necrophagous insect damage on Quaternary mammal bones from Brazilian caves: Taphonomic and paleoecological implications

Abstract

Bioerosion on vertebrate bones provides valuable insights into the post-mortem history of paleocommunities. In this study, we analyzed bioerosion trace fossils on mammalian bones from the Gruta dos Brejões and Toca da Barriguda caves in Bahia, Brazil. Our findings document the occurrence of Cubiculum inornatus and Karethraichnus kulindros in the Pleistocene. Comparisons of these bioerosion traces with trace fossils reported in paleoichnological and neoichnological literature suggest that the traces likely resulted from the pupation of dermestid beetle larvae on carcasses prior to burial. We suggest that dermestid infestation occurred on dry corpses exposed on the surface, which were subsequently transported into the cave environments.