Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758) from the late Pleistocene of Brazilian Intertropical Region: taxonomy, habitat, isotopic diet composition, and isotopic niche overlap with extinct faunivores

Abstract

This paper focuses in the description, radiocarbon dating and isotopic analyses (δ13C, δ18O) of new fossils of Panthera onca from the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Intertropical Region. This paper focuses on the paleoecology of this large cat and is of major importance to understand ecological niches in evolutionary time. Radiocarbon datings and stable isotope compositions (carbon and oxygen) were determined from the structural carbonate of enamel for two fossils of Panthera onca found in two caves in Bahia, Brazil. Isotopic data available of large faunivores and other extinct and extant herbivorous taxa from the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Intertropical Region were used for paleoecological interpretations. Carbon and oxygen isotopic values from P. onca allow us to suggest that these individuals lived in arboreal savanna habitat between 26 and 33 kyr BP, could reach 209 kg and feed mainly on Nothrotherium maquinense, Tapirus terrestris and Alouatta sp., being a specialist. The isotopic niche overlap with Smilodon populator and Arctotherium wingei was high, while with Protocyon troglodytes was low. In the late Pleistocene P. onca probably suffer high ecological pressure by S. populator, while with A. wingei this could not occur, as this species could be mainly herbivorous.