Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in ‘man-eater’ lions’ teeth

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in ‘man-eater’ lions’ teeth

Quote

In 1898, two male lions terrorized an encampment of bridge builders on the Tsavo River in Kenya. The lions, which were massive and maneless, crept into the camp at night, raided the tents and dragged off their victims. The infamous Tsavo “man-eaters” killed at least 28 people before Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson, the civil engineer on the project, shot them dead. Patterson sold the lions’ remains to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in 1925.

In a new study, Field Museum researchers collaborated with scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on an in-depth analysis of hairs carefully extracted from the lions’ broken teeth. The study used microscopy and genomics to identify some of the species the lions consumed. The findings are reported in the journal Current Biology. 

Read More: ➡️ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Just now, Waspie_Dwarf said:

The lions, which were massive and maneless

I have been to Tsarvo and seen the bridge where these attacks happened. I remember our guide telling us that it is still a feature of male lions in the area that they lack the mane usually found on lions elsewhere in Africa.

[Abramelin]

9 hours ago, Waspie_Dwarf said:

I have been to Tsarvo and seen the bridge where these attacks happened. I remember our guide telling us that it is still a feature of male lions in the area that they lack the mane usually found on lions elsewhere in Africa.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneless_lion

[Piney]

25 minutes ago, Abramelin said:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneless_lion

The North American lion probably didn't have a mane.