Famed lions’ full diet revealed by DNA — and humans were among their prey

Ancient DNA confirms that the nineteenth-century carnivores hunted humans and a variety of wild game, including a surprising animal.

Emma Marris
1. Emma Marris is an environmental writer who lives in Portland, Oregon.
View author publications

Search author on: PubMed Google Scholar

Hair found wedged in the broken teeth of famous lions killed in the nineteenth century offers a glimpse of their diet — which included humans¹.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-03278-5

De Flamingh, A. et al. Curr. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.029 (2024).
Article Google Scholar
Peterhans, J. C. K. & Gnoske, T. P. J. East Af. Nat. Hist. 90, 1–40 (2001).
Article Google Scholar

NHP Research Assistant

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join our dynamic team at i-BRAIN.

Weiguang Campus, Guangming District, Shenzhen, China

Institute for Brain Research Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies
Global Recruitment for Faculty, Postdocs, and Specialists at Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, CAS

Seeking exceptional Senior/Junior PIs, Postdocs, and Core Specialists globally year-round

Hangzhou, China

Hangzhou Institute of Medicine Chinese Academy of Sciences (HIMCAS)
Vice President for Research & Innovation (VPRI)

Texas Tech University VPRI Ad Copy The Leadership Opportunity: At a moment of unprecedented opportunity in its already impressive trajectory, Texas...

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Second Institute of Oceanography, MNR

Postdoctoral: marine geology, physical oceanography, marine biology, marine chemistry, coastal dynamics.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

The Second Institute of Oceanography, MNR
Open Rank Faculty Position (Tenure/Teaching/Research Stream) - School of Science and Engineering

Shenzhen, China

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK Shenzhen)