Osteological data from harpy eagle's nests

The goal of this study is to provide a taphonomic analysis of bone fragments found in harpy eagle nests in the Brazilian Amazonia, utilizing the largest sample collected to date. Harpy eagle kill samples were collected from nine nests between June 2016 and December 2020 in Mato Grosso, Brazil. We identified the specimens and calculated the number of identified specimens (NISP) and the minimum number of individuals (MNI). These metrics were used to estimate bone survivability and fragmentation. A total of 1661 specimens (NISP) were collected, representing at least 234 individuals (MNI). We identified at least nine species of primates, which represent 63.8% of the individuals in the kill sample. Harpy eagles preyed mostly on the medium-sized capuchin and bearded saki monkeys (28.2% of the MNI) and two-toed sloths (17.7% of the MNI). Four distinct patterns of bone survivability were found, one characterizing bird prey, another characterizing xenarthrans, a third typical of medium-sized mon..., We collected harpy eagle kill samples from nine nests between June 2016 and December 2020 (Table 1). The nests are located in the southern Amazonia of Mato Grosso state, Brazil, on the right and left banks of Rio Juruena, and between the Juruena and Teles Pires rivers (Figure 1). The climate in this region is classified as a “tropical wet climate” (Alvares et al., 2013). Annual rainfall averages 2350 mm, and annual ambient temperature averages 24.5 °C (Radam-Brasil, 1983).
Bone, hair, eggshell, and feathers were collected by EBPM and colleagues in the nests and on the ground below the nest tree. To access the nests, raptor-specific tree-climbing protocols were employed (Miranda et al., 2021; Pagel & Thorstrom, 2007; Rosenfield et al., 2007). Permits to work in the area were provided by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (SISBIO process No. 58533).
Every attempt was made to ensure that all bones produced by the..., , , This README file was generated on 2025-08-07 by Guilherme Garbino.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: Osteological data from harpy eagle's nests
2. Author Information
A. Principal Investigator Contact Information
Name: Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino
Institution: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Address: Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information
Name: Everton Miranda
Institution: Tohoku University
Address: Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): June 2016 - December 2020
4. Geographic location of data collection: Mato Grosso State, Brazil
5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: SouthWild.com Conservation Travel System, Rain-forest Biodiversity Group, Idea Wild, The Mamont Scholars Program of the Explorer's Cl...