Osteophagy in Ozotoceros bezoarticus: a field observation from the Brazilian Cerrado

Osteophagy, defined as the consumption or gnawing of skeletal remains, has been documented in a variety of mammalian taxa but remains rarely reported for Neotropical cervids. Here, we describe a field observation of osteophagy in the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) recorded in an open grassland area of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, central Brazil, within the Cerrado biome, and complement this record with laboratory analyses of the collected bone fragments. A male individual was observed chewing dry bone material for approximately 15 min during the antler growth period. After the animal left the site, antler and bone fragments of a conspecific were recovered and subsequently analyzed. Chemical analyses revealed a high inorganic content, with elevated proportions of calcium and phosphorus. Osteophagy in O. bezoarticus is discussed in the context of similar records in other cervids and mammals, the annual antler cycle, and the oligotrophic conditions characteristic of Cerrado soils. This observation contributes to the understanding of rare or poorly documented behaviors in a species considered Near Threatened globally and Vulnerable in Brazil, highlighting the importance of natural history records for improving ecological knowledge relevant to conservation strategies.