This is a very quick article about a little discovery  - perhaps it has already been made but so far, I have seen nothing written on the subject. Thus . . . 

In a scene taking place just after the 'Hakuna Matata' number, King Scar is seen holding a skull:

It has been said this is a nod to a part in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', where the title character character holds the skull of his old childhood jester 'Yorick'.

'As the famous line goes: 'Alas, poor Yorick.'

Many have wondered what species of animal Scar's skull belonged to. Due to how long it is, it has been thought to be that of a grazing animal such as a giraffe or zebra - but the presence of long canines makes you consider otherwise. Could it be a lion? Could it even be Mufasa's skull?

However, lion skulls are far broader than the one Scar is holding.

Also, Scar's mystery skull has large front teeth (like a horse's) and the placement of the eye sockets is higher up and more forward-facing, like a human's . . . Perhaps this was just a made-up creature the animators had made, not having a particular animal in mind at all. Not at all, methinks . . . 

After a little research looking through canine and herbivore skulls alike, Paw and I finally hit upon a possible species. At least Paw did (what a wheeze!)

A baboon . . . 

To be more precise, a male baboon, seeing as females do not have such large canines.
One wonders if in earlier production Rafiki was to have been eaten!

'Alas, poor baboon -
. . .  whoever he may be . . .'

Thank you for reading!