Skip to main content

This individual died and his body was scavenged by animals, no further info. The phenomenon of postmortem animal interference with human bodies or their remains is a substantial part of the taphonomic processes a body undergoes after death and animal depredation occurring after death is routinely encountered in forensic pathology. Postmortem injuries can be inflicted by all kinds of animals, irrespective of their size or environmental origin, whether from land, sea, or air. The discrimination between antemortem injury versus postmortem artifacts generally presents no difficulties because of the total absence of hemorrhages and reddening in the tissue adjacent to the wound margins and the lack of any vital reaction under the microscope.

Fig.1 Postmortem animal predation.

Latest posts

Fig.1 Incomplete skeletonization of a forearm due to post-mortem animal scavenging by a domestic German Shepherd.

Postmortem animal scavenging

| Accident, Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Incomplete skeletonization of a forearm due to post-mortem animal scavenging by a domestic German Shepherd. Skeletonization (synonym: skeletalization)…
Fig.1 Suicidal plastic bag suffocation.

Suicidal plastic bag suffocation

| Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
USA. A case of simple asphyxia combined with external airway obstruction by a plastic bag, in a suicidal…
Fig.1 Execution type drug hit.

Execution type drug hit

| Decomposition, Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
This photo depicts a standard “execution type” drug hit. The victim’s hands were secured behind his back. A…
Fig.1 Suicide by shotgun.

Suicide by shotgun

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
The individual shown in the image committed suicide by shotgun. The image is taken during autopsy. The head…