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Animal Decomposition

Animal Decomposition
Stage of Decomposition
5 stages
Fresh Stage!
  • Start from the moment of death until bloating
  • Gross decomposition changed
  • Greenish decoloration at abdomen
  • Livor
  • Skin cracking
  • Tache nior
  • Insect invasion at opening for oviposition/larviposition
Bloating Stage!
  • Anaerobic bacteria in the gut begin to digest tissue
  • Slight inflation of abdomen
  • Increase internal temperature of carcass
  • Masses of maggots at the head & other primary invasion site
  • Strong smell of ammonia
  • Change soil pH
Decay Stage!
  • Breaking of the outer layer of the skin
  • Gasses escape from the abdomen causing strong odor
  • Body deflat
  • Presence of large feeding masses of larvae
  • Increase in necrophages
  • Most of the flesh removed from the body leaving skin & cartilages
Post Decay Stage!
  • Coleoptera remove remaining flesh & cartilages from bone
  • Bone is cleaned & polished appearance
Skeletal/Remains Stage!
  • Only bones & hair remain
  • pH of soil begin return to normal
Recap the stages
Fresh
Bloating
Decay
Post Decay
Skeletal/remain
Factor influencing Rate of Decomposition
Physical
Chemical
Climatic
Physical Barrier
Physical barrier that prevent access of the body by physical means.
Exposed body decompose faster than buried body and much faster than enclosed body
Chemical Barrier
Presence of preservative in the body fluid
Insecticide can delay the onset of insect activityfor a period of time.
Embalming process that prevent the decomposition of the body
Climatic Factors
Temperature
Wind
Rain
  • Influence bacterial growth & insect activity
  • <6'C will cease insect activity
  • Too high temperature lead to mummification
Wind speed >16km/h can inhibit insect activity
Temporary barrier
Insect Activity
Insect activity is very dependent to the condition of the carcass. Suitable climate is needed for optimum insect activity. In this case, the rabbit was left for 3 days but the insect activity is low due to rainfall.
Forensic Entomologist's Equipment
Protect hands & ensure cleanliness
Gloves
70% Ethanol
Vial
Forceps
To kill and preserve larvae from the crime scene
To store larvae
To pick up larvae
To catch adult flies hovering at the crime scene
Insect net
Breeding Net
Insect pin
Chloroform
To breed / to grow suspected type of fly from the crime scene
To pin flies for inspection
To kill flies
To record temperature and humidity of the crime scene
Data Logger
Weather Station
Thermometer
To record weather of crime scene
To record the temperature of the carcass
References
Dr Raja Muhammad Zuha, Forensic Entomologist, The National University of Malaysia.

John Amendt, M Lee Goff, Carlo P. Campobasso, Martin Grassberger; Current Concept in Forensic Entomology; Springer 2009

Credit
The video is created by Digital Frog International at www.digitalfrog.com
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