Animal Predation

The phenomenon of post mortem animal interference with human bodies or their
remainsmayformasub- stantial partofthetaphonomicprocessesabody undergoes
afterdeathandisroutinelyencounteredin forensic practice.Postmorteminjuriescanbeinflicted by all
speciesofanimals,irrespectiveoftheirsizeoren- vironmental origin,whetherfromland,sea,orair
(Buschmann et al., 2011; Gapert andTsokos,2013). The
discriminationbetweenantemorteminjuryand postmortem artifactsgenerallypresentsnodifficulties
because oftheabsenceofhemorrhageandreddeningin the tissueadjacenttothewoundmargins(Figure
37) and the lackofanyvitalreactionmicroscopically.

Insects androdentsarethemosteffectiveattissue removal (Tsokos et al., 1999). Skinandsoft-

tissuearti- facts causedbyrodentsmayoccurasearlyaswithinthe first
hourpostmortem,orevenduringlifeindyingin- dividuals. ThishasbeencalledthePopielphenomenon
(Koszyca et al., 2006). Themajorityofinjuriesinflicted postmortem
byrodentshaveacircularappearance (Figure 38) with finely serratedmargins,showingir- regular
edges.Distinctparallelseriesofcutaneousla- cerations derivingfromthebitingactionoftheupper and
lowerpairsoftheincisorsarediagnosticofrodent activity (Figure 39). However,thedeterminationofa
distinct rodentspecies(e.g.,ratsandmice)bythe morphological appearanceofthedamagetoskinand
soft tissueisnotpossible.

A broadrangeofcarnivoresmaybeinvolvedin the postmortemdestructionofcorpseslocatedin

open spacesorindoors(e.g.,wildanimalssuchasfoxes and bigcatsordomesticanimalssuchasdogsor
cats). Thewoundmarginscausedbycarnivoresoften appear moreregularthanthosecausedbyrodents
(Figures 40 and 41). V-shapedtorhomboidpunctured wounds
areoftenseenintheintactskinintheimmediate vicinity ofthewoundmargins(Figure 42). Such stab
wound–like defectsrepresentcarnivoretooth marks. Anadditionalcriterionforpredationbycarni-
vores isthepresenceofclaw-inducedlinearscratches/ abrasions
inthevicinityofthedamagedareas.Extensive injuries fromcarnivoresmayincludedecapitation
(Figure 43), whichmaybepartofthefatalattackormay occur subsequently(Buschmann et al., 2011;
Tsokos et al., 2007).
 In drowningvictimsorinapersonwhosebodyhas been
dumpedinanaquaticenvironment,postmortem artifacts onthebodysurfaceduetoaquaticanimalsare
often observed,andshouldnotbeconfusedwithinjuries acquired duringlife(Figure 44).

Figure 35 Square markingsontheupperchestfrom defibrillator pads.

Figure 36 Splitting oftheliverfollowingattemptedresuscitation

Figure 37 Circular defectsaroundbotheyesduetorodentactivity. Note theabsenceofhemorrhageandreddeninginthetissueadjacent to

thewoundmargins,indicativeofpostmortemorigin.

Figure 38 Circular skinandsoft-tissuedefectsonthebackofthe hand, causedbymiceafterdeath.

Figure 39 Irregular and finely serratedwoundmarginswithaseries of parallelcutaneouslacerationsfromthebitingactionoftheupper and

lowerjawsofrodents.Thislargetissuedefectinthefacewas caused postmortembyrats

Figure 40 Postmortem injuriescausedbyapitbullterrier

Figure 41 Postmortem injuriestothefacecausedbyafox

Figure 42 V-shaped torhomboidpuncturewoundsintheintactskin next toawoundmargin.Suchstabwound–like defectsrepresent canine

toothmarks(thesamecaseas Figure 40). Postmortem Changes:Overview 29

Figure 43 Postmortem decapitation.

Figure 44 Oval toroundcutaneousdefectscausedbyeels postmortem ontheneckanduppertrunkinadrowningvictim.Such injuries

shouldnotbeconfusedwithstabwoundsorgunshotholes