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Post-mortem human cadaver scavenging by marine crustaceans (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) in tropical waters

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Abstract

Animal feeding, both ante- and post-mortem, in freshwater and marine environments, has become topical recently. This report documents post-mortem scavenging by two identified species of marine crustaceans (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) on a human cadaver from the vicinity of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Andy Taylor (Australian Bureau of Meteorology) for providing the records of seawater temperature for the relevant period.

Funding

No funding was received.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Pathology Unit, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

    Marianne Tiemensma

  2. Biodiversity & Geosciences, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia

    Niel L. Bruce

  3. Water Research Group (Ecology), Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Niel L. Bruce

  4. Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

    Richard C. Willan

Authors
  1. Marianne Tiemensma
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  2. Niel L. Bruce
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  3. Richard C. Willan
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Correspondence to Marianne Tiemensma.

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Not required for case report; informed consent from next of kin obtained.

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Tiemensma, M., Bruce, N.L. & Willan, R.C. Post-mortem human cadaver scavenging by marine crustaceans (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) in tropical waters. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 13, 515–517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-017-9926-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-017-9926-x

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