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Forensic taphonomy: Vertebrate scavenging in the temperate southwestern Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Vertebrate scavenging can significantly accelerate the rate of decomposition, which can hinder estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). Patterns of decomposition and scavenging are highly specific to different environments in a forensic context, with no known data for South Africa. A better understanding of local decomposition patterns, taking scavenging into account, could increase the accuracy of PMI estimation and improve identification of human remains. Using a porcine model in the forensically significant thicketed Cape Flats Dune Strandveld habitat, the effect of vertebrate scavenging on the decomposition process was examined. This part of Cape Town suffers from poor socioeconomic conditions and a high murder rate, which is due in part to the dense population. Human decomposition was simulated using three small (∼20kg) domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses, with ethical clearance. One pig served as a control and was caged to prevent vertebrate but not invertebrate access; the other two served as experimental treatments. They were deployed in Delft, Cape Town, and observed by motion-activated, time-lapse remote photography to record scavenger species and activity. A rapid increase in the decomposition rate was observed due to Cape grey mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta) scavenging, with early skeletonisation reached by both experimental pigs by day 14, compared to the control remaining in advanced decomposition after 93 days. Mongoose is the primary scavenger i…
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For four experiments, there was one scavenging and one scattering publication each: King et al., Pharr et al., Spies et al., and Young et al.
“For four of these experiments, we found one scavenging and one scattering publication each: King et al. [57,58], Pharr et al. [76,78], Spies et al. [18,93] and Young et al. [19,103].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [18]
3.8% (3/79) of the reviewed studies mention stunning methods such as electricity.
“3.8% (3/79) of the studies mention stunning methods such as electricity [18,74,93].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [18]
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Research works printed but not linked: 24
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Cited by
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Indra, L., Lösch, S., Errickson, D., & Finaughty, D. (2023) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111862 · Cited by 18
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Spies, M. J., Gibbon, V. E., & Finaughty, D. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Spies, Maximilian J.
- Venue
- Forensic Science International
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-09
- Volume
- 290
- Pages
- 62-69
- ISSN
- 0379-0738 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2809605796
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 2.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Forensic Science International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- South African National Research Foundation
- University of Cape Town
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Keywords
- human decomposition, postmortem interval estimation, skeletonization, skeletal identification, South Africa
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Feeding Behavior, Herpestidae, Postmortem Changes, Rain, South Africa, Sunlight, Swine, Temperature, Forensic Anthropology, Models, Animal, Forensic Pathology
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