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Determining Postmortem Interval Using Glycoproteinous Adhesion Deposits by B alanus improvisus on Human Skeletal and Dental Remains
Author(s) -
Bytheway Joan A.,
Pustilnik Stephen M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02278.x
Subject(s) - barnacle , dentition , anatomy , postcrania , biology , medicine , dentistry , zoology , paleontology , crustacean , taxon
An anthropological analysis was conducted on skeletal and dental remains brought to the G alveston C ounty Medical Examiner's office. The skeletal remains were dry, fragmented, and absent of typical fluvial characteristics. During microscopic examination, semitransparent, circular objects were discovered on the dentition, the mandible, tibial plateau, and distal femur. The objects were glycoproteinous adhesions deposited by the acorn barnacle, B alanus improvisus . B . improvisus is an intertidal barnacle found in estuaries in G alveston Bay. Basal diameter of the adhesions on the dentition were significantly smaller than those found on the postcranial bones ( p = 0.010), indicating two consecutive cohorts adhered to the bone and dentition. As settlement typically occurs once a year, this would indicate that the remains were in the fluvial environment for at least 375–410 days. It is important in geographic areas that have prevalent fluvial environments that human remains, particularly dentition, are microscopically examined for marine life evidence.