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Computerized delineation of the teeth and comparison with a smiling photograph: identification of a body skeletonized by cadaverous ichthyofauna action

  • Images in Forensics
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Abstract

Amazonian’s forensic experts usually experience considerable difficulties in the identification of drowned bodies rescued from the rivers of the Amazon basin, since they are frequently found skeletonized by the action of the cadaverous ichthyofauna. In these circumstances, especially when the soft tissues are completely absent, bones and teeth may represent the unique source of information for the identification of the body. This work reports a case of positive identification of a body skeletonized by scavenger ichthyofauna. The identification was performed by comparing computerized delineation of the dental characteristics of the cadaver with those observed in a smiling photograph of the victim. This report also highlights the ferocity of Cetopsis candiru (candiru cobra), Cetopsis coecutiens (candiru-açu) and Calophysus macropterus (piracatinga).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. Osmar Oliveira Nascimento and Dr. Lorran Michel Azuim Bergamo de Lima of the Legal Medical Institute of Porto Velho, Brazil for fruitful discussions and to Dr. Melina Calmon of the Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States, for English proofreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Murilo Sérgio Valente-Aguiar, Teresa Magalhães & Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira

  2. Legal Medical Institute of Porto Velho, Civil Police of the State of Rondônia, Porto Velho, Brazil

    Murilo Sérgio Valente-Aguiar & Talita Lima Castro-Espicalsky

  3. Department of Sciences, IINFACTS - Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, Gandra, CRL, Portugal

    Teresa Magalhães & Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira

  4. Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira

Authors
  1. Murilo Sérgio Valente-Aguiar
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  2. Talita Lima Castro-Espicalsky
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  3. Teresa Magalhães
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  4. Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Murilo Sérgio Valente-Aguiar or Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira.

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Valente-Aguiar, M.S., Castro-Espicalsky, T.L., Magalhães, T. et al. Computerized delineation of the teeth and comparison with a smiling photograph: identification of a body skeletonized by cadaverous ichthyofauna action. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 17, 517–521 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-021-00384-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-021-00384-y

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