title: Shells and Bones: A Forensic Medicine Study of the Association of Terrestrial Snail Allopeas micra with Buried Human Remains in Brazil.
abstract: Little is known regarding the scavenger fauna associated with buried human corpses, particularly in clandestine burials. We report the presence of 20 shells of the terrestrial snail Allopeas micra, within hollow bones of human remains buried for 5 years, during the process of collecting DNA material. The fact that a large number of shells of A. micra had been found in the corpse and in the crime scene supports the assumption that there was no attempt to remove the corpse from the area where the crime occurred. Despite this, our observations cannot be used to estimate the postmortem interval because there is no precise knowledge about the development of this species. This is the first record of a terrestrial snail associated with a human corpse and its role in this forensic medicine case.
authors: Laboratório de Antropologia Forense do Instituto de Medicina Legal, Departamento de Polícia Técnica da Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, Universidade de Brasília, 70610-200, Brasília, DF, Brazil.|Laboratório de Medicina Legal e Antropologia Forense, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, 70610-200, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Malthus Fonseca
authors: MF
authors: Galvão
authors: Laboratório de Entomologia Forense, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70.910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: José Roberto
authors: JR
authors: Pujol-Luz
authors: Laboratório de Zoologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, 72030-170, Taguatinga, DF, Brazil.
authors: Cristiane Vieira
authors: CV
authors: de Assis Pujol-Luz
authors: Departamento de Polícia Técnica, Instituto de Criminalística, Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, SAISO Complexo da Polícia Civil, 70610-200, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Cássio Thyone Almeida
authors: CT
authors: de Rosa
authors: Laboratório de Malacologia, Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 04299-970, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Luiz Ricardo L
authors: LR
authors: Simone
authors: Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Sônia Nair
authors: SN
authors: Báo
authors: Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Karine Brenda
authors: KB
authors: Barros-Cordeiro
authors: Departamento de Estomatologia, Saúde Coletiva e Odontologia Legal, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-904, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors: Larissa
authors: L
authors: Pessoa
authors: Laboratório de Antropologia Forense do Instituto de Medicina Legal, Departamento de Polícia Técnica da Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, Universidade de Brasília, 70610-200, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Bissacot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D001938:Brazil; D002048:Burial; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012908:Snails
keywords: clandestine graves; exhumation; forensic anthropology; forensic medicine; forensic science; mollusk