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

Autores da FMUP

• Teresa Maria Salgado De Magalhães

  Autor

• Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Valente Aguiar, MS
• Castro Espicalsky, TL

Unidades de investigação

• Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses, e Educação Médica

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

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-acu) and Calophysus macropterus (piracatinga).

Keywords

• Forensic Dentistry; Dental photography; Smile; Cadaverous ichthyofauna