NCJ Number
216793
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2006 Pages: 1235-1239
Date Published
November 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The development of an identification key that distinguishes between several species of mammals involved analyses of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of their compact bone tissue.
Abstract
The analyses found that every species differed qualitatively from other species either in the type of bone tissue or in the combination of types of bone tissue. Measurements of the variables (area, perimeter, and maximum and minimum diameter) of the Haversian canals and the secondary osteons also showed significant variation in quantitative characteristics for each species; however, variation between individuals from one taxonomic group was not statistically significant in most cases. The value of all measured variables of the Haversian canals in compact bone tissue decreased from humans across cows, pigs, and sheep to rabbits. The quantitative differences in compact bone tissue microstructure were used to formulate equations for species determination. Classification functions for the investigated species gave cross-validated correct classification rates for 76.17 percent of cases. This percentage can be increased by integrating conclusions from the qualitative analysis. Ninety femora of adult male humans, pigs, cows, sheep, rabbits, and rats were studied. The average area, perimeter, and minimum and maximum diameter of 1,863 Haversian canals and 1,863 secondary osteons were measured with a digital image device. The observed data were first used to evaluate interspecies and intraspecies diversity. 6 figures, 3 tables, and 22 references