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Opossum
Scientific Name: Didelphimorphia marsupials (Opossum) Found as roadkill Latitude: 32.972887
Longitude: -96.973145 -
Day 1
Entomologist: Couple of flies around the opossum. Osteologist:
The body was most definitely ran over. The tail was broken, humerus all the way to the phalanges was amputated and its cranium and cervical vertebrae was crushed. Meteorologist
Approximately 75 degrees ƒ, grass slightly wet. Decomposition Expert
Due to the way our body was stored, there was a lot of water present, the decay process started early. The smell wasn’t pleasant, our body was floppy rather than stiff. Body was 27 cm -
Day 2
Entomologist: No maggots today, mostly flies. No openings in the body made from the insects that we could identify. We witnessed a blow fly with a measure of 1 cm.
Osteologist: Nothing changed about the bones, it was in the same state.
Meteorologist: Approximately 78 degrees ƒ, grass dry. Decomposition Expert: The smell was much stronger today and the body was still 27 cm. -
Day 3
Entomologist: There were maggots with a measure of ½ a cm. Could not pinpoint the location exactly but it was close to the mandible, maybe cervical vertebrae.
Osteologist: Nothing changed about the bones, it was in the same state.
Meteorologist: Approximately 75 ƒ, grass dry.
Decomposition Expert: The body was still 27 cm and the scent was about the same (unless we’re just used to it) -
Day 4
Entomologist: There were no sign of the maggots because it was completely covered in either mold or fur. There were flies around it.
Osteologist: The mandible was more visual than other parts of the body, you can clearly see the bones there.
Meteorologist: Approximately 81 degrees ƒ.
Decomposition Expert: Today there was more fur present than usual -
Day 7
Entomologist: The body looked the same as last time. There were maggots inside, with the measure of ¾ of a cm. There were a couple of small white flies and more blow flies.
Osteologist: The tail and metacarpals are shown to be more scaley than they were when it was first set out. Also, when we lifted the body, the mandible and lumbar vertebrae and ribs were showing.
Meteorologist:
Decomposition Expert: Fur is more visual. Dog in body farm over weekend. -
Day 8
Entomologist: The Maggot’s were still under the body, and there were a couple of ants near the side of the body from pieces of dog poop by the scene. There were also other bugs that were black and the size of 1 cm each.
Osteologist: The cracked bones in the skull and lumbar vertebrae are more visible today.
Meteorologist: About 86 degrees ƒ; dry grass.
Decomposition Expert: There is still visible fur, but maggots and ants are continuing to decompose the opossum. -
Day 9
Entomologist: There are very few maggots than before. They’ve grown a little over a cm.
Osteologist: The jaw and teeth are much more visible
Meteorologist: About 90 degrees ƒ, dry grass.
Decomposition Expert: Visible fur; bones starting to become more visible. -
Day 10
Entomologist: The maggots have moved away from the body since there isn't anything left for it, and there were some brown small bugs ½ of a cm.
Osteologist: Today the tibia/fibula are visible, as well as the rib cage and tail.
Meteorologist: About 73 degrees ƒ; damp grass.
Decomposition Expert: The fur is still visible. There are no more maggots.
