Comparative Study of Arthropod Fauna on Exposed carrions Across the Vertebrate Classes

Abstract

Arthropod fauna and succession on exposed carcasses of representative of the vertebrate classes were determined. Parachana obscura, Bufo temporalis, Agama agama, Gallus gallus domestica  and Sus scrofa were representatives of the classes Osteicthytis, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia respectively. A total of 23 arthropod species were found on the carrions from 19 families, 8 orders and 4 classes of the phylum Arthropoda. The order Diptera was the predominant group, the Hymenopterans ranked second and coleopterans the third. Responsible for carrion degradation were the families Calliphoridae Sarcophagidae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Staphylinidae and Histeridae. These families are considered to be of forensic importance. Coleopterans were found on carrions of the higher classes; Aves, Mammalia and absent or very few on the lower classes, Reptilia and Amphibia. However, the dipterans were found on all the carrions across the classes. There were variations in the dipterans found on the carrions as they tended to increase in abundance as we go higher across the vertebrate classes.