1. WILDLIFE FORENSICS CSI FOR WILDLIFE

2. The student will:
Identify the various types of skull and jaw bones in their evidence sample
Utilize different types of dichotomous keys
Identify different types of animal hair as to species type
Solve the forensic crime
Interpret a topographic map

3. Skull Anatomy
Foramen magnum
Foramen magnum – large opening in the base of skull, spinal cord passes through

4. Skull Anatomy
Zygomatic arch – formed from 2 slender bony processes (one from the temporal bone and one from the maxilla)

5. Sagittal crest - thin ridge of bone atop and down the braincase

6. Teeth Identification
Incisors – smaller more vertical teeth on center front of jaw (purple)
Canines – longer more pointed teeth
(green)

7. Teeth ID Premolars - flatter teeth behind the canines (pink)
Molars – teeth further back in jaw (aqua)
Diastema – gap in teeth at canines (between green and purple)

8. Kinds of molars Seleodont: found in herbivores; have ridges
Bunodont: found in omnivores;
have 4 cusps
Carnassial: found in carnivores;
fit together, shearing edges

9. Raccoon - omnivore Facial region is short/wide
Facial length < cranial length
Male skull: mm
Female skull: mm
Weak sagittal crest

10. Raccoon skull
Dental fromula = 3/3 I: 1/1 C: 4/4 P: 2/2 M

11. Raccoon skull and hair examples

12. Bear- omnivore Large canines and molars
Small vestigial teeth behind canines
Long, massive skull: narrow muzzle
Large jaw hinge for muscle attachment
Obvious sagittal crest
Vestigial teeth

13. Bear- skull and hair samples
Coats can be yellow, black and blue grey

14. Skunk - omnivore Long, oval shaped skull Upper jaw somewhat square
1 back molar in upper jaw (most carnivores
have 2)
2 back molars in lower jaw

15. Skunk skull and hair samples
Hair examples

16. Opossum - omnivore Long snouts, narrow braincase
Prominent sagittal crest
Small incisors, large canines, tricusp molars
Lots of teeth compared to most animals

17. Opossum- skull and hair samples
Hair examples

18. Cat family- carnivores

19. Bobcat - carnivore Teeth: Sharp, pointed canines Skull: Short round
Large eye orbits

20. Bobcat – skull and hair samples
Cat hair samples

21. Dog family - carnivore

22. Grey Fox - carnivore Long snout, lyre-shaped parasagittal crest
with a flat area between

23. Red Fox skull and hair samples
Red Fox- carnivore

24. Beaver- herbivore Second largest rodent
Very large incisors—continually grow
Very large diastema—no canines
Shape of nasal bones square off the snout

25. Beaver
Hair examples

26. Rabbits - herbivore Teeth: Two pair of incisors;
one large and the 2nd small and peg like
Lacy mesh-like bones

27. Rabbits- skull and hair sample

28. White tailed deer- herbivore
Teeth
No upper incisors
Long diastema
Selenodant teeth

29. Deer hair examples Hollow brittle hair When folded in half forms
a teepee or breaks

30. Skull Recap
Identify the skulls that follow:
Bear

31. Raccoon

32. Rabbit

33. Deer

34. Bobcat

35. Beaver

36. Fox

37. opossum

38. Skunk

39. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are causing a mapping revolution.
GIS makes it possible to combine layers of digital data from different sources and to manipulate and analyze how the different layers relate to each other.

40. Crime solving
Police investigators link police record systems with geographic information to analyze crime patterns and help solve cases.

41. Contour Lines
Portray the shape and elevation of the land
Topographic maps show the three-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain on a two-dimensional surface.

42. Each contour is equal to a line of equal elevation- contours never cross
Topographic contours are shown in brown by lines of different width. They show the general shape of the terrain.

43. Contours that are very close together represent steep slopes
Contours that are very close together represent steep slopes. Widely spaced contours or an absence of contours means that the ground slope is relatively level.

44. Scale and Colors of Topographic Maps
1:24,000 means 1 in =2000 ft
Red areas represent urban areas.
Roads and highways are represented in black and red.

45. Blue represents water
Green represents orchards and forested areas.
Purple markings are those that have been "photorevised," or added to the map since the original map was published.

46. Thin brown lines represent contours or points of similar elevation.
Contour lines form "v" shapes in valleys or along stream beds. The point of the "v" points uphill.

47. Topographic maps