HUMAN AND NONHUMAN BONE IDENTIFICATION A COLOR ATLAS (PB 2021) Paperback

The discovery of an unidentified bone immediately raises critical forensic questions: Is it human, and if so, could it be evidence of a crime like murder? Human and Non-Human Bone Identification: A Color Atlas is a comprehensive visual guide providing essential photographs and information for law enforcement and forensic anthropologists to examine skeletal remains and determine species and body parts. Featuring over 3000 color photographs, this atlas serves as a practical comparative tool showcasing the differences between human and animal bones across nearly the entire skeleton. Useful in both lab and field settings, it focuses on the bones most frequently found and includes annotations highlighting key identifying features. The book begins with an overview of general osteology, explaining the major anatomical distinctions between humans and other animals. It then compares human and non-human bones, organized by bone type, covering most major bones in both categories. The third section details non-human skeletal elements, categorized by species, and explores numerous bones within those species. This atlas, also available on a fully searchable DVD (catalog no. 62964), includes bones from a wide range of species, such as moose, elk, deer, bison, cow, antelope, various sheep, llama, horse, bear, wolf, coyote, domestic dog, mountain lion, bobcat, raccoon, badger, skunk, river otter, beaver, porcupine, marmot, prairie dog, rabbit, Norway rat, squirrel, armadillo, opossum, vampire bat, and seal. Authored by Diane L. France, a highly respected forensic anthropologist, this exceptionally organized atlas enables those responsible for bone identification to quickly and efficiently determine the origin of discovered remains and decide on the appropriate next steps.