ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Death Caused by a Constricting Snake—An Infant Death
Haglund, B
Chief investigator, King County Office of the Medical Examiner, WA

Cox, RA
Pathologist, Wenatchee Valley Clinic, WA

McCarty, VO
Washoe County Coroner, NV

(Received 26 January 1988; accepted 31 March 1988)

Abstract

A 21-month-old male was found dead in his crib. An escaped pet python snake (Python reticulatus) was found near the child on a cribside shelf. Autopsy findings included petechiae associated with asphyxial death plus puncture wounds consistent with the reptile's teeth. This report details this 1982 death of a child in Reno, Nevada, and includes illustration of the reptile's bite marks plus description of snake jaw mechanics in swallowing.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, snakes, asphyxia, bite marks, snake bites, teeth marks, python snakes

Paper ID: JFS12628J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12628J
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