Disarticulation
Agencies that cause disarticulation:
Scavenging of carcasses results in disarticulation and scattering of skeletal elements. As the soft tissues are removed, a skeleton will fall apart. This means that bones that were articulated in life will become disarticulated.
Hyenas have killed this zebra and
the vultures have moved in to pick
at some of the remains. Their activity
breaks apart the zebra bones and
scatters them.
Disarticulation by scavenging is distinguished
by randomized dispersal of remains with breakage of bones and preferential
disturbance of the top of the carcass. Disarticulation by predators or
scavengers can occur within minutes of death.