Abstract

In the current forensic scenarios, footprint examination is one of the most reliable methods for person identification. Footprints are used to estimate stature, living body weight, sex and ethnics identification. Determination of sex of footprints can help in establishing the biological profile of suspects. Footprint ridge density refers to the number of friction ridge demarcated areas. Ridge density shows forensic significance for sexual dimorphism and ethnicity should be considered whenever conducting anthropological investigation. There are some incidences wherein footprints without toes or smudged toes, i.e. partial footprints are found in the crime scenes and the investigators neglected the evidence, presuming unfit for analysis. Hence the present study was aimed to investigate the sexual dimorphism in the toeless footprints in Iban population, living in Malaysian Borneo.

Keywords: Forensic anthropology; Toeless footprint; Ridge density; Sex; Ibans, Malaysian Borneo