Thanatocoenosis
thanatocoenosis
[‚than·ə·tō·sə′nō·səs]Thanatocoenosis
the localized accumulation of the remains of dead organisms. The cause, time, and place of death of the individual are not important. Thanatocoenosis occurs, for example, when the remains of organisms that have perished at various times and in various places are deposited in a central location by flowing water. The dead matter can include insect and mollusk remains and bones of terrestrial animals.