A greyish beetle measuring 10 to 14 mm. It has longitudinal ridges along the elytra and the pronotum has a rather mottled appearance.

Thanatophilus sinuatus is a carrion feeder and may be encountered anywhere that carrion is present.

May to September.

Found on carrion and carcasses during the whole process of decomposition.

Occasional in Britain with most records coming from the Midlands, East Anglia and the south east of England.

Infrequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were approximately 18 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.