The family Sarcophagidae, commonly called flesh flies, are a worldwide family of large-sized, mostly grayish, calypterate flies. About 2,000 species in over 400 genera have been described. Adults larviposit on a variety of substrates in which the larva feeds and develops. Larvae of many species breed in decaying matter, but others have been recorded as parasites of insects and other arthropods including spiders and scorpions.

The fossil record of the family is very poor, with only two unidentified species having been noted. Of these, Handlirsch (1921: 270) mentioned the genus Sarcophaga as being represented by material from Baltic amber, but no specimens have yet been described.

*SARCOPHAGA Meigen, 1826: 14. Type species: Musca carnaria Linnaeus, 1758, by subsequent designation of Partington (1837: 607).

Unidentified sp.-PA: Baltic Region (Eocene/Oligocene) [A] (Handlirsch 1921: 270).

*SARCOPHILA Rondani, 1856: 86. Type species: Musca latifrons Fallén, 1817, by original designation.

Unidentified sp.-AF: Unknown (?Pleistocene) [K] (Steudel, 1896: 95).