ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Test – Prep & Study Guide

The main characteristic of algor mortis is the loss of body temperature after death. This physiological process occurs as the body's temperature gradually decreases to match the ambient temperature of the environment. Typically, this cooling begins shortly after death and can provide forensic investigators with important information regarding the time of death. The rate of cooling can be influenced by various factors, including the environment, the deceased's body size, clothing, and the presence of any underlying health conditions.

Understanding algor mortis is crucial in forensic investigations as it helps in establishing timelines related to death, which can be significant in legal contexts and crime scene investigations. The other choices involve aspects related to postmortem changes but do not capture the specific process referred to as algor mortis.