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.