Coprolite – Dinosaur Poo!
Dinosaur coprolite (Dinosaur Poo) is fossilized animal dung. Like other fossils, coprolites have had much of their original composition replaced by mineral deposits such as silicates and calcium carbonates. The name is derived from the Greek words κόπρος (kopros, meaning “dung”) and λίθος (lithos, meaning “stone”).They serve a valuable purpose in paleontology because they provide direct evidence of the predation and diet of extinct organisms. Victorian Fossil hunter Mary Anning had noticed that “bezoar stones” were often found in the abdominal region of ichthyosaur skeletons found in the Lias formation…
Read More