coprolite
Ancient petrified dung
Coprolite is fossilized feces.
Paleontologists study coprolites to learn about ancient animals' diets and digestive systems: The coprolite contained fish scales, suggesting the dinosaur ate seafood.
The term comes from Greek words meaning "dung stone." Coprolites range from tiny rodent droppings to massive dinosaur deposits and are occasionally polished as curiosities.
Formed from deposited material
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- burialPlacing deceased underground
phosphate · nodule · concretion · formation · excavation · outcrop · layer · matrix
Final Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
Permian · Carboniferous · Devonian · Cambrian · Miocene · Pleistocene · Holocene · prehistoric
Solidified or fear-paralyzed
- mineralizedInfused with inorganic compounds
- lithifiedConverted into rock
- calcifiedHardened by calcium deposits
- preservedKept from deterioration
fossilized · silicified · solidified · inclusion · specimen · preservation · replacement · infilling
Extinct Mesozoic reptile
- paleobiologyStudy of ancient organisms
- paleoecologyStudy of prehistoric ecosystems
- paleontologistScientist studying prehistoric life
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
vertebrate · invertebrate · phylogeny · herbivore · carnivore · megafauna · sauropod · theropod
Customary food consumption
- seedsPlant embryos in casings
- fish-scalesThin overlapping skin plates
- plant-fibersCellulose strands from vegetation
- pollenFloral reproductive grains
parasites · digestion · undigested · mastication · microscopy · spectroscopy · biomarkers
sedimentary
Formed from deposited material
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
burial · phosphate · nodule · concretion · formation · excavation · outcrop · layer · matrix · provenance
Cretaceous
Final Mesozoic period
Paleozoic · Permian · Carboniferous · Devonian · Cambrian · Miocene · Pleistocene · Holocene · prehistoric · ancient
petrified
Solidified or fear-paralyzed
- mineralizedInfused with inorganic compounds
- lithifiedConverted into rock
- calcifiedHardened by calcium deposits
preserved · fossilized · silicified · solidified · inclusion · specimen · preservation · replacement · infilling · cast
dinosaur
Extinct Mesozoic reptile
- paleobiologyStudy of ancient organisms
- paleoecologyStudy of prehistoric ecosystems
- paleontologistScientist studying prehistoric life
extinction · vertebrate · invertebrate · phylogeny · herbivore · carnivore · megafauna · sauropod · theropod · trilobite
diet
Customary food consumption
- seedsPlant embryos in casings
- fish-scalesThin overlapping skin plates
- plant-fibersCellulose strands from vegetation
pollen · parasites · digestion · undigested · mastication · microscopy · spectroscopy · biomarkers
- dinosaur fossilsdinosaur bones, dinosaur footprints, mounted skeleton, coprolites, raptor claw
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, fossils
- paleontologydinosaurs, fossil, paleontology, fossil record, dinosaur bones
- bodily wastefeces, excrement, urine, poop, pee
- Fecesfeces, poop, dung, droppings, excrement
- organic depositspeat, guano, humus, coal seam, oil shale