Coprolite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Coprolite

Entry/Object ID

78.57.13

Description

Description: Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Family: Common Name: Coprolite (dung stone) Age: Eocene Location: Salmon Creek, Lewis Co., Washington State Description: Exuded texture. Two similar pieces. Dark brown-red color. Physical catalog description for 78.57.6-13: "Trace fossil called turtle dung stone, from WA state. Note: 8 and 10 deaccessioned." Physical Characteristics: A coprolite is fossilized animal dung. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour (in this case, diet) rather than morphology. The name is derived from the Greek words ??p??? / kopros meaning 'dung' and ????? / lithos meaning 'stone'. They were first described by William Buckland in 1829. Prior to this they were known as "fossil fir cones" and "bezoar stones." They serve a valuable purpose in paleontology because they provide direct evidence of the predation and diet of extinct organisms.[1] Coprolites may range in size from a few millimetres to over 60 centimetres. Coprolites, distinct from paleofaeces, are fossilized animal dung. Like other fossils, coprolites have had much of their original composition replaced by mineral deposits such as silicates and calcium carbonates. Paleofaeces, on the other hand, retain much of their original organic composition and can be reconstituted to determine their original chemical properties.[2] In the same context, there are the urolites, erosions caused by evacuation of liquid wastes and nonliquid urinary secretions. Kingdom: Animalia (Animals) Class: Reptilia Phylum: Chordata

Collection

Fossil Collection

Acquisition

Accession

78.57

Source or Donor

Delmar Smith Fossil Collection

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Width

1-3/16 in

Depth

11/16 in

Length

2-3/16 in

Dimension Notes

Two pieces labeled 7.57.13 : (1) 2.2 x 1.2 x 0.7 inches (2) 1.0 x 0.6 x 0.5 inches

Location

Location

Container

Right

Drawer

2nd Shelf

Shelf

Left

Cabinet

Case # 49

Wall

North

Room

Delmar Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent