Name/Title
CoproliteEntry/Object ID
78.57.25Description
Description: Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family:
Common Name: Coprolite (dung stone)
Age: Eocene
Location: Salmon Creek, Lewis Co., Washington State
Description: Exuded texture. Mounted on cement-like slab. Dark brown-red color.
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: ChordataCollection
Fossil CollectionAcquisition
Accession
78.57Source or Donor
Delmar Smith Fossil CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
3-11/16 inDepth
2-3/16 inLength
7-11/16 inLocation
Location
Container
LeftDrawer
Bottom Shelf / FrontShelf
RightCabinet
Case # 50Wall
NorthRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
Permanent
