Paleontology

Coprolite

분석

Definition

Fossilized feces that provide information about the diet and behavior of ancient organisms.

Detailed Explanation

Coprolites can reveal not just diet but also gut parasites, chewing behavior, and even prey species' DNA preserved in the ancient feces. Dinosaur coprolites containing crushed bone indicate bone-crushing dietary habits not evident from tooth morphology alone. The largest known coprolites — attributed to Tyrannosaurus rex — are 44 cm long. Coprolites from ancient humans preserve plant, meat, and parasite evidence about prehistoric subsistence strategies.

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