Re: SAUROPOD COPROLITES (was Lava and dinosaurs)

["Ray Stanford" <dinotracker@earthlink.net>]

    Rik Hill wondered about whether any Sauropod coprolites have been found.

    I was told by a fossil dealer that he once had several supposed Sauropod
coprolites from Utah, that very much "...looked the part".  At least three
of them were said to weigh well over 1,000 pounds!  They were purchased by a
wealthy Japanese businessman and shipped off to Japan.  -- For use in a Zen
meditation garden? :O

    In my search for Early Cretaceous ichnites here in Maryland, numerous
coprolites have been found.  Considering the number of Sauropod tracks
recovered, some of the large coprolites from one such track site might be of
Sauropod origin.  The largest coprolite found so far at that site is,
however, only about 45 cm (15 inches) across, and weighs a mere 66 pounds.
>From the shape of that 'petrified poop pile' and the breaks on two sides, I
would guess that I have only about 25 -30% of the original dropping.  Some
of the coprolites show clear remains of masticated plant material, such as
sections of some type(s) of conifer seed cones.  Analysis of some of the
other Maryland coprolites have demonstrated by their very high phosphorous
content (evidence of bone traces) that the animal responsible had been
consuming other animals, bones included.

    Personally, I am fondest of the several coprolites recovered that show
excellent dinosaur foot prints!  I guess dino kids never listened to their
moms' warnings.  :)

    While on this crappy subject, some of you may recall reading in Bob
Bakker's fictional novel, Raptor Red, about dinosaurs practicing coprophagia
(feces eating).  Some might have dismissed that as fantasy, but one (and
only one) of the freshest-looking coprolites I have ever found clearly shows
distortions of the surface that -- at least to my mind -- look like nothing
so much as RETILE TONGUE-LAP MARKS. That coprolite very closely resembles
the top of an over-sized, just-beginning-to-slightly-melt, dark-chocolate
ice-cream cone, with licking marks seemingly made by a pointed tongue!  [Ben
& Jerry, you can use it in ads for the right contribution to my ichnological
studies!  ;)]

    Just as I am writing this, an interesting posting from Ralph W. Miller
III to the dinosaur list has come in.  Ralph speaks of possible
pellitization (as in elk droppings, for example) of dinosaur feces. From
coprolites I have examined (one from Utah, all others from here in
Maryland), certain types of large, herbivorous dinosaurs seem to have
deposited CLUMPS of  rather spherical pellets, pasted together by a less
consolidated fecal paste.  Some of the included pellets, spheric, or
sub-spheric items, are, individually, up to 10 cm (4 inches) across.  I am
definitely NOT mistaking botryoidal aggregates of hematite (or of other
minerals) for coprolite clumps, as verified by cross-sectional studies.
Such fecal spheres sometime are found in pairs, adhered to each other only
in a small contact area.  The biggest coprolite I have found (mentioned
earlier) contains several large clumps within the big 'dino patty'.

    I find many examples of coprolites that show the action of what may have
been fly (or even beetle?) larvae consuming the feces from within.

    Apologies to those on in the eastern USA who may be reading this near
dinner time.

    Ray Stanford