Fossilized feces reveal Early Cretaceous aquatic vertebrate diversity
Ancient fossils faeces found in central Spain belonged to fish-eating carnivores from the Early Cretaceous, according to a study published by Sandra Barrios de Pedro from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, and colleagues.
Fossilized faeces, or coprolites, provide unique clues about the diet and feeding behaviors of extinct animals. These fossils are relatively abundant in marine and terrestrial sediments, but coprolites from river, lake, or wetland environments are harder to find. In this study, the research team analyzed a large collection of coprolites found in freshwater sediments dating from about 129 to 125 million years ago, at the Las Hoyas site in central Spain.
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2018/05/fossilized-feces-reveal-early-cretaceous-aquatic-vertebrate-diversity/119839
