frankh8147 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Hello! From the Cretaceous of Monmouth County New Jersey, I found what looks like a big, steaming...well, you know! The thing is though, it does not resemble any spiral coprilite I've ever seen so I'm wondering if it's from something else or just a faker! Thanks! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 @Carl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Maybe it was something that dropped out of an animal when a big scary shark swam by it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 It’s not a coprolite because the “spiral” pattern is irregular. I think it’s unfortunately a concretion. 1 “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 @Carl Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 When a distinct morphology is the indication it needs to be distincter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Very interesting. It's hard to say for sure, as with so many coprolites, but I actually think this might be one. With tooth marks. I have seen coprolites with mark's like this before. I want @GeschWhat to weigh in here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 On 2/9/2020 at 10:38 AM, The Jersey Devil said: It’s not a coprolite because the “spiral” pattern is irregular. I think it’s unfortunately a concretion. Not all coprolite-makers in the brooks were fish so spirals would not be expected for all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 @Carl I know not all coprolite makers were fish. Problem is is that if it’s something like reptilian you wouldn’t expect any spiral marks, and if it’s fish you should have an even pattern. I’m curious as to how a coprolite would get tooth marks in it and what makes you think those are tooth marks in the above item. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 10 minutes ago, The Jersey Devil said: I’m curious as to how a coprolite would get tooth marks in it I think the usual way. Disgusting, but relatively common I think. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I'm not sure it's a faker... Please follow the experts ideas on this one. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Only way to find out for sure is to crack it open. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 16 hours ago, The Jersey Devil said: @Carl I know not all coprolite makers were fish. Problem is is that if it’s something like reptilian you wouldn’t expect any spiral marks, and if it’s fish you should have an even pattern. I’m curious as to how a coprolite would get tooth marks in it and what makes you think those are tooth marks in the above item. Many animals are coprophagous and these resemble tooth marks I have seen claimed for coprolites elsewhere. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy B Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 15 hours ago, The Jersey Devil said: Only way to find out for sure is to crack it open. taste it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pemphix Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 You may consider being it a cololith.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Very interesting piece, great conversation starter! It really looks like it should be poop. Poop that has been gnawed by teeth. But those dimples on the top in images 2 and 4 are confusing. If I saw it labelled as poop in a reputable museum I probably wouldn't question it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I'm in the cololith / coprolite camp. I wouldn't break it as most coprolites don't have anything discernible in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadrosauridae Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Plax said: I'm in the cololith / coprolite camp. I wouldn't break it as most coprolites don't have anything discernible in them. can you imagine if coprolites were like modern owl pellets? "There is no shortage of fossils. There is only a shortage of paleontologists to study them." - Larry Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 4 hours ago, Carl said: Many animals are coprophagous and these resemble tooth marks I have seen claimed for coprolites elsewhere. But if a large animal with teeth bit the coprolite, how is it supposed to stay intact? “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, Plax said: I'm in the cololith / coprolite camp. I wouldn't break it as most coprolites don't have anything discernible in them. Many Chondrichthyan coprolites will have the spiral pattern visible on the inside Edited February 11, 2020 by The Jersey Devil “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 34 minutes ago, The Jersey Devil said: But if a large animal with teeth bit the coprolite, how is it supposed to stay intact? It doesn't have to be a large animal or an animal with teeth (should've said "bite marks" above), i.e., crustacean. It could've been nibbled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Carl said: It doesn't have to be a large animal or an animal with teeth (should've said "bite marks" above), i.e., crustacean. It could've been nibbled. Maybe it was literally tasted and judged not 'sweet' enough ? An evolutionary pressure to not waste effort trying to digest something that just doesn't do the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Carl said: It doesn't have to be a large animal or an animal with teeth (should've said "bite marks" above), i.e., crustacean. It could've been nibbled. Hmm I think that would make sense then. @frankh8147 does it feel sticky when you touch it? “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, The Jersey Devil said: Hmm I think that would make sense then. @frankh8147 does it feel sticky when you touch it? It kind of does..I'll admit, it looks so 'fresh' that I've been leaving it around parts of my house for my fiance' to find (we have two dogs and two cats :)) ..I'll stop doing that for now! Here is a picture in different lighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 3 hours ago, frankh8147 said: It kind of does..I'll admit, it looks so 'fresh' that I've been leaving it around parts of my house for my fiance' to find (we have two dogs and two cats :)) ..I'll stop doing that for now! Here is a picture in different lighting. Most coprolites (that are actually fossilized) have a sticky touch to them, at least the nj ones. I think it’s part of the lick test, but if you press your finger into it it has the same effect. 1 “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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