Jump to content

Fish Otolith In Coprolite


Al Dente

Recommended Posts

I recently looked through my collection of coprolites from the Lee Creek Mine of North Carolina. I saw something unusual that I hadn't seen previously. It was an otolith impression from a Drum-like fish in a small coprolite that also contained a lot of ingested quartz sand. The otolith must have passed and then after fossilization was dissolved out leaving the impression.

Here is the impression, about 4 mm. across:

post-2301-0-51022900-1427474953_thumb.jpg

Here is a similar otolith from the Yorktown Formation, about 6 mm. across:

post-2301-0-90281200-1427474965_thumb.jpg

Here's the entire coprolite, the impression is on the left:

post-2301-0-50924600-1427474983_thumb.jpg

  • I found this Informative 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any identifiable organic inclusion in a coprolite is remarkable; this one is also very cool!

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very cool!

It really makes my mind wonder the scenario that took place and who it came from. The inclusion of a lot of sand suggests bottom feeder. But then Drum aren't necessarily found at the "bottom".

~Charlie~

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK
->Get your Mosasaur print
->How to spot a fake Trilobite
->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very cool!

...Drum aren't necessarily found at the "bottom".

Except after they die ;)

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...