Still_human Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 I just got an awesome coprolite. I generally hate those things, and would never pay money for one, but I came across this one and it has so many visible identifiable remains, I couldn't help being really impressed. Ive always wanted to see a coprolite that had clear remains in it. Sadly they're much smaller and harder to see in person than in these pictures, so I can only use these display pictures for the time being, until I take a magnified look. There's clearly fish scales, seemingly from different types of fish, and apparently squid hooks and such. I'm excited to find a good illuminated magnifying glass and really studying it up close:) Maybe even a microscope to take a closer look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 SH, what critter is this from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Hi, @GeschWhat Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_human Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 10 hours ago, caldigger said: SH, what critter is this from? I don't know:/ it is believed to be from an ichthyosaur, but Ive been explained how it's almost impossible to ID a coprolite to a specific species, without unusual circumstances. The identifiable remains could definitely be enough to narrow it, but I would need to take a close look and then talk to an expert, because just "fish and squid" is probably a pretty standard marine reptile diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamL Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Really cool. I want to find my own marine reptile poop soon. I find it hard to notice them so unless theres alot of fish scales might be waiting awhile. Yorkshire Coast Fossil Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_human Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 4 hours ago, LiamL said: Really cool. I want to find my own marine reptile poop soon. I find it hard to notice them so unless theres alot of fish scales might be waiting awhile. Yeah, I'd imagine it's super hard to find! Most of all coprolites I see I can't even tell, even knowing it is. I bought this one--I'd never be able to find my own, unless it was laying right behind a skeleton, right where its butt would be. Even then, like you said, unless it had easily visible inclusions, I'd almost definitely overlook it:/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomotodon Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Better pictures of the overall shape and inclusions will definitely be helpful (and location info), looks like it's not a shark since sharks have a spiral valve in their large intestine that leaves spiral marks on the coprolites. I believe plesiosaurs had it too, but not sure The Tooth Fairy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 On 10/9/2018 at 9:19 PM, Still_human said: I just got an awesome coprolite. I generally hate those things, and would never pay money for one, but I came across this one and it has so many visible identifiable remains, I couldn't help being really impressed. WHAT! Hate coprolite? BLASPHEMY! There aren't many ways you can get a fossil in a fossil. That is a fine specimen you have there. It looks like it is from the Blue (Lower) Lias around Lyme Regis. Those are some of my favorites. What is fascinating about coprolites is that they can preserve things that would otherwise not survive the fossilization process. Congratulations on what I hope will be the first of many coprolites in your collection. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 On 10/9/2018 at 9:19 PM, Still_human said: I generally hate those things bet you would have really hated holding it before it became a fossil! Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_human Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 45 minutes ago, GeschWhat said: WHAT! Hate coprolite? BLASPHEMY! There aren't many ways you can get a fossil in a fossil. That is a fine specimen you have there. It looks like it is from the Blue (Lower) Lias around Lyme Regis. Those are some of my favorites. What is fascinating about coprolites is that they can preserve things that would otherwise not survive the fossilization process. Congratulations on what I hope will be the first of many coprolites in your collection. I just can't get over what they are! I can't help feeling like I'm touching dried poop! Any that have identifiable inclusions are awesome, and I can deal with the whole touching poop thing, but otherwise...well, otherwise it's just poop lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_human Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 45 minutes ago, Walt said: bet you would have really hated holding it before it became a fossil! Lol exactly! That's all I can think about with them! The smooth glassy surfaced ones like mine aren't too bad, but it seems like most of them are dry and crusty feeling...YUCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_human Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 1 hour ago, Anomotodon said: Better pictures of the overall shape and inclusions will definitely be helpful (and location info), looks like it's not a shark since sharks have a spiral valve in their large intestine that leaves spiral marks on the coprolites. I believe plesiosaurs had it too, but not sure Being plesiosaurs, that would of course include pliosaurs too, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamL Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 1 hour ago, Still_human said: Being plesiosaurs, that would of course include pliosaurs too, right? I found one today, not as good as yours but still. Yorkshire Coast Fossil Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Even for Poo, this is purty cool. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 2 hours ago, LiamL said: I found one today, not as good as yours but still. Some of the most fascinating discoveries that I have found in coprolites were from those that looked unremarkable at first glance. Even tiny fragments can have extraordinary surprises hidden within. Take this tiny fragment. I put it under the microscope and it contained a small jaw fragment. 3 hours ago, Still_human said: I just can't get over what they are! I can't help feeling like I'm touching dried poop! Any that have identifiable inclusions are awesome, and I can deal with the whole touching poop thing, but otherwise...well, otherwise it's just poop lol Hmmm...have you heard about the field test for coprolites? It wouldn't work on those from the Lyme Regis area because they are too dense (and yours looks like it was treated). When I am hunting in the Hell Creek Formation, I use the "lick test." Coprolites from that formation are generally very porous. They stick if you touch them to the tip of your tongue. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamL Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 On 10/11/2018 at 8:21 PM, GeschWhat said: Some of the most fascinating discoveries that I have found in coprolites were from those that looked unremarkable at first glance. Even tiny fragments can have extraordinary surprises hidden within. Take this tiny fragment. I put it under the microscope and it contained a small jaw fragment. Hmmm...have you heard about the field test for coprolites? It wouldn't work on those from the Lyme Regis area because they are too dense (and yours looks like it was treated). When I am hunting in the Hell Creek Formation, I use the "lick test." Coprolites from that formation are generally very porous. They stick if you touch them to the tip of your tongue. So if you see poop on the beach give it a good old lick, probably not to something to teach kids. Yorkshire Coast Fossil Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 11 hours ago, GeschWhat said: Some of the most fascinating discoveries that I have found in coprolites were from those that looked unremarkable at first glance. Even tiny fragments can have extraordinary surprises hidden within. Take this tiny fragment. I put it under the microscope and it contained a small jaw fragment. Do you ever cut any of them in half for a better look at what is inside? Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 3 hours ago, Walt said: Do you ever cut any of them in half for a better look at what is inside? I picked up a tile saw last winter to do just that. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use it. We had absolutely no spring, summer was stifling, and it has been raining almost every day this fall. I have used my dremmel to take the ends off of a few. I have also dissolved quite a few scrap pieces in vinegar in order to see the inclusions. For the most part, I limit myself to surface prep to expose inclusions if there is something I wan't to try to identify. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 2 minutes ago, GeschWhat said: I picked up a tile saw last winter to do just that. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use it. We had absolutely no spring, summer was stifling, and it has been raining almost every day this fall. I have used my dremmel to take the ends off of a few. I have also dissolved quite a few scrap pieces in vinegar in order to see the inclusions. For the most part, I limit myself to surface prep to expose inclusions if there is something I wan't to try to identify. I bet they would look pretty cool cut and polished.... Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 Here is a spiral I purchase already cut and polished from the same area as Still_human's. It contains fish scales as well. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I like the colors.... and all the inclusions Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I think this one fits the thread title... @GeschWhat figure from: Grimaldi, D., & Engel, M.S. 2005 Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, 755 pp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, piranha said: I think this one fits the thread title... Uh, yeah, I would say so! Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 On 10/12/2018 at 2:14 PM, piranha said: I think this one fits the thread title... @GeschWhat figure from: Grimaldi, D., & Engel, M.S. 2005 Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, 755 pp. That is an AMAZING specimen! Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 who says you can't take it with you! Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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