Lycopods on the Menu? A herbivore coprolite mystery...

[Walt]

50 minutes ago, GeschWhat said:

Because my name is Lori, and I'm coproholic. Give me coprolite and a microscope, and I can't stop. 

I meant get her some millipoop for her birthday. 2 birds one stone

[RoadcutHannah]

Tribute To Arthropleura Armata

[GeschWhat]

Well, I went to the local pet store and they were kind enough to let me photograph their millipedes and gather some droppings. I actually came home with a young Texas Giant Gold Millipede. I was able to gather quite a few droppings from their Smoky Ghost Millipedes (Narceus gordanus). I broke a couple of them open and those were about 95% undigested, fairly intact plant material. I have much more work to do on this, but from what I've seen so far, I think it is very plausible that the coprolites of this type could be from Arthropleura. This particular one is really interesting because I found a small cluster of eggs in it as well. I guess some species of millipedes use their feces as an egg case of sorts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ynot]

10 minutes ago, GeschWhat said:

, I went to the local pet store and they were kind enough to let me photograph their millipedes and gather some droppings.

Oh what lengths some will go through to...study poo!.

[GeschWhat]

25 minutes ago, ynot said:

Oh what lengths some will go through to...study poo!.

Yeah, yeah...the funny thing is, the poo is just incidental. When I see a coprolite, I don't see poop. I see an ecosystem. Every time I look at these Mazon Creek herbivore coprolites, I see giant pill millipedes and dragonflies in a lush forest full of strange plants. 

[ynot]

6 minutes ago, GeschWhat said:

. I see an ecosystem.

That is what I see with every fossil I look at. And the endless chain of events that lead to the crossing of paths between Me and the fossil.

[daves64]

I see a cow or hear one moo & think of a steak.  

[Innocentx]

10 hours ago, GeschWhat said:

I see giant pill millipedes and dragonflies in a lush forest full of strange plants

 

10 hours ago, ynot said:

endless chain of events that lead to the crossing of paths between Me and the fossil

Ah yes, wonder!!