Observatoire des droits humains (anglais seulement)

Ancient poop offers unusual insight into animal behaviour

(Version anglaise seulement)

par Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University

Some people are annoyed when they encounter a fresh pile of dung while out on a walk in nature. Others are excited because it points to the recent visit of a particular kind of animal. But some scientists, myself included, may just be disappointed that the dung isn’t fossilised.

That’s because coprolites – fossilised scat – are palaeontological treasure troves. They can provide all sorts of information about the animal that deposited them, including…

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