Fossilized excreta associated to dinosaurs in Brazil

Invertebrate traces in pseudo–coprolites from the upper Cretaceous Marília Formation (Bauru Group), Minas Gerais State, Brazil

“…Similar structures, recovered from the same stratigraphic level and locality, such as the samples analyzed by Oliveira (2013) and by Souto and Fernandes (2015; see also Souto, 2008) could also be pseudoecoprolites.…”

“…In this sample, some specimens have superficial traces that are described below. Previous contributions have mentioned and/or figured specimens from the same locality at Peir opolis (i.e., "Ponto 1 do Price"), that were referred to as "coprolites" (e.g., Carvalho, Ribeiro & Avilla, 2004;Francischini et al, 2014;Oliveira, 2013;Ribeiro, Carvalho, & Neto 2014;Ribeiro et al, 2012;Salgado & Carvalho, 2008;Souto, 2008;Souto & Fernandes, 2015), but with exception of Francischini et al (2014), none of these authors mentioned external traces. Selections of these earlier records, together with recent finds, are here studied in detail and are referred to as pseudoecoprolites (see below).…”

“…According to Buatois and M angano (2011), the Trypanites ichnofacies can also occur in cemented bone beds and coquinas, strengthening the analogy of this association with the "Ponto 1 do Price" ichnocoenosis. Souto and Fernandes (2015) described a silicaerich pattern in a sample from "Ponto 1 do Price". Differing from results presented above, their Xeray fluorescence data results do not indicate the presence of calcium carbonates; those authors concluded that their material represented an herbivore coprolite, based on the amount of silica.…”

“…Oliveira (2013) described 211 specimens but failed to list diagnostic features (such as inclusions, texture and defined morphology) of the excremental nature of these specimens. Most recently, Souto and Fernandes (2015) presented brief descriptions of two ovoid and anisopolar coprolites from the same outcrop. Finally, we presented preliminary observations, in an abstract meeting (Francischini et al, 2014), of structures that were described as coprolites, bearing external traces originally interpreted as pupal chambers of dung flies.…”

Elongated theropod tracks from the Cretaceous Apenninic Carbonate Platform of southern Latium (central Italy

“…In some fortunate cases, ichnological material includes traces, which may record more information such as the skin texture, the resting of the tail on the ground, the ischial callosity, the metatarsal area, or the traces of excreta (e.g., Currie et al, 1991;Avanzini, 2000;Fernandes et al, 2004;Platt and Hasiotis, 2004; 2 Souto and Fernandes, 2015). All such features greatly expand the potential information on extinct tetrapod palaeobiology.…”