Abstract
Recent paleontological collections at Laetoli and Kakesio have yielded a number of coprolites of medium- to large-sized carnivores, and a rare collection of ruminant coprolites. The carnivore coprolites appear to belong to a diversity of taxa, including canids, felids and hyaenids. Their occurrence confirms other lines of evidence that carnivores played an important role in the accumulation and composition of the fossil remains at Laetoli. Ruminant coprolites are extremely rare in the African fossil record, and are the result of unusual preservational conditions. The dung can be attributed to medium- to large-sized ruminants, including Giraffa stillei and at least two species of bovids. The consistency of most of the ruminant dung and the occasional presence of seeds indicates that deposition occurred primarily during or soon after the rainy season, a finding consistent with the sedimentological evidence. The presence of seeds and of coarse particles of herbaceous and woody plant material in several coprolites supports stable isotope and mesowear studies indicating that the ruminants at Laetoli were predominantly mixed feeders.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli |
| Subtitle of host publication | Human Evolution in Context |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Pages | 279-292 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Volume | 1: Geology, Geochronology, Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2011 |
Publication series
| Name | Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology |
|---|---|
| Number | 9789048199556 |
| ISSN (Print) | 1877-9077 |
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Keywords
- Bovid
- Carnivore
- Diet
- Dung pellet
- Ecology
- Giraffa
- Scat
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Palaeontology
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Ecology
Cite this
Coprolites : Taphonomic and paleoecological implications. / Harrison, Terry.
Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context. Vol. 1: Geology, Geochronology, Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment Springer , 2011. p. 279-292 (Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology; No. 9789048199556).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Coprolites
T2 - Taphonomic and paleoecological implications
AU - Harrison, Terry
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - Recent paleontological collections at Laetoli and Kakesio have yielded a number of coprolites of medium- to large-sized carnivores, and a rare collection of ruminant coprolites. The carnivore coprolites appear to belong to a diversity of taxa, including canids, felids and hyaenids. Their occurrence confirms other lines of evidence that carnivores played an important role in the accumulation and composition of the fossil remains at Laetoli. Ruminant coprolites are extremely rare in the African fossil record, and are the result of unusual preservational conditions. The dung can be attributed to medium- to large-sized ruminants, including Giraffa stillei and at least two species of bovids. The consistency of most of the ruminant dung and the occasional presence of seeds indicates that deposition occurred primarily during or soon after the rainy season, a finding consistent with the sedimentological evidence. The presence of seeds and of coarse particles of herbaceous and woody plant material in several coprolites supports stable isotope and mesowear studies indicating that the ruminants at Laetoli were predominantly mixed feeders.
AB - Recent paleontological collections at Laetoli and Kakesio have yielded a number of coprolites of medium- to large-sized carnivores, and a rare collection of ruminant coprolites. The carnivore coprolites appear to belong to a diversity of taxa, including canids, felids and hyaenids. Their occurrence confirms other lines of evidence that carnivores played an important role in the accumulation and composition of the fossil remains at Laetoli. Ruminant coprolites are extremely rare in the African fossil record, and are the result of unusual preservational conditions. The dung can be attributed to medium- to large-sized ruminants, including Giraffa stillei and at least two species of bovids. The consistency of most of the ruminant dung and the occasional presence of seeds indicates that deposition occurred primarily during or soon after the rainy season, a finding consistent with the sedimentological evidence. The presence of seeds and of coarse particles of herbaceous and woody plant material in several coprolites supports stable isotope and mesowear studies indicating that the ruminants at Laetoli were predominantly mixed feeders.
KW - Bovid
KW - Carnivore
KW - Diet
KW - Dung pellet
KW - Ecology
KW - Giraffa
KW - Scat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866111573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866111573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-90-481-9956-3_14
DO - 10.1007/978-90-481-9956-3_14
M3 - Chapter
VL - 1: Geology, Geochronology, Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment
T3 - Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology
SP - 279
EP - 292
BT - Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli
PB - Springer
ER -