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Re: dino doo
I have been studying coprolites of fish for a while now. In fact my
first publication was on a faecal blob! As you are all probably
aware, the same animal can produce dung of different consistency
depending on how it feels or what it had for its last meal. Those of
you who alternate between curries and non-spicey food will know this
as will those who suffer from tummy-bugs and occasional constipation.
It is therefore important to remember these things when looking at
the fossil record of such remains. The harder it is the less prone
to damage when dropped. The same goes for compact and light. Soft
or more liquid faecal material will tend to splat. The eggs on the
other hand (so to speak :)) will tend to be of relatively consistent
solidity and rigidity and the dinosaur will presumably take more care
in dropping them.
Neil
Neil Clark
Curator of Palaeontology
Hunterian Museum
University of Glasgow
email: NCLARK@museum.gla.ac.uk
Mountains are found in erogenous zones.
(Geological Howlers - ed. WDI Rolfe)