Gastroliths

["Norton, Patrick" <Patrick.Norton@state.me.us>]

Sam Girouard wrote:

>Perhaps gastroliths are not proof positive of herbivory, since   
crocodilians among other aquatic reptiles (including plesiosaurs) swallow   
stones and they are exclusively carnivorous. Of course, this is not a   
digestive aid in these animals as much as ballast for swimming, but it   
goes to show that gastroliths are not detrimental to the digestion of   
meat.<

My understanding is that Bakker x-rayed crocodile digestive tracts while   
at Harvard and determined that gastroliths do play a role in crocodile   
digestion. I don't know if he ever published on this, but perhaps others   
have a reference.