Putative dicynodont coprolites from the Upper Triassic of Poland

摘要: Abstract A significant number (more than 100) of brown to dark and silty, carbonate or pyrite-mineralized, in part organic carbon-rich, spherical oval-shaped structures have been collected from the Upper Triassic (uppermost Norian-lower Rhaetian) sediments Lipie Śląskie clay-pit at Lisowice near Lubliniec town, Poland. Their geological context, morphology, content, geochemistry association with skeletal remains suggest they are fecal masses a sizable herbivorous tetrapod. The only large herbivore known site is giant 5 meter-long dicynodont (Synapsida: Anomodontia), represented by numerous bones also large, footprints. putative coprolites were mudstone siltstone that deposited anoxic conditions. In addition, REEs other trace element concentrations burial environment diagenesis these under SEM thin section images coprolite matrix show nests pyrite (probably bacterial origin) amount mineral particles. contain amorphous, matter, poorly preserved palynomorphs, small fragments plant cuticle. Detailed characteristic reveals possible implications for ecology physiology source animal species. δ 13 C values gymnosperm cuticle matter measured three − 23.4‰, − 21.2‰ − 20.3‰, all average. evidence suggests dicynodonts processed soft elements into very pieces, but wood found mass accumulation two coprolites.