COPROLITES OR PSEUDO-COPROLITES

FROM THE MORRISON FORMATION?

Scott Lakeram

Student, Hofstra University

Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability

Sunday, May 20, 2018           2:00 P.M.            Room 319

American Museum of Natural History         New York City

Coprolites are the fossilized fecal remains of prehistoric life. These trace fossils hold valuable information for understanding the paleoecological interactions of the past and the daily life of extinct species. Invertebrate coprolites have been well documented within the scientific literature; however less attention has been shown to vertebrate fossils. The Morrison Formation is famous for it extensive deposits of herbivorous dinosaur fauna. Silicified masses from this formation are commonly sold to the general public and collectors as genuine herbivorous dinosaur coprolites. Currently there is no published description or confirmation of these specimens being coprolites. Confirmation of a mineral mass as a coprolite relies on the identification of undigested organic remains, usually bone fragments or comminuted plant remains. Nineteen specimens of putative Morrison Formation coprolites were described and analyzed in order to identify any organic material or textures to confirm if they are in fact coprolites. Scott will discuss the various analytical techniques applied to coprolites and his findings that call into question the coprolite identity of the Morrison concretions.

 

 

N.Y.P.S. MEETING DATES FOR THE YEAR

These are the meeting dates of the New York Paleontological Society for the 2017-2018 season. We meet at 2:00 P.M. in room 319 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (79th Street and Central Park West), unless otherwise specified. Our Annual Party will be held at the NYU Tandon (Polytechnic) School of Engineering in Brooklyn, N.Y. Due to changes in the museum’s schedule, the above dates may change (usually very unlikely), so check your Newsletter or the monthly meeting notice on this website.

September 17,2017	*December 2, 2017	March 18, 2018
October 15, 2017	January 21,  2018	April 15, 2018
November 19, 2017	February 18, 2018	May 20, 2018
* Our Annual Party is on a Saturday! .