DISTINGUISHING REGURGITALITES AND COPROLITES: A CASE STUDY USING A TRIASSIC BROMALITE WITH SOFT TISSUE OF THE PSEUDOSUCHIAN ARCHOSAUR REVUELTOSAURUS
| Autor: | Derek E. G. Briggs, Caleb M. Gordon, William G. Parker, Brian T. Roach |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
010506 paleontology
biology Phytosaur Archosaur Coprolite Paleontology Vertebrate Identification key Extinct species 010502 geochemistry & geophysics biology.organism_classification 01 natural sciences Revueltosaurus Evolutionary biology biology.animal Skeletal material Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Zdroj: | PALAIOS. 35:111-121 |
| ISSN: | 0883-1351 |
| DOI: | 10.2110/palo.2019.099 |
| Popis: | Regurgitalites (fossilized regurgitates) can provide insight into the behavioral ecology and physiology of extinct species but they are rarely reported because they are difficult to identify and distinguish from coprolites. A compact mass of skeletal material from the Owl Rock Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Arizona reveals features that identify it as a regurgitalite. Characteristics of the teeth and osteoderms in the specimen indicate that these remains belong to the pseudosuchian archosaur Revueltosaurus. Chemical and microstructural analysis revealed a dearth of gastric etching, the preservation of muscle fibers, and the absence of a phosphatic matrix, indicating that this bone mass is a regurgitalite and not a coprolite. It was probably produced by a phytosaur, rauisuchid, or temnospondyl, all of which occur in the Owl Rock Member. We offer an identification key to assist in distinguishing between different types of digestive remains produced by vertebrate carnivores. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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