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Dinosaur Poop Part 1: Who Dung It?


EDUCATION RESOURCES:


NGSS Standards:

LS

3-LS4-1


Crosscutting Concept:

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

Transcript-Dinosaur Poop Part 1_ Who Dung It
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If you ever get the chance to fossil hunting, don't just look for bones or teeth. Keep your eyes peeled for prehistoric poop! Coprolites are a kind of "trace fossil." Separate from "body" fossils, they provide clues to dinosaur behavior. Don't worry, the smell has long since drifted away! It might be hard to identify a coprolite, but these examples still have a fresh "look."

Coprolite with a deer toe in one

This coprolite was found in Nebraska, and has a full deer toe sticking out of it! What do you think, was it "deposited" by a carnivore or an herbivore?

Huge coprolite

Karen Chin, the scientist interviewed in our show, photographed this carnivore's Canadian coprolite (say that ten times fast).

Want to know more?

We want to hear from you!

Imagine that paleontologists are searching for coprolites 76 million years from now. What do you think they'll be able to learn about our time? Let us know - through drawings, voice recordings, or videos - at tumblepodcast@gmail.com!

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