Fossilized animal feces, often found in rock layers and used by paleontologists to learn about ancient diets and ecosystems.
From Greek 'kopros' (feces) + '-lite' (stone). First described scientifically in the 19th century when geologists realized ancient droppings could fossilize and provide evidence of extinct animal behavior.
Coprolites are paleontologists' gold mine—they tell us what dinosaurs ate, how healthy they were, and sometimes contain undigested seeds that reveal ancient plants. One famous T-rex coprolite in Canada contained actual bone fragments, proving they really were meat-eaters.
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