What is Coprolite?

Here's a word you probably don't use every day, coprolite. In short its really just a fancy word for fossilized poop. Why in the world would anyone be interested in something like fossilized poop, you might ask? In reality poop can offer a world of insight to scientists about the life of ancient and extinct creatures. The study of fossilized poop is part of a small branch of science called paleoscatalogy.

Fossilized feces are pretty rare actually. This is because in normal conditions it would deteriorate quickly. However if buried quickly than it can become fossilized. Analyzing these fossils can help us understand the food and habits of extinct animals like dinosaurs.

The biggest coprolite in the world was just certified in 2020 by the Guinness World Records. It is called Barnum named after a paleologist named Barnum Brown. And get this, it measures 26.5 inches by 6.2 inches, and weighs over 20 pounds! It is believed that it was made by a T. rex, as it was the only animal large enough to produces this large feces, and was found on a ranch in South Dakota. If you want to check it out, you can learn more here.

Here at NJ Traders, you won't find anywhere near that size of coprolite in our store, but you can get your very own small piece of fossilized poop for your own.