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A fresh look at ancient dungs: Brazilian Triassic coprolites revisited

2017; Wiley; Volume: 51; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/let.12251

1502-3931

Heitor Francischini, Paula Dentzien‐Dias, César Leandro Schultz,

Ichthyology and Marine Biology

LethaiaVolume 51, Issue 3 p. 389-405 Original Article A fresh look at ancient dungs: the Brazilian Triassic coprolites revisited Heitor Francischini, Corresponding Author Heitor Francischini heitorfrancischini@hotmail.com orcid.org/0000-0001-9809-7784 Laboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970 BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorPaula Dentzien-Dias, Paula Dentzien-Dias pauladentzien@gmail.com Laboratório de Geologia e Paleontologia, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Av. Itália Km 8, Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-900 BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorCesar L. Schultz, Cesar L. Schultz cesar.schultz@ufrgs.br Laboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970 BrazilSearch for more papers by this author Heitor Francischini, Corresponding Author Heitor Francischini heitorfrancischini@hotmail.com orcid.org/0000-0001-9809-7784 Laboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970 BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorPaula Dentzien-Dias, Paula Dentzien-Dias pauladentzien@gmail.com Laboratório de Geologia e Paleontologia, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Av. Itália Km 8, Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-900 BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorCesar L. Schultz, Cesar L. Schultz cesar.schultz@ufrgs.br Laboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970 BrazilSearch for more papers by this author First published: 12 October 2017 https://doi.org/10.1111/let.12251Citations: 14Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Terrestrial tetrapod coprolites are abundant in the Middle to Late Triassic of southern Brazil, but only few specimens have been described in just a couple of papers. Here we revisit the already-known specimens and describe new materials, including their size, shape, external modifications, matrix composition and rare inclusions. Regarding size and shape, the measurements of 152 specimens show that the Triassic coprolites of Brazil follow a normal distribution, in which length and width are positively correlated variables, so that they are not useful for taxonomic purposes. Notwithstanding, two ichnotaxa, Santamariacopros elongatus and Rhynchocopros soutoi, were previously described from the Middle/Upper Triassic Santa Maria Formation, based mainly on morphological (length/width ratio) and preservational features, but we discuss here the validity of such taxa. Once the Santa Maria Formation encompasses at least three tetrapod Assemblage Zones (AZ), Dinodontosaurus AZ, Santacruzodon AZ and Hyperodapedon AZ (from the oldest to the youngest, respectively), it is difficult to attribute these coprolites to any specific animal producers. In addition, the rarity of inclusions and the carbonated composition of the coprolites, related to early diagenetic processes, complicate this attribution too. Nevertheless, some rare inclusions as a hair-like structure and a parasite egg were found in this study. Although the coprotaxonomy fails to represent the Santa Maria Formation coprolites and the recognition of their producers is a problematic task, these fossil dungs are important elements in the knowledge of the Middle to Late Triassic environments of southern Brazil. Citing Literature Supporting Information Filename Description let12251-sup-0001-AppendixS1.xlsxMS Excel, 23.4 KB Appendix S1. Coprolite data from the Middle to Upper Triassic Santa Maria Formation: measurements, provenance and quantity of pellets. let12251-sup-0002-AppendixS2.docxWord document, 236.2 KB Appendix S2. Supplementary tables, figure and information about the coprolite-bearing localities. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. Volume51, Issue3July 2018Pages 389-405 RelatedInformation