• Options A–C, all brown. A is a lumpy sausage shape flat on each end. B is a stubby twisted piece. C is a long skinny crooked piece.
  • Three extra small coprolites on a wood shelf, with a gold fly figurine on the right.
  • A bunch of extra small coprolites evenly spread out on a cardboard background
  • An extra small coprolite on a wood shelf, with a gold fly figurine to the right. The coprolite is a well-formed soft-serve shape. A caption reads "you know I kept this one"
  • Five small coprolites spread out in a hand to show scale. They are a about as long as the hand is wide or less.
  • Options D–F, all brown. D is an irregular shape with one end pointed. E is shaped like a snail, with one long piece and a lump on top of it. F is a long thin twisted piece.
  • Options G–I, G and H are brown and I is orange-brown. G Is long and tapered, with both ends coming to a point. H is a long irregularly-shaped piece. I is a thick, short piece with heavily crackle texture.
  • Options J–L, all brown. J is a single lump tapered at one end. J is a squiggly curling piece. L is a long wavy piece with a pointed end.
  • Options M–O. M is an irregular dark brown piece, flat on one end and pointed on the other. N is a red-brown long, thin curved piece. O is a light brown sausage-shaped piece that bends at a right angle near one end.
  • Options P–R, all brown. Option P is a squarish-shaped irregular lump. Q is a bumpy curved piece. R is long and thin with a slight bend, looking stretched.
  • Options S–U, all brown. S is a squat spiraled piece. T is a twisted piece tapered on one end. U is a thick lumpy curved piece.
  • Options V–X, all brown. V is a thick bulbous long coprolite with a tapered end. W is lumpy twisted piece flat on the ends. X is a well-formed thin piece folded on one end.
  • Scale image of options A through F on a measuring mat. A is almost two and a half inches long. B, C, and E are a bit under two inches long. D and F are a little over two inches long.
  • Scale image of options G through L on a measuring mat. G,H, K, and L are all almost two and a half inches long. I and J are two inches.
  • Scale image of options M through R on a measuring mat. All pieces are about two inches long, except O is a bit over two inches long.
  • Scale image of options S through X on a measuring mat. All options are about two inches long, except S is over two inches, and T under two inches long.
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Coprolites (extra small)

Coprolites (extra small)

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Locale: Madagascar

Approx size: 2.5" avg (1.5–3.5")

Approx weight: 35g avg (20–50g)

 

Everybody poops (weird sometimes)! A coprolite is fossilized excrement, colloquially called “dino doo.” The inexpensive specimens most commonly found in the market today likely aren’t from dinosaurs though, some are masquerading as dino doo. I have most frequently seen this Madagascar material attributed to prehistoric turtles that once roamed the area.

There is some debate whether in fact these are even true coprolites however, or simply unfortunately (or… fortuitously?) shaped iron concretions. I find the cololite argument compelling, 'cololite' meaning intestinal casts preserving the twists and folds of some creature's intestines. Whichever way, I'm skeptical that turtles were this prolific of defecators based on the number of Madagascar "coprolites" on the market.

The X-files "I WANT TO BELIEVE" poster with the UFO replace with a coprolite

When you see the variety of shapes these specimens come in, they are pretty convincing as coprolites. I have a hard time not keeping every well-formed piece I come across, building my own private pseudo-Poozeum. The material is composed of siderite and other ferrous (iron-rich) minerals that limonized, indicated by the crackling. Broken or polished pieces can have lovely colors similar to low-quality petrified wood or jasper, with tones of brown, yellow, orange, and red.

Sure you could make your own for free, but these "coprolites" are an inexpensive conversation piece—and always a great gift for kids!


Size categories

L 4.5” / 200g avg

M 3.5” / 100g avg

S 2.5" / 40g avg - S and higher-quality XS specimens

XS ​​2" / 30g avg - XS and lower-quality S specimens

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