Fossil Coprolites from the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota and Ecological Implication

摘要

INTRODUCTION Fossilized coprolites provide important insight into diet, physiology and organism interactions such as predator-prey relationships of ancient life. However, preservation of complete coprolites is scarce because most coprolites are fragile and decay or disarticulate soon after release. Here we report a coprolite assemblage from the Anisian-aged Luoping Biota, a fossil Lagerstatte recently discovered from the Middle Triassic in Luoping County, Yunnan Province, SW China (Zhang et al., 2009, 2008). Associated fossils include fishes, marine reptiles, arthropods, bivalves, mollusks, echinoderms, ammonites, lingulid brachiopods, foraminifers, and plants. The preservation and possible producers of these coprolites, and furthermore, the ecological implications are discussed.