Digging for Poop Fossils

By: Kristina Lyn Heitkamp

Whether it weighs in at a whopping four pounds or is the size of an egg, fossilized dung is a precious treasure. Petrified poop, also known as coprolite, is rare. But when it’s discovered, it opens a world into the past. Trace fossils, such as coprolites tell stories about how ancient animals and humans lived, behaved and even how they died. Through accessible language and engrossing images, readers will learn how dung detectives identify and study coprolites. Readers will also explore how fossilized feces are formed. Special features include Fun Fact boxes that highlight the wealth of data pulled from poop.

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