Skip to content Skip to navigation

Article: Coprolites containing plant material from the Carboniferous of Britain

Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 20
Part: 1
Publication Date: January 1977
Page(s): 59 68
Author(s): Andrew C. Scott
DOI:
Addition Information

How to Cite

SCOTT, A. C. 1977. Coprolites containing plant material from the Carboniferous of Britain. Palaeontology20, 1, 59–68.

Online Version Hosted By

The Palaeontological Association (Free Access)

Abstract

Coprolites containing plant material are described from the Middle Coal Measures (Westphalian B) of Swillington, near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Other possible coprolites from the Lower Carboniferous (Calciferous Sandstone Series) of the Loch Humphrey Burn and Glenarbuck localities in the Kilpatrick Hills, Strathclyde are also recorded. The Coal Measure specimens contain either lycopod megaspore fragments, indeterminate plant debris, or a large variety of microspores (attributable to Lycopsida, Sphenopsida, Pteropsida; Filicinae, Gymno-spermae, and Pteridospermae) whereas the Lower Carboniferous specimens consist mainly of rolled plant debris. It is suggested that these coprolites belonged to animal litter feeders and is direct evidence of animals eating vegetation in the Palaeozoic.
PalAss Go! URL: http://go.palass.org/40a | Twitter: Share on Twitter | Facebook: Share on Facebook | Google+: Share on Google+