A rich coprolite assemblage from Angeac-Charente (France): A glimpse into trophic interactions within an Early Cretaceous freshwater swamp

A rich coprolite assemblage from Angeac-Charente (France): A glimpse into trophic interactions within an Early Cretaceous freshwater swamp

Coprolites (fossil droppings) are common in the Mesozoic fossil record. However, coprolite assemblages from continental settings have more rarely been quantitatively analysed than the marine ones. The excavation of the Berriasian continental Lagerstätte of Angeac-Charente (France) during the last de...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cretaceous research Vol. 162; p. 105939
Main Authors: Rozada, L., Allain, R., Qvarnström, M., Rey, K., Vullo, R., Goedert, J., Augier, D., Robin, N.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2024
Elsevier
Subjects:
Coprolites
Crocodylomorphs
Early Cretaceous
Earth Sciences
Palaeoecology
Paleontology
Producers
Sciences of the Universe
Stratigraphy
Taphonomy
Coprolites
Producers
Palaeoecology
Early Cretaceous
Crocodylomorphs
Taphonomy
Paleoecology
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Coprolites (fossil droppings) are common in the Mesozoic fossil record. However, coprolite assemblages from continental settings have more rarely been quantitatively analysed than the marine ones. The excavation of the Berriasian continental Lagerstätte of Angeac-Charente (France) during the last decade has resulted in unearthing a vast number of fossils, including ca. 6000 coprolite specimens. This large collection, accompanied by spatially landmarked depositional data, offers a unique opportunity to assess the organism interactions in an Early Cretaceous freshwater swamp ecosystem. We assign the coprolites to nine morphotypes based on their morphology and contents (using tomography and thin-sections), and to four taphonomic categories. We compare the specimens to other fossil and recent droppings, including newly imaged crocodilian faeces. While the Angeac-Charente biota comprised animals of a range of different ecologies, including waters primary inhabitants (chelonians, crocodylomorphs, actinopterygians) and a variety of dinosaurs, the coprolites, together with other ichnological evidence, such as bite marks, seem to largely illustrate the activity of the crocodylomorphs in this ancient swamp. The assemblage is compared to previously analysed continental Cretaceous copro-assemblages from Europe and North Africa.
ISSN:0195-6671
1095-998X
1095-998X
DOI:10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105939