Science word of the day: Coprolite
Pronunciation: KAHP’-ruh-lite
What it means: A coprolite is fossilized poop, or animal dung that has been preserved as a fossil. Scientists have discovered coprolites from many different animals, including fish, dinosaurs and saber-toothed cats. In one fascinating example, teeth found inside saber-toothed cat coprolite suggested that the predator had been eating baby sloths — a surprisingly brutal meal from an animal with teeth up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) long.
Coprolites form when animal feces are quickly buried and become mineralized before they can fully decay. These fossilized droppings can be difficult to identify, especially when the animal that produced them is unknown. However, undigested bones, teeth and other remains preserved inside a coprolite can reveal important clues about an animal’s diet and the ancient food chain.
How to use it in a sentence: If you visit a science museum and see a chunky, rock-like object that looks suspiciously like poop, you can confidently call it a coprolite.
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Source: www.livescience.com