Dinosaur coprolites from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lameta Formation of India: isotopic and other markers suggesting a C3plant diet |
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| Authors: | Prosenjit Ghosh S K Bhattacharya Ashok Sahni R K Kar D M Mohabey K Ambwani |
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| Institution: | a Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745, Jena, Germany;b Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, India;c Centre for Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India;d Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow 226007, India;e Geological Survey of India, Seminary Hills, Nagpur 440 006, India |
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| Abstract: | A single locality of the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lameta Formation at Pisdura in Central India has yielded a large number of coprolites attributed to titanosaurian dinosaurs. Internally the coprolites are dark grey and contain abundant plant tissues and other organic materials. The plant tissues are mostly of gymnospermous origin. In addition, remains of bacterial colonies, fungal spores and algae are seen in the macerated fraction under scanning electron microscope. The dark grey appearance is probably attributable to fine-grained organic matter within voids in tracheids or xylem. The average 13C/12C ratio of the organic matter in the coprolites is -24‰ (relative to PDB) suggesting that plants of C3type were the main diet of their producers. A comparison of δ15N value (about 4‰ w.r.t. air) of the coprolites with that of faecal matter of modern herbivores and carnivores suggests that gut fermentation may not have been an active mechanism in the digestion process of titanosaurs. |
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| Keywords: | coprolites gut fermentation stable isotopes |
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