Scroll Coprolite with Fish Vertebrae Inclusions and Surface Pellets

This coprolite came from a prehistoric fish with a scroll valve. Its diet, at least in this instance consisted of bony fish as evidenced by the three visible vertebrae inclusions. Another interesting feature of this coprolite is the small pellet-shaped objects that can be seen under the microscope. These pellets are likely coprolites from invertebrates that may have been feeding on the fecal matter around 50 million years ago...while it was still fresh and tasty. Another possibility, is that they are the exoskeletons of tiny sea creatures known as foraminifera that may have also been ingested.