Megalodon Poop - SOLD 3.79" 1 lb 4 oz Fossil
Megalodon Poop - SOLD 3.79" 1 lb 4 oz Fossil
The Megalodon shark dominated the oceans of the world for over 20 million years. Reaching sizes upwards of 18 m (59 ft) in length, the largest Megalodon jaw reconstruction measures 3.3 m (11 ft) across and 2.7 m (9 ft) tall.
This specimen is a complete 3.79" 1 lb 4 oz fossilized piece of Megalodon poop. Scientifically known as coprolites, these fossils are important indicators of the prehistoric shark's territory and diet, and leave us clues about the wider food chain of the ancient ocean.
📸 A sample megalodon corprolite
The fossil record suggests that Megalodon fed on a wide variety of prey. Smaller marine mammals, like dolphins, seals, and manatees were obvious targets, but even the largest early whales were not safe from this enormous apex predator. How do we know all about this super-shark's diet? Megalodon fossil poop.
This specimen is a complete Megalodon coprolite, a fossilized piece of shark poop that dates back over 3,600,000 years. Coprolites like these offer incredible insight into what the Megalodon ate in life and give important details about the prehistoric food chain.
📸 Mini Museum helper Mara gave us a hand in identifying this specimen... yep, that's poop!
These poop fossils are the perfect size to hold in your hand or to use as a conversation piece. Trust us, there is nothing like telling someone what this lovely material is after they've picked it up.
Each coprolite is photographed and listed individually by size. These fossils ship in a sturdy carton and include a small information card, which serves as certificate of authenticity
You can see all the available Megalodon coprolites, including smaller fossil fragments in the collection below!
Temporal Range: Early Miocene–Early Pliocene (23,000,000–3,600,000 Years Ago)
MORE ABOUT MEGALODON POOP
"You're gonna need a bigger boat." ~ Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody, Jaws (1975)
📸 A staff member of the American Museum of Natural History sits inside the jaws of a Megalodon (1909)
Otodus megalodon, with an average length of 10.2m (33.5 ft), was the largest known shark in Earth’s history, as true a sea monster as any creature of legend. Beyond its staggering size, the unanswered questions around Megalodon have only added to its mystique.
Like other extinct sharks, our reconstructions of this species rely almost entirely on their teeth, as few other fossils have been recovered, but there is one other Megalodon fossil paleontologists can turn to: their poop.
📸 A piece of Megalodon Fossil Poop
Sharks and their fellow elasmobranchs (rays, skates) have a unique feature to their digestive system: the spiral valve, an internal structure of the intestine that increases the tract’s surface area.
This allows for greater absorption of nutrients from food and allows the intestine to be smaller, which in turn allows for a larger liver and space for larger embryos in females. Additionally, the slow absorption rate means sharks have to feed less often, a definite evolutionary advantage over other species.
Of course, the unique shape of the spiral valve also leaves an imprint on feces, allowing for easier identification of megalodon and other sharks’ waste.
📸 Megalodon poop, showcase and display case specimens
Among other things, these coprolite fossils allow paleontologists to reconstruct a given species’ diet. Thanks to their poop, we know Megalodons fed on a wide variety of prey. Smaller marine mammals, like dolphins, seals, and manatees were obvious targets, but even the largest early whales were not safe from this enormous apex predator.
Analysis suggests that Megalodon was likely a very intelligent hunter, disabling large whales by crushing flippers or piercing internal organs.
📸 Fossil Megalodon poop in hand. Gloves not required.
Coprolites have been foundational to paleontology from its very beginnings. Mary Anning, the English fossil collector who made many early Plesiosaur and Ichthyosaur finds, was one of the first paleontologists to realize what coprolites were. Up to that point, it was thought the specimens were fossilized tree cones, but Anning found that they often contained bones, indicating they were feces.
Coprolites remain useful to paleontologists today. Depending on their origin, coprolites may contain a variety of minerals such as phosphorus and calcium which can help identify the species responsible for the droppings and to learn more about their diet.
Front of the Specimen Card
Back of the Specimen Card
Further Reading
Cajus, G. "Evolution of White and Megatooth Sharks, and Evidence for Early Predation on Seals, Sirenians, and Whales." Natural Science 2013 (2013).
Carrier, Jeffrey C., Michael R. Heithaus, and John A. Musick. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis Group, 2012. Print.
Eilperin, Juliet. Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks. Anchor, 2012.
Emling, Shelley. The Fossil Hunter : Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World. 1st ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Print.
Pimiento, Catalina, and Christopher F. Clements. "When did Carcharocles Megalodon Become Extinct? A New Analysis of the Fossil Record." PloS one 9.10 (2014): e111086.