NMC 40751 *
Binomial Nomenclature was once used by
some authors to classify coprolites but has been
abandoned by most. Coprolites, like all fossils,
can differ dramatically in terms of quality of
preservation. They also differ in terms of morphology and composition and therefore the
diet of their producers is variable as well.
Accordingly, the same producer can produce
different feces depending on food habits. Thus
as the Linnaean system is used to classify species,
many problems arise when trying to classify
coprolites because one species is capable of
producing vastly different fecal material.
Other systems have been tried over the
years and one such is to classify coprolites on
their form and the matter they contain. Buckland
classified coprolites using this system and
identified such contents as, bones, fish scales,
mollusk shells and other various indigestible
or undigested remains.
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