(?)REPTILE COPROLITES FROM THE CAMPANIAN AND MAASTRICHTIAN (LATE CRETACEOUS) OF THE LUHANSK REGION

Abstract

Problem Statement and Purpose. Vertebrate coprolites have important paleobiological and paleogeographical significance. They are quite common trace fossils, but have almost never attracted the attention of researchers, despite the fact that in the literature there are numerous references to the findings of vertebrate coprolites in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits of Ukraine. The aims of this study are to describe the morphology of coprolites, compare them with morphologically similar vertebrate coprolites, and identify their potential producers. Data & Methods. Two well-preserved specimens of the vertebrate coprolites(Morphotype A and Morphotype B) were found in sediments of the late Campanian Sydorove Formation and early Maastrichtian Konoplyanivka Formation of the northern part of the Donets Basin. Results. Chondrichthyes fishes are excluded from the list of potential producers of coprolites due to the absence of spiral grooves on the surface of a more wellpreserved coprolite and the spiral pattern on its transverse section. These coprolites differ from coprolites of crocodiles in shape, but are close to them in size. One of the coprolites (Morphotype A) probably belongs to a marine reptile of the family Mosasauridae. Mosasaurids were large marine reptiles that appeared and flourishedin the Late Cretaceous (Turonian-Maastrichtian). The morphology of mosasaurids confirms their adaptation to active swimming. They fed mainly on fish, mollusks and other marine reptiles. It was not possible to identify the systematic position of the coprolite producer of Morphotype B. Skeletal remains of mosasaurids are known in the Campanian and Maastrichtian sediments of the Donets Basin. The study results showed that coprolites are important for paleoecological studies, so they deserve a detailed study.