45/263
[ stop the slideshow ]

Sketch of a gastrolith—the gizzard stone of an ancient reptile

Sketch of a gastrolith—the gizzard stone of an ancient reptile.jpg Sketch of a coprolite—fossilized animal excrementThumbnailsType of Huts suggested by Magdalenian drawings 2Sketch of a coprolite—fossilized animal excrementThumbnailsType of Huts suggested by Magdalenian drawings 2Sketch of a coprolite—fossilized animal excrementThumbnailsType of Huts suggested by Magdalenian drawings 2Sketch of a coprolite—fossilized animal excrementThumbnailsType of Huts suggested by Magdalenian drawings 2

These highly polished well-rounded stones (gastrolith) are believed to have been used in the stomachs of reptiles for grinding the food into smaller pieces. Large numbers of these “stomach stones” have been found with the remains of certain types of dinosaurs.