Regurgitalith
Encyclopedia
Regurgitaliths are the fossil
ised remains of stomach contents that have been regurgitated
by an animal. They are trace fossil
s and can be subdivided into ichnotaxa
. Regurgitaliths might provide useful information on the diet of the animal, but are difficult to relate to any particular species
.
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ised remains of stomach contents that have been regurgitated
Regurgitation (digestion)
Regurgitation is the expulsion of material from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus, usually characterized by the presence of undigested food or blood.Regurgitation is used by a number of species to feed their young...
by an animal. They are trace fossil
Trace fossil
Trace fossils, also called ichnofossils , are geological records of biological activity. Trace fossils may be impressions made on the substrate by an organism: for example, burrows, borings , urolites , footprints and feeding marks, and root cavities...
s and can be subdivided into ichnotaxa
Ichnotaxon
An ichnotaxon is defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature as "a taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism", that is, the non-human equivalent of an artifact. Ichnotaxa are names used to identify and distinguish morphologically distinctive ichnofossils, more commonly...
. Regurgitaliths might provide useful information on the diet of the animal, but are difficult to relate to any particular species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.