Vertebrate Coprolites Reveal Diversity of Prey Fishes in the Oligocene Carpathian Basin of the Paratethys

Coprolites from the Oligocene Menilite Formation of the Outer Carpathians in southeastern Poland were investigated to reveal the diversity of prey fishes consumed by coprolite producers. The material comprises 186 coprolites from seven localities. The coprolites are either sub-spherical, or elongate, and although classified into eight shape categories, display a morphological continuum. The phosphatic matrix is preserved in 28% of the specimens. Fish remains, including bones and scales, are preserved in 94% of the coprolite specimens. In 31% of specimens, these remains belong to the orders Perciformes, Gadiformes, Clupeiformes, and Aulopiformes. Prey sizes were estimated and compared to the sizes of fishes preserved as articulated skeletons from the same formation, that inhabited the Carpathian Basin of the Paratethys. The results demonstrate that coprolite analysis provides a significant paleontological data, which can be applied to infer fish diversity in other regions of the Paratethys, as well as in other sedimentary basins.