Coprolite occurrences in Latin America

Coprolites have been found and described in the scientifi c literature since the last century. The traditional paleontological approach focused on description of the material and identifi cation of the producer has changed to a more applied approach in recent years. The analysis of morphology and microstructure of the coprolites has allowed the understanding of a number of questions related to the behavior, physiology and environment of various species of extinct animals, such as predation, parasitism and nesting. The main goal of this study is to provide a brief historical overview, to elucidate some important descriptive aspects, to comment on new methods for studying coprolites, and to provide a general evaluation of the morphological characteristics of vertebrate’s coprolites found in different localities, ages and lithologic units in Latin America.