Crustacean Coprolites with Canals

This cluster of coprolites was found on a beach near the mouth of Middlesex County beach on the Rappahannock River. Decapods (a type of crustacean), such as ghost shrimp and crayfish, produce fascinating rod-shaped fecal pellets containing little canals. The canals can have all different shapes. Each of the pellets in this specimen have 10 crescent-shaped canals. The shape, number and position of the canals fits with the ichnotaxon description for Palaxius decemlunulatus. Say that 10 times fast! Heck, I don't know if I can say it once.

The shape of this specimen suggests the pellets accumulated in a burrow.