The world's oldest known "toilet" was used by dinosaurs 240 million years ago.
A gigantic "communal latrine" created at the dawn of the dinosaurs has been unearthed in Argentina.
According to Scientist, thousands of fossilised poos left by rhino-like megaherbivores were found clustered together.
The 240-million-year-old site is the "world's oldest public toilet" and the first evidence that ancient reptiles shared collective dumping grounds.
According to a study in Scientific Reports,the dung contains clues to prehistoric diet, disease and vegetation.
Elephants, antelopes and horses are among modern animals who defecate in socially agreed hotspots to mark territory and reduce the spread of parasites.According to Scientist, thousands of fossilised poos left by rhino-like megaherbivores were found clustered together.
The 240-million-year-old site is the "world's oldest public toilet" and the first evidence that ancient reptiles shared collective dumping grounds.
According to a study in Scientific Reports,the dung contains clues to prehistoric diet, disease and vegetation.
But their best efforts are dwarfed by the enormous scale of this latrine which breaks the previous record "oldest toilet" by 220 million years.
Fossil "coprolites" as wide as 40cm and weighing several kilograms were found in seven massive patches across the Chanares Formation in La Rioja province.
"There is no doubt who the culprit was," said Dr Lucas Fiorelli, of Crilar-Conicet, who discovered the dung heaps.
"Only one species could produce such big lumps and we found their bones littered everywhere at the site."
Source: BBC
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