SOLOMONS, Md. – To celebrate the importance of coprolites in the fossil record and in the study of prehistoric life, the Department of Paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) is inviting the public to attend the third annual Universal Coprolite Day celebration on Monday, February 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Remarkably, when feces fossilize, they are known as coprolites. The term coprolite comes from the Greek words kopros (meaning dung) and lithos (meaning stone).
Enjoy activities and learning stations in the museum’s Harms Gallery, lobby, and Paleo Hall. See CMM’s vast collection of coprolites and the stories they tell us from the past. Don’t worry, coprolites don’t have the odor you typically associate with feces. These fossils preserve through mineral replacement, which removes the organic materials that produce the familiar fecal funk.
New to this year’s event, the museum will share all about the amazing Dung Beetle! Did you know that some species of dung beetle can bury dung up to 250 times their weight in one night? Essential to many eco-systems, dung beetles live on almost every continent on the globe and there are over 5,000 species of dung beetles! Thanks to a generous loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, we will have on display a sampling of dung beetles from around the world, both living species and those in the fossil record.
Looking for poo-themed merchandise? The Museum Store will be stocked with fun poo-themed items, such as a ‘Who Pooped’ animal matching game, authentic coprolite, key chains, stickers, and a plethora of poo inspired books.
Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11.00 for adults; $9.00 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members; $6.00 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for ALL. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.