Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955

DESCRIPTION: Spherical, subspherical, pear-shaped, ovoid, spheres. Some spheres internally contain a spherical chamber connected to the outside by small opening. Can occur individually or in clusters. When well preserved, the spheres are found in a larger nest structure.

BEHAVIOR(S): Calichnia, reproduction.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS: Continental terrestrial environments, parts of soils in the vadose (unsaturated) zone.

POSSIBLE TRACEMAKERS: Dung beetle (e.g. Colioptera scarabaeinae) adults produce the ball on which an egg is laid, and the larvae hollow out the ball.

GEOLOGIC RANGE: Jurassic to recent

REMARKS: Forms compound traces; Coprinisphaera within Macanopsis and Cylindricum. Form of food hoarding for a single larvae.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Emended by Laza, 2006. Bown and Genise, 1994; Hasiotis, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008.