Coprolites from the Neogene Sahabi Formation, northeastern Sirt Basin of Libya

A large number of coprolites are newly documented from the As Sahabi area in the Sirt Basin of Libya. They are collected from the fossiliferous horizon within the Late Miocene sediments belonging primarily to the lower member (member “U1”) of the Sahabi Formation. Some of the coprolite specimens were subjected to microscopic examination and geochemical analysis to determine the possible producer and food type. The study proved that carnivores are the major producers as understood from both the observed undigested material such as bone and tooth fragments by reference to the known carnivore taxa present. The collected coprolite specimens are classified into a number of ichnomorphotypes in order to facilitate their study.