Close-up of outer surface of fossil termite nest preserved in fossil tree, with nest evident as interconnected areas filled with sand-sized light-brown pellets (former tunnels and other spaces within the nest) cutting across petrified wood, which is protruding from surface. A gray fine-grained sandy matrix outside of the nest is helping to preserve the overall form of the fossil tree, which was about 3 meters (10 feet) long and a meter wide (3.3 feet) at its base. A steel ruler at the top of the photo in millimeters and centimeters shows that the tunnels are about 8-12 millimeters wide.
Unweathered termite coprolites (Micorcarpolithes hexagonalis) in thin sections. (A) Densely packed M. hexagonalis specimens in a clastic sediment fill surrounded by coalified log tissue of NMV P344746. (B, C) Individual pieces with uniformly featureless black interiors and a definite hexagonal cross-section through their shortest two dimensions. Figure from Edwards et al. (2025).
CT (Computer tomography) reconstructions of termite and mite coprolites. (A, B) Synchrotron imagery of termite (A) and mite (B) coprolites. The internal carbonaceous infill of the termite coprolites is distinct from the outer, denser layer; scale difference is apparent between the different coprolites. (C, D) MicroCT imagery of termite coprolites within nest section as differently colored grains. The internal low-density carbonaceous infill is shown separately for over 50 pieces. Figure from Edwards et al. (2025).
For #FossilFriday, trace fossils (nest & coprolites) & body fossil (petrified wood) of the oldest termite nest in Australia (Early Cretaceous, ~127 million years old), from the Wonthaggi Formation of Victoria. For more info & images, here's a 🧵. 1/n
