Palynological analysis of coprolites from the Marília Formation, Bauru Group (Upper Cretaceous), Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The deposits of the Serra da Galga Member, Marília Formation (Bauru Group), in Uberaba, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, provided a rich fauna of vertebrates of Maastrichtian age. Despite the great faunistic diversity, the plant material recorded so far in these deposits is scarce. Together with the vertebrate remains, a relatively large number of coprolites has been reported for at least two localities in Uberaba, but this material received little attention so far. In this work, we present the first record of palynomorphs found within some coprolites from the Peirópolis and Serra da Galga sites. Monoporate, ephedroid, Gnetaceaepollenites ?, Monosulcites ?, and Podocarpidites pollen types were found. This pollen set shows that the flora was composed of shrubs (probably Gnetophyta), arboreal conifers, and cycads that lived under arid climate conditions. Moreover, saprophytic fungal remains were found within a few coprolites, representing the first record of this kind for the Bauru Group deposits in Minas Gerais. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]