Argentina

Lin, Chien-Hsiang, Brzobohatý, Rostislav, Nolf, Dirk & Girone, Angela, 2017, Tortonian teleost otoliths from northern Italy: taxonomic synthesis and stratigraphic significance, European Journal of Taxonomy 322, pp. 1-44 : 13

Argentina sp.

Two closely related species of the family Argentinidae with very similar otolith morphology exist in the modern Mediterranean: Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758 and Glossanodon leioglossus (Valenciennes, 1848) ( Whitehead et al. 1986 –1989). The main differences between the otoliths of these Recent species are a longer posterior rim and a somewhat weaker postero-ventral angle in those of A. sphyraena (see Nolf 2013: pl. 39 for otoliths of both species; Hoedemakers & Schneider 2016: fig. 4 for ontogenetic variability of A. sphyraena ). Therefore, the fossil otolith showing closer similarities to these features is referred to Argentina sp. ( Fig. 2E ). The broken rostral end does not allow a definite attribution at species level.

Figures

Fig. 2. Tortonian fish otoliths from northern Italy. A. Pterothrissus umbonatus (Koken, 1884), Montegibbio (IRSNB P 9855). B. Paraconger sp., Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9856). C. Xenomystax sp., Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9857). D. Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9858). E. Argentina sp., Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9859). F. Rhynchoconger pantanellii (Bassoli & Schubert, 1906), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9860). G–I. Bathycongrus nagymarosyi (Nolf & Brzobohatý, 1994), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9699–P 9701). J–K. Gnathophis mystax (Delaroche, 1809), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9702–P 9703). L–M. Nansenia sp., Mondovi, Madonna della Neve (IRSNB P 9704–P 9705). N–P. Xenodermichthys senesi Nolf & Brzobohatý, 1994, Mondovi, Madonna della Neve (IRSNB P 9706–P 9708). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.