Neobythites auriculatus, Lin & Brzobohatý & Nolf & Girone, 2017

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 : 11-12

Neobythites auriculatus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:06D09029-80AE-461E-9135-01594A825560

Fig. 9C

Diagnosis

The species is characterised by very elongate otoliths with moderate thickness. The highest part of the otolith is in the middle. Both the dorsal and ventral rims are curved. The huge, wide sulcus bears a large and oblong ostial colliculum and a much shorter, oval caudal colliculum.

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from the Latin ‘ auriculatus , a, um ’: having ears; alludes to the two obtuse little spines at both the anterior and posterior ends of the dorsal rim, suggesting two small ears.

Type material examined

Holotype

ITALY: a left otolith, the only known specimen ( IRSNB P 9688 , Fig. 9C ).

Type locality and horizon

ITALY: Tortonian Clay at Sant’ Alosio, surface collection.

Dimensions of the holotype

Length = 19.75 mm, height = 10.30 mm, thickness = 3.60 mm.

Description

The holotype is a very large elongate elliptic otolith. It is moderately thick, with a convex inner face and concave outer face, but on the outer face, a swollen structure is observed in the middle of the ventral portion ( Fig. 9C 1 ). The anterior rim is short and rounded; the posterior rim, which is more or less straight at the extended end, bears two lobes. The dorsal and ventral rims are gently curved, so that the otoliths are widest in the middle. The margin of the ventral rim is smooth. There are two small protrusions at the anterior and posterior angles of the dorsal rim. The sulcus is wide, occupies about one-third of the inner face, and is completely filled by collicula. The cristae are well marked. The collicula are both well developed, but are not completely separated at the collum. Only a large constriction of the crista inferior delimits the ostial and caudal portion. The surface of collicula is irregular. The caudal colliculum is short and oval; the ostial colliculum is about four times as long as the caudal one. The ventral area is wider than the dorsal one.

Remarks

This huge otolith apparently belongs to an adult (old) individual of an extinct species and it shows most similarity to those of the Recent genus Neobythites Goode & Bean, 1886 .

Figures

Fig. 9. Tortonian fish otoliths from northern Italy. A. Echiodon heinzelini Huyghebaert & Nolf, 1979, Torrente Stirone(IRSNB P 9787).B. Hoplobrotula aff.armata(Temminck& Schlegel, 1846),Sant’Alosio (IRSNB P 9788). C. Neobythites auriculatus sp. nov., Sant’Alosio (IRSNB P 9688 (holotype). D–E. Carapus acus (Brünnich, 1768); D. Torrente Stirone, E. Sant’Agata Fossili (IRSNB P 9789–P 9790). F–G. Bythitidae indet., Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9791–P 9792). H. Grammonus bassolii (Nolf, 1980), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9793). I. Chaunax lobatus (Bassoli, 1906), Montegibbio (IRSNB P 9794). J–L. Scopelogadus sp.; J. Alba, Tanaro (5 m), K. Stazzano, L. Alba, Tanaro (50 m) (IRSNB P 9795–P 9797). M. Mugilidae indet., Sant’Alosio (IRSNB P 9798). N. Phycis musicki Cohen & Lavenberg, 1984, Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9799). O. Melamphaes sp., Alba, Tanaro (50 m) (IRSNB P 9802). P. Micromesistius planatus (Bassoli & Schubert, 1906), Montegibbio (IRSNB P 9803). Q–R. “Scorpaena” zibinica (Bassoli, 1909), Torrente Stirone (IRSNB P 9800–P 9801). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view; 3 = anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 1. Map showing the sampling sites.