Malthopsis, Alcock, 1891

Lin, Chien-Hsiang & Nolf, Dirk, 2022, Middle and late Eocene fish otoliths from the eastern and southern USA, European Journal of Taxonomy 814, pp. 1-122 : 98

Malthopsis ? sp.

Fig. 37A–D

Remarks

Six small otoliths were tentatively identified as Malthopsis . The otoliths are sub-rectangular, with their dorsal and ventral rims longer than the anterior and posterior ones. The sulcus is very restricted, located in the middle of the otolith, and there is no opening to the margins of the otolith. It is only featured by a limited depression, with the cristae not well-delineated, and it is not separated into ostium and cauda. These otoliths agree very well with those of Recent Malthopsis , for example, to those of M. annulifera and M. gigas (see Lin & Chang 2012: pl. 82), but lacking sufficient material, we prefer to keep these specimens in open nomenclature. Their occurrence, however, is extremely scarce, but may represent one of the oldest fossil records of the family.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Bartonian: Cook Mountain Formation, Texas; Moodys Branch Formation, Mississippi.

Figures

Fig. 37. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–D. Malthopsis? sp. A. Landrum M., Pin Oak Creek, Texas (IRSNB P 10262). B. Wheelock M., Little Brazos River, Stenzel loc., Texas (IRSNB P 10263). C–D. Moodys Branch F., Jackson, Town Creek, Mississippi (IRSNB P 10264–10265). E. Antennariidae indet., Piney Point F., Pamunkey River, Devil’s Hole, Virginia (IRSNB P 10266). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.