Alburnus alburnus ( Linnaeus, 1758 )

Schulz-Mirbach, Tanja & Reichenbacher, Bettina, 2006, Reconstruction of Oligocene and Neogene freshwater fish faunas-an actualistic study on cypriniform otoliths, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 (2), pp. 283-304 : 290

Alburnus alburnus ( Linnaeus, 1758)

Fig. 7 .

Material and dimensions.—See Table 2.

Description.—The general shape ranges from elongate−ovate to wide−ovate and may also be somewhat angular. The antero− and posteromedial edges are small and rounded. In most lapilli, the antero− and posterolateral edges are distinctly pronounced; in general, the posterolateral edge is forming the pointed posterior end of the lapillus (e.g., Fig. 7F, H 1 , I). The medial and the posterior margins are slightly concave or rounded, respectively; some specimens ( Fig. 7A ) display a strong concavity of the posterior margin. In contrast, the lateral margin is straight in most specimens.

Remarks.—The lapilli illustrated in Fig. 7E–G 1 display a more or less angular cranial umbo with a laterally pointing process. Nearly all lapilli show this peculiar character, but it is best pronounced on the lapilli from the ponds at Wielenbach.

Figures

Fig. 7. Utricular otoliths (lapilli) of Recent Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758) from wild catches in Germany. A–G, I. BSPG 2003 IV 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 35, and 22 respectively, in dorsal views, showing its range of morphological diversity; except D2 and G2, which are in ventral views. H. BSPG 2003 IV 27 in dorsal (H1) and anterior (H2) views. All lapilli are represented as right ones, except D2, H2, and G2, which are represented as left lapilli (A–D1, E–G1, H1 are mirrored). SEM−pictures (D2, G2, H, I), digital photographs (A–D1, E–G1).

Fig. 1. Position and morphology of the otoliths in the head of a carp. A. Computer tomography (CT) of Recent Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) (BSPG 2003 IV 143) and its lapilli; 150 layers of frontal sections were carried out from the dorsal to the ventral side of the head. 3D reconstruction of the head with the position of the otoliths projected (A1), frontal section (layer 36), showing the position of lapillus and asteriscus (A2), and frontal section (layer 38), showing the position of sagitta and asteriscus (A3); right (A4) and left (A5) lapillus in dorsal views (A4 and A5 are digital photographs). B. Digital pictures of the otoliths of Recent Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758): lapillus in dorsal view (B1), asteriscus in medial view (B2), and sagitta in medial view (B3) (posterior tip incomplete). Otoliths are represented as right ones (BSPG 2003 IV 156b, d, and e respectively).