Bothidae, Smitt, 1892

Ebersole, Jun A., Cicimurri, David J. & Stringer, Gary L., 2019, Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the elasmobranchs and bony fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) of the lower-to-middle Eocene (Ypresian to Bartonian) Claiborne Group in Alabama, USA, including an analysis of otoliths, European Journal of Taxonomy 585, pp. 1-274 : 204-205

Bothidae indet.

Fig. 70 Q–R

?“genus Citharidarum ” sulcatus – Nolf & Stringer 2003: 4 , pl. 8, figs 10–11b.

Material examined

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Alabama • 1 otolith; MSC 42235 .

Description

Ovate specimen very small, measuring approximately 2.0 mm in length. Inner face flat to very slightly convex. Margins smooth. Anterior margin bluntly rounded, anterodorsal also slightly rounded. Dorsal slightly slanted, almost straight. Posterodorsal tapered but rounded. Ventral margin regularly curved. Divided sulcus having approximately parallel margins. Sulcus extends from anterior margin about 75% of otolith length. Sulcus may be very slightly inclined toward dorsal. Ostium and cauda difficult to determine but appear to be about equal in length (ostium possibly slightly longer). Width of ostium and cauda also approximately equal. Crista superior located above sulcus. Longitudinal depressed areas occur just above and below sulcus. Poorly defined depressed dorsal area. Ventral furrow appears to be present. Outer face slightly irregular, ranging from almost flat to slightly convex.

Remarks

The Lisbon Formation specimen exhibits some similarity to “genus Citharidarum ” hoffmani from the upper Eocene Yazoo Clay of Louisiana ( Nolf & Stringer 2003), but additional material from the Lisbon Formation is needed for more meaningful comparisons.

Stratigraphic and geographic range in Alabama

The one bothid specimen was found in the “upper” Lisbon Formation at site ACh-8. Bartonian, zones NP16 and NP17.

Figures

Fig. 70. Claiborne Group, “upper” Lisbon Formation, otoliths. A–B. Diretmus? cf. D. serratus (Müller, 1999), MSC 42212. A. Inner face (left sagitta). B. Anterior view. — C–D. Preophidion meyeri (Koken, 1888), MSC 39055. C. Inner face (right sagitta). D. Dorsal view. — E–F. Preophidion cf. P. petropolis Frizzell & Dante, 1965, MSC 42193. E. Inner face (right sagitta). F. Dorsal view. — G–H. Signata stenzeli Frizzell & Dante, 1965, MSC 39051. G. Inner face (left sagitta). H. Dorsal view. — I–J. Signata nicoli Frizzell & Dante, 1965, MSC 39046. I. Inner face (left sagitta). J. Dorsal view. — K–L. Hoplobrotula melrosensis (Frizzell & Dante, 1965), MSC 37059.3. K. Inner face (right sagitta). L. Dorsal view. — M–N. Lepophidium? mucronata (Koken, 1888), MSC 39054. M. Inner face (left sagitta). N. Dorsal view. — O–P. Gobiidae Cuvier, 1816, indet. MSC 39045. O. Inner face (left sagitta). P. Dorsal view. — Q–R. Bothidae Smitt, 1892, indet. MSC 42235. Q. Inner face (right sagitta). R. Dorsal view. Scale bars: A–P= 2 mm; Q–R =1 mm.