Diaphus metopoclampoides Steurbaut, 1983

Fig. 8O-T

Diaphus metopoclampoides 1983 Diaphus metopoclampoides - Steurbaut: pl. 1, figs 22-28.

Diaphus metopoclampoides 1984 Diaphus metopoclampoides Steurbaut, 1983 - Steurbaut: pl. 7, fig. 23.

Diaphus metopoclampoides 2000 Diaphus metopoclampoides Steurbaut, 1983 - Brzobohatý & Nolf: pl. 4, figs 7-14.

Diaphus metopoclampoides 2010 Diaphus metopoclampoides Steurbaut, 1983 - Schwarzhans: pl. 15, fig. 7.

Material.

12 specimens; 6 specimens (figured specimens SMF PO 101.135), Miya River at Oda and Numa, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, Takakura FM, levels MS 06, f40, gh, j, late Burdigalian, diatom zone 3A-3B ; 2 specimens, Okuna, Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, Oidawara FM, early Langhian, diatom zone 4A ; 4 specimens, Osedani, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Higashibessho FM, late Burdigalian to early Langhian, diatom zone 3A-4A .

Discussion.

A very characteristic but relatively rare otolith putatively related to D. epipedus (see above for distinction) that has thus far only been recorded from the late Burdigalian to Langhian of Europe (stratigraphically younger references in Brzobohatý and Nolf 2000, need verification); however, the records from Japan document a much wider geographical distribution in the northern hemisphere. The systematic positions of both species must be regarded as tentative because they do not clearly align with any of the extant Diaphus otolith-based groups.

Diaphus splendidus Otolith Group after Schwarzhans (2013a)