Deltentosteus sp.

Description

Forty-four otoliths, here named Deltentosteus sp. (Fig. 11 J–L), are very similar to those of Deltentosteus aff. quadrimaculatus (Valenciennes, 1837) from the Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Italy (Nolf & Girone 2000: pl. 3, figs 5–12) and from our Tortonian material (Fig. 11D). The concerned 44 otoliths have a nearly flat inner face instead of the convex one of D. aff. quadrimaculatus, which makes them readily distinguishable. Consequently, although these otoliths could not yet be compared to Deltentosteus colonianus (Risso, 1826), a Recent Mediterranean species whose otoliths are currently not available, the occurrence of our Deltentosteus otoliths implies that another species could be involved.