Lanternfish otoliths (Myctophidae, Teleostei) from the Miocene of Japan Author Schwarzhans, Werner Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Kobenhavn, Denmark & Ahrensburger Weg 103, 22359 Hamburg, Germany wwschwarz@aol.com Author Ohe, Fumio Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara 630 - 8577, Japan Author Tsuchiya, Yuki Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan Author Ujihara, Atsushi Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan text Zitteliana 2022 2022-06-10 96 103 134 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zitteliana.96.83571 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zitteliana.96.83571 2747-8106-96-103 5B10FFF604074E09B986F931635E9BCC 4E0188A4D3D7563C980CB7C5B9424F3C Diaphus cassidiformis (Frost, 1933) Fig. 9A-I Scopelus cassidiformis 1933 Scopelus cassidiformis - Frost: figs 17, 18. Diaphus cassidiformis 1980 Diaphus cassidiformis (Frost, 1933) - Schwarzhans: figs 176-177, 597. Diaphus 1992 Diaphus sp. 6 - Radwanska: pl. 4, figs 1-3, textfig. 33. Diaphus cassidiformis 2013b Diaphus cassidiformis (Frost, 1933) - Schwarzhans: pl. 4, figs 4-7. Diaphus cassidiformis 2019 Diaphus cassidiformis (Frost, 1933) - Schwarzhans: figs 58.8-10. Material. 80 specimens ; 20 specimens , Okuna , Mizunami City , Gifu Prefecture , Oidawara FM , early Langhian , diatom zone 4A ; 60 specimens (figured specimens SMF PO 101.138), Kubusu River at Kashio , Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture , Kurosednai FM , level K 5, late Burdigalian , lower part of planktonic foraminifera biozone N8 . Discussion. Diaphus cassidiformis is easily recognized by its small, round otoliths. It was widely geographically distributed during the middle Miocene from New Zealand to Gabon (West Africa) and is now also recorded from Japan. It is also here interpreted to be present in the Paratethys based on an ongoing review of the myctophid otoliths originally described by Radwanska (1992) . Its occurrence is rather irregular, as it may occur in large numbers at one location and in one formation (e.g., in Japan in the Oidawara and Kurosedani formations), while it may be completely missing from other locations. The reason for this unusual distribution pattern is unknown but most likely has to do with the species' ecological adaptation or with a specific lifestyle (e.g., a pseudoceanic occurrence). Figure 9. A-I : Diaphus cassidiformis (Frost, 1933), SMF PO 101.138, Yatsuo, Toyama City, Kurosedani Formation, level K 5; J-AC : Diaphus hataii Ohe & Araki, 1973; J-L : SMF PO 101.139, Mizunami City, Oidawara Formation; M-N, Q-V : SMF PO 101.140, Tsuyama City, Takakura Formation, levels MS 06, MS 07, MS 52, MS 90; O-P : SMF PO 101.141, Fuchu machi, Toyama City, Higashibessho Formation, level H 20; W-AA : SMF PO 101.142, Makino River, Iga City, Makino Formation, level A 1; AB-AC : SMF PO 101.143, Inabacho, Tsu City, Katada Formation, level ML 2305; AD-AG : Diaphus biatlanticus (Weiler, 1959); AD-AF : SMF PO 101.144, Mizunami City, Oidawara Formation; AG : SMF PO 101.145, Tsuyama, Takakura Formation, level h; AH-AJ : Diaphus sp.2, SMF PO 101.146, Mizunami City, Oidawara Formation.