Notoscopelus aff. caudispinosus (Johnson, 1863)

A single, well-preserved otolith (Fig. 7I) is attributed, with some reserve, to the Recent Notoscopelus caudispinosus based on the shape of the dorsal rim that is the highest around the middle part of the otolith and on a posteriorly extended posterior part (see also Brzobohatý & Nolf 1996: pl. 7, figs 8–9). This specimen, however, shows a general outline, similar to those of fossil Notoscopelus mediterraneus (Koken, 1891) and Symbolophorus meridionalis Steurbaut, 1979 (see Brzobohatý & Nolf 1996: pl. 8, figs 1–15). Our specimen differs from those of N. mediterraneus by its more extended posterior rim, while otoliths of S. meridionalis show a flatter dorsal rim and a deeper incised excisura. A single specimen of Symbolophorus meridionalis, figured by Lin et al. (2015: fig. 3(7)), shows a much shorter outline, which suggests an attribution to the genus Myctophum Rafinesque, 1810 rather than to Symbolophorus Bolin & Wisner, 1959, and, therefore, this attribution must be considered as doubtful.