Fish Otoliths from the Upper Oligocene and Lower Miocene of the Monferrato and Turin Hill, Northern Italy

A study of fish otoliths from the late Oligocene to early Miocene strata in northern Italy reveals a rich fossil record, including 68 species-level taxa, 16 of which are newly described. The findings fill a significant stratigraphic gap for the mesopelagic family Myctophidae in Europe, refining their stratigraphic ranges and suggesting potential as biostratigraphic tools. Notably, myctophid species exhibit a wide geographic distribution during the Miocene, mirroring modern patterns. The research compares these assemblages with coeval global records, offering insights into paleobiogeographic dynamics.

SCHWARZHANS, W. W., & CARNEVALE, G. (2024). FISH OTOLITHS FROM THE UPPER OLIGOCENE AND LOWER MIOCENE OF THE MONFERRATO AND TURIN HILL, NORTHERN ITALY. Rivista Italiana Di Paleontologia E Stratigrafia, 130(3). https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/23455