VATERITE OTOLITHS FROM THE OPAH, LAMPRIS-IMMACULATUS, AND 2 SPECIES OF SUNFISH, MOLA-MOLA AND M-RAMSAYI

The cosmopolitan opah Lampris immaculatus (also known as the moonfish or mariposa) occurs commonly in New Zealand waters. The otoliths of 23 individuals were examined by light microscopy. All three of the otoliths of the endolymphatic sac of the opah have the characteristic appearance of the Stolkowski crystal form of the vaterite morph of calcium carbonate. Five randomly chosen pairs of asterici and sagittae and two lapilli otoliths were shown by X‐ray diffraction to be composed of vaterite. In addition to their mineral composition, the sagitta and astericus of the opah present an unusual combination of anatomical features found in both what are generally regarded as primitive and as advanced fish. Vaterite otoliths also occur in the sunfish Mola mola and M. ramsayi, but with a different crystalline habit to that found in the opah, and in a distinctively different anatomical arrangement of the endolymphatic sac. It is argued that, based on their otolith mineralogy and morphology, the opah and the sunfish are each side of one of the biochemical and anatomical boundaries involved in the separation of the teleosts from other actinopterygian fish (sturgeons, paddle fish, gars and bowfins). 1990 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences