Early teleost otolith morphogenesis observed in the Jurassic of Franconia, Bavaria, southern Germany

The otoliths described in this study are from the late Pliensbachian of Buttenheim clay pit near Bamberg, Franconia, northern Bavaria, and represent one earliest teleost otolith assemblages known so far. A total 351 have been recovered, many which well-preserved sizes that indicate they originated adult specimens can be considered morphologically mature. assemblage contains seven species, four them stem teleosts genus Leptolepis three enigmatic otolith-based Archaeotolithus , cannot attributed to a firm systematic position. We describe species as new: buttenheimensis sp. nov. steberae doppelsteini In addition, we review 49 original material Schröder’s (1956) publication were uncovered at University Erlangen. This stems Toarcian/early Aalenian early Callovian Franconia. review, accept only few by Schröder valid. associations Early Middle Jurassic combination with previously published material, allow for an assessment morphogenesis otoliths. represented common long-ranging species. sudden burst diversity seems occurred during is first evident Bathonian.