Grammonus argutus

Grammonus argutus

(Stinton, 1966)

Common name Brotula relative
Fossil group Bony Fish
Order Ophidiiformes
Family Bythitidae
Genus Grammonus
Taxonomic status Taxonomically Uncertain
Geological age Ypresian

Summary

Grammonus argutus is an otolith-based bythitid, or brotula relative, from the London Clay. Living bythitids are generally secretive bottom-associated fishes, many inhabiting cavities, reefs or deeper marine settings. A demersal lifestyle is therefore plausible for the Eocene animal, but the assignment of the fossil otoliths to the modern genus Grammonus is itself cautious and the complete body is unknown.

The sagittal otolith is elongate with a broad sulcus and fairly symmetrical dorsal and ventral profiles. These ear stones document the presence of bythitid-grade fishes in the Ypresian sea even though skeletal remains attributable to the species have not been recognised.

Quick Identification

Look for: an elongate bythitid otolith roughly twice as long as high, with rounded anterior and posterior ends, a broad central sulcus and only slight difference between the curvature of the dorsal and ventral margins.

Diagnostic Features

  • Otolith length is about 1.8–1.9 times its height.
  • Anterior and posterior ends are broadly rounded rather than sharply rostrate.
  • Sulcus is relatively broad, with a low length-to-height ratio for the sulcus itself.
  • Dorsal and ventral rims are approximately symmetrical in overall curvature.
  • Posterior end is slightly expanded and displaced dorsally, giving the outline a subtle asymmetry.

Fossil Details

Preservation
London Clay otoliths may be chipped, rounded, dissolved or polished. Damage to the rostrum and antirostrum changes the outline, while abrasion of the inner face can weaken or erase the sulcus; either can make a species-level identification unsafe.

Recorded Fossil Sites

No fossil-site occurrences have yet been recorded for this species.

References

  • Steurbaut, E.; Nolf, D. (1988). Ypresian teleost otoliths from Belgium and northwestern France. Bulletin de la Société belge de Géologie, 97(3–4), 321–347 View reference
  • Stinton, F. C. (1966). Fish otoliths from the London Clay. Faune ichthyologique du London Clay, 404–464. British Museum (Natural History), London View reference
Last Reviewed
15 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris