Table 1 Otolith measurements, features and remarks

Cantarius nolfi n. sp., Holotype UNEFM-PF-3223

7.0

5.6

3.5

1.3

2.0

Cantaure Fm., Artisan well (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Cantarius nolfi n. sp., Paratypes UNEFM-PF-3224-1 to 3224-6

4.5–6.6

3.6–5.9

1.9–3.0

1.1–1.3

1.9–2.4

Cantaure Fm., Artisan well (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Cantariuss nolfi n. sp., Paratypes UNEFM-PF-3225-1 to 3225-6

5.3–7.1

4.0–6.0

2.5–3.4

1.1–1.5

1.9–2.6

Cantaure Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Cantarius nolfi n. sp., Paratypes MPEG-1524-V-1 to 1524-V-6

5.0–7.0

4.2–5.5

2.1–3.1

1.2–1.3

2.0–2.6

Cantaure Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Cathorops sp. MPEG-1523-V

5.0

3.7

1.8

1.4

2.8

Pirabas Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Brazil.

Bagre protocaribbeanus n. sp. Holotype UNEFM-PF-3226

14.8

12.8

11.1

1.2

1.3

Cantaure Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Bagre protocaribbeanus n. sp. Paratypes UNEFM-PF-3227-1 to 3227-9

8.7–14.8

8.2–11.9

3.0–5.3

1.1–1.2

1.3–2.9

Cantaure Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Bagre protocaribbeanus n. sp. Paratypes MPEG-1525-V-1 to 1525-6

7.0–17.6

6.3–15.8

2.7–9.4

1.1–1.2

1.9–2.6

Cantaure Fm., outcrop (early Miocene), Venezuela.

Amphiarius rugispinis (Valenciennes) UNEFM PR-073

12.6

10.9

5.8

1.2

2.2

Antero distal margin swelled. Weak Amp pointed posterior margin. Both the distal and mesial, angulated. Sharp Add. Indistinct Mic. This lapillus can be distinguished from that of Arius grandicassis in being weak Amp, swelled anterodistal margin, and angulations on the distal and mesial margins.

Aspistor quadriscutis (Valenciennes) UNEFM PR-088

14.8

10.9

6.2

1.4

2.4

Macula-shaped. Caudal margin tapered. Add sharp. Md clear. Pseudocauda of Msd expanded. Anterodistal margin swelled.

Bagre bagre (Linnaeus) UNEFM PR-09

11.7

9.4

5.0

1.2

2.3

Clam-shaped. Umbo located on the center of the dorsal surface. Posteromesial margin deep. Amp is long. Mic is shallow. This lapillus resembles both lapilli of B. marinus and M. panamensis but, barely it is distinguishable in having a longer Amp and deep posteromesial margin.

Bagre marinus (Mitchill) UNEFM PR-086

14.4

12.6

5.6

1.2

2.6

Clam-shaped with circular margin. Amp sharply protrusion. Pe as small denticle. Antero-mesial margin having a small sharp dent.

Bagre panamensis (Gill) DU-P1018

8.9

7.1

3.5

1.3

2.5

Clam-shaped with compressed circle. Amp sharp and long. Pe as small denticle. Umbo located on the center of dorsal surface.

Genidens barbus (Lacépède) FURG-uncathalog

8.7

7.0

4.5

1.2

1.9

Macula-shaped. Straight anterior margin. Angulated caudal margin. Small Amp rounded. Umbo located on the anterior part of the dorsal surface.

Genidens planifrons (Higuchi, Reis & Araújo) FURG-uncathalog

12.4

11.5

5.6

1.1

2.2

Macula-shaped. Straight anterior margin. Pseudocauda of Msd expanded. Sharp Mic. Weak Md. Protruded Amp. Umbo located on the center of the dorsal surface. This lapillus can be distinguished from that of G. barbus in having longer Amp and sharp Mic.

Cathorops wayuu Marceniuk et al. UNEFM PR-10

10.5

7.9

3.0

1.3

3.5

Macula-shaped, rather rectangular. Anterior margin incurves. Dorsal surface is smoothly convex, while ventral surface is concave. Deep Add continuing to anterior margin. In ariids species of South America, this lapillus shows specific form exceedingly.

Notarius grandicassis (Valenciennes) UNEFM PR-089

13.0

11.1

4.8

1.1

2.7

Macula-shaped. Swelled. Small Amp. Pointed posterior margin. The distal margin rounded, while the mesial margin angulated. Deep Add. Pseudocauda of Msd expanded.

Notarius kessleri (Steindachner) UNEFM PR-081

16.8

13.0

7.1

1.3

2.4

Macula-shaped. This lapillus resembles that of Arius quadriscutis (Valenciennes). Anterior margin is incurved.

Notarius planiceps (Steindachner) UNEFM PR-08

15.8

13.5

6.7

1.2

2.4

Macula-shaped. This lapillus resembles that of Arius grandicassis Valenciennes. Swelled anterodistal margin.

Sciades dowii (Gill) UNEFM PR-079

10.5

8.1

3.5

1.2

3.0

Clam-shaped. Long Amp. Posteromesial margin is expanded to oblique back. Large Amp. Posterior end is sharp. This lapillus resembles that of S. guatemalensis (Günter).

Sciades felis (Linnaeus) UNEFM PR-013

11.6

10.1

x

1.2

x

Umbo located on the anterior part of the dorsal surface. Pseudocauda of Msd expanded sharply. Mic moderately entered.

Sciades guatemalensis (Günther) UNEFM PR-090

10.5

9.1

4.9

1.2

2.1

Clam-shaped. Tapered anterior part. Umbo located on the center of the dorsal surface.

Sciades herzbergii (Bloch) UNEFM PR-054

7.7

6.4

2.3

1.2

3.3

Clam-shaped. Protruded Amp. Deep postero-mesial margin. Distal margin circular smoothly. Mic moderately deep. Umbo located on the center of the dorsal surface.

Sciades parkeri (Traill) UNEFM PR-070

14.8

12.2

5.8

1.2

2.6

Clam-shaped with high distal margin. Large Amp. Mic sharply deep entered. Posteromesial margin extended like a lobe. Umbo located on the center of the dorsal surface.

Sciades passany (Valenciennes) UNEFM PR-071

9.1

7.3

3.5

1.3

2.6

Round-shaped. Protruded Amp. Weak Mic.

Sciades proops (Valenciennes) UNEFM PR-085

9.7

8.3

3.4

1.2

2.9

Clam-shaped. Umbo located on the anterior part of the dorsal surface. Mic weak. This lapillus resembles well that of Selenaspis herzbergii, but its Msd is different in having a weak Mic.

Sciades seemani (Günther) DU-F1017

9.1

7.6

3.2

1.2

2.8

Clam-shaped. Umbo located on the center of dorsal surface. Mic indistinct. This lapillus resembles well that of Selenaspis herzbergii.