MULLIGAN ET AL.: OTOCONIA FROM FOUR NEW ZEALAND CHIMAERIFORMES 



spindle-shaped aragonite crystals (Fig. 5B). X- dicated that all of the calcium carbonate present 



ray diffraction studies of the chimaeriform was in the aragonite form. 



otoconia examined, including Chimaera sp., in- Mean otoconial diameters of all four species of 



Figure 5A. — Otoconia from Chimaera sp. include botli smootli (closed arrows) and highly textured (open arrow) 



otoconia. Bar = 0. 1 mm. 



Figure 5B. — Parts of the otolith of Chimaera sp. are composed of small otoconia of the highly textured type as 

 well as what appear to be partially eroded free aragonite crystals (arrows). Bar = 10 |xm. 



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