ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF OTOCONIA IN THE NEWT

Calcitic and aragonitic otoconia from the Japanese red-bellied newt, C ynops pyrrhogaster, were examined using an atomic force microscope. Th e surface structure of both otoconial polymorphs consisted of arrays o f elements approximately 50 nm in diameter. Elements were generally ro und and were separated by shallow depressions of no more than 20 nm. T he elements are suggested to be single crystals of calcium carbonate. The relationship of these observations to theories of otoconial genesi s is discussed.