APPENDIX 1.0
The “Coded Utilitarian Ichthyolith Identification System” (CUIIS)

Introduction

The coded utilitarian ichthyolith identification system was developed by Doyle et al. 1974 to provide a method to identify disarticulated fish remains (e.g. fish teeth and scales) when Linnean binomens could not be used or applied.  The system was modified and updated to accommodate new subtypes by Dunsworth et al. 1975; Ramsey et al. 1976; Doyle et al. 1978; Doyle and Riedel 1979a, 1985a, 1985b; Tway 1979, 1984; Kozarek and Orr 1980; Gottfried et al. 1984a; Tway et al. 1985; Winfrey et al. 1987; Gupta 1991; Gebhardt 1986; Johns 1993; and Johns et al. 1997 (Table 1).  Also, the CUIIS has been used by others to identify new and existing ichthyoliths and document and correlate their distribution (Dengler et al. 1975; Edgerton et al. 1977; Doyle and Riedel 1979b, 1980, 1981; Kaneps et al. 1981; Gottfried et al. 1984b; Hart and Mountain 1987; Doyle 1988; Tway and Zidek 1982, 1983; and Firth and Hull 1993; Table 1).

The CUIIS uses letters and numbers that are coded to important characteristics of ichthyoliths.  At the highest level “a” (step 1), different characters describe the shape of the outline of the ichthyolith (Appendix 1.1).  Each of the different characters under “a” is numbered.  At the next level “b” (step 2), prominent features on the outline of the ichthyolith or crown are recognized (Appendix 1.2).  Similarly, each of the different characters is numbered.  The sequence of both “a” and “b” characters and numbers form an ichthyolith “Type”.  All other levels below this (“c” and downward to “zz” – if needed) determine the character of the “subtype”.  A code may look like:  a2/b2+6/c2-5/d1/e1/f2/g2/h1/ i3+8/j>3.  A forward slash “/” separates each letter and number character state.  A “,” indicates that either one of the characters may be present, a “+” indicates that both characters are present, a “+” indicates that the second character may or may not be present, a “-“ indicates a range, and a “>” indicates a number greater than or equal to the number given.  The reader is encouraged to refer to the references (above and Table 1) for further details on the CUIIS.

Relevant ichthyolith subtype descriptors and line drawings from the original CUIIS (e.g. Doyle et al. 1974; Doyle and Riedel 1979a) and later relevant revisions to the system (e.g. Table 1) are included in parts 1 and 2 of this Appendix to facilitate identification of Tofino Basin ichthyoliths.  Table 1 lists previous papers that use or revise CUIIS.  A footnote number (Table 1) is provided for each paper so that original material (e.g. previously used descriptors and/or line drawings) can be acknowledged.  Not all ichthyolith subtypes, descriptors, and line drawings are included in the Tofino Basin CUIIS version but most could be added in future.  The Tofino Basin CUIIS version provides digital/electronic linkages between the taxa listed in the Appendices, CUIIS descriptors, line drawings and code, and ichthyolith descriptions and images (systematics section).  Also, the key uses both two and three dimensional ichthyolith descriptors (e.g. Doyle et al. 1974; Doyle and Riedel 1979a; Tway 1979, 1984) in addition to new information.  New line-drawings of ichthyoliths incorporate new or clarify old characteristics and express the relative dimensional (e.g., length vs. width) shapes of ichthyoliths.

To begin identifying an ichthyolith, first select from the “a. General outline” (Appendix 1.1) and then character(s) from “b.  Features on the upper crown surface” (Appendix 1.2).  These two parts of the code form the “Type”.  Next select the appropriate Type from Appendix 1.3 to 1.10.  Then work through each of the type characteristics to determine a subtype and code.