Genus Neostaffella Miklukho-Maklay, 1959

TYPE SPECIES. — Melonia (Borelis) sphaeroidea Ehrenberg, 1842 subsequently designated by Rauzer-Chernousova et al. (1951).

ASSEMBLAGE. —The Neostaffella species recognized in this study are: Neostaffella cf. formosa (Fig. 7S), Neostaffella larionovae polasnensis (Fig. 7T), Neostaffella nibelensis (Fig. 8A), Neostaffella ozawai ozawai (Fig. 8B), Neostaffella ozawai compacta (Fig. 8C, D), Neostaffella sphaeroidea sphaeroidea (Fig. 8E, F), Neostaffella sphaeroidea cuboides (Fig. 8G, H), Neostaffella subquadrata (Fig. 8I, J), Neostaffella umbilicata (Fig. 8K, L).

DESCRIPTION

Test moderate in size and subspherical to quadrate in shape. Three-layered wall composed of tectum, lower and upper tectorium, a weakly developed diaphanotheca can be observed only in outer volutions of some individuals. Septa plain and not fluted. Chomata massive and ribbon-like.

REMARKS

The genus Neostaffella is similar to the genus Pseudostaffella Thompson, 1942 in terms of general characteristics, but differs by larger, mostly square test shape, ribbon-like chomata and weakly developed diaphanotheca in the outer volutions. In this sense, many species of the genus Pseudostaffella which show these structural features were replaced into the genus Neostaffella by some previous researchers (Dzhenchuraeva 1979; Leven 1998; Dzhenchuraeva & Okuyucu 2007; Fohrer et al. 2007; Leven & Gorgij 2008, 2011; Davydov 2009; Khodjanyazova & Davydov 2013) after its original description by Miklukho-Maklay (1959). In this study, Neostaffella cf. formosa and Neostaffella larionovae polasnensis, formerly described in the genus Pseudostaffella by Rauzer-Chernousova & Safonova (inRauzer-Chernousova et al. 1951), are included in the genus Neostaffella due to their morphological features, reflecting their characteristics of this genus.