LITHOCYCLIOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1846

Suzuki, Noritoshi, Caulet, Jean-Pierre & Dumitrica, Paulian, 2021, A new integrated morpho- and molecular systematic classification of Cenozoic radiolarians (Class Polycystinea) - suprageneric taxonomy and logical nomenclatorial acts, Geodiversitas 43 (15), pp. 405-573 : 419

Superfamily LITHOCYCLIOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1846

Lithocyclidina Ehrenberg, 1846: 385 [as a family].

Phacodiscaria Haeckel, 1887: 409 [as a section between family and suborder]. — Chediya 1959: 120 [as a group between superfamily and family]. — Anderson 1983: 24.

Coccodiscaea – Loeblich & Tappan 1961: 224 [as a superfamily]. — Kozur & Mostler 1972: 7 ( sensu emend. ) [as a superfamily].

Coccodiscilae – Loeblich & Tappan 1961: 224 [as a subsuperfamily].

Coccodiscoidea – Dumitrica 1979: 21.

Phacodiscariacea – Lipman 1979: 114 [as a superfamily].

Artiscacea [sic] – Kozur & Mostler 1979: 47 [nomen dubium, as a superfamily].

Lithocycliacea – Kozur & Mostler 1981: 52.

DIAGNOSIS. — Central structure comprised of a flattened double medullary shell. The flattened double medullary shell consists of a spherical inner medullary shell (or inner microsphere) and a convex, lens-shaped outer medullary shell. The equatorial plane is defined by a crossing plane that is parallel to the flattened double medullary shell. The double medullary shell that lies at the center of the large latticed shell. Large empty space is present between the large latticed and double medullary shell. The surface of the large latticed shell is parallel to the equatorial plane. Radial beams between the double medullary shell and the cortical shell develop along the shortest distance between the two aforementioned shells. Main appendages or additional structures develop along the longest axis, or on the plane vertical to the shortest axis.

REMARKS

The Lithocyclioidea include the Astracturidae , Lithocycliidae , Panartidae and Phacodiscidae . The Lithocyclioidea correspond to the family “ Coccodiscidae ” sensu De Wever et al. (2001: 121) . To keep consistency in the taxonomy of Polycystinea, this rank has been raised to the superfamily level. Three families Astracturidae , Lithocycliidae and Phacodiscidae are distinguished by their difference in exterior structure of the outermost latticed shell. The higher taxonomic position of this family is based on the molecular phylogeny of Panartidae .