SPONGOPYLOIDEA Dreyer, 1889

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 : 445

Superfamily SPONGOPYLOIDEA Dreyer, 1889 n. stat.

sensu Suzuki emend. herein

Spongopylida Dreyer, 1889: 42 [as a subfamily].

DIAGNOSIS. — Test flat-disk shaped, ovoidal and spherical. Funnel-like pylome, aperture (large opening) or relevant structure is present. Very thick cortical shell develops in spherical to ovoid pattern. Flat-disc type, shows a concave central part, a peripheral inflation, and a circular depression zone between the central and peripheral zone. A margarita defined by Ogane & Suzuki (2006) is positioned in the center ( Spongopylidae ) or somewhere ( Cristallosphaeridae ). The outer around the margarita looks spongy, formed by highly dense concentric structure; however, it does not form a perfect concentrically wall (like occurs in Trematodiscidae ). Endemic form might be reported in Calcaromma due to the loss of all siliceous skeletal parts except the margarita . The presence of a thick axoflagellum might be linked to a funnel-like pylome.

REMARKS

This superfamily includes, Spongopylidae , Cristallosphaeridae and? Prunopylidae . This superfamily corresponds to Clade L2 of Sandin et al. (2021) based on molecular data obtained for Schizodiscus and Spongobrachiopyle (= Spongopyle in Sandin et al., 2021; Spongopylidae ) and Calcaromma ( Cristallosphaeridae ). The family Prunopylidae is questionably assigned in this superfamily considering the presence of a Spongopylidae-like pylome, an aperture and a very thick outermost cortical shell, similar to that observed in Enalomelon. The diagnosis of the superfamily is based only on Spongopylidae and Cristallosphaeridae only, because little is known about the internal structure of the genera assigned in Prunopylidae .