Superfamily THALASSICOLLOIDEA Müller, 1859

Thalassicollae Müller, 1859a: 28 [as a family]. Akeleta [pars] Zittel, 1876-1880: 118 [nomen nudum, as a group].

Collida [pars] Haeckel, 1862: 237, 244-246 [nomen nudum, as a family] (= Thalassicollidae + Thalassosphaeridae + Aulacanthidae). — Hertwig 1876: 75 [rank unknown]. — Mivart 1878: 179 [as a subsection]. — Calkins 1909: 40 [as an order].

Colliden – Hertwig 1879: 160-157 [nomen nudum, as a family].

Thalassicolleen – Hertwig 1879: 261 [as an order].

Thalassicollicae – Campbell 1954: D44 [as a superfamily].

Thalassosphaericae – Campbell 1954: D45 [as a superfamily].

Thalassosphaeracea – Loeblich & Tappan 1961: 221 [as a superfamily].

DIAGNOSIS. — Thalassicolloidea consist of solitary Collodaria with or without isolated siliceous spicules.

REMARKS

As explained in the remarks of Thalassicollidae, the superfamily Thalassicolloidea is an artificial morpho-group for practical purpose of plankton studies. This superfamily exactly corresponds to the “solitary Collodaria ”. The life, cytology, reproduction, algal symbionts and parasites of the Thalassicolloidea were well documented (Huth 1913; Hollande & Enjumet 1953). However, little is known about their studies. This may be attributed to a non-English understanding.