Late Neogene Lophophaenidae (Nassellaria, Radiolaria) from the eastern equatorial Pacific Author Trubovitz, Sarah Author Renaudie, Johan Author Lazarus, David Author Noble, Paula text Zootaxa 2022 2022-07-04 5160 1 1 158 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5160.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5160.1.1 1175­5334 A9179C79-EE43-44E4-8723-919505500049 Lithomelissa sp. cf. L. ehrenbergi Bütschli, 1882 Plate 15, Fig. 8A–B ; Plate 16 Fig. 9A–B . Lithomelissa cf. ehrenbergi , Trubovitz et al., 2020 , supplementary data 7. Remarks. This species resembles Lithomelissa ehrenbergi Bütschli, 1882 (Pl. 15, Figs. 7A–C ) except that the wall of the cephalis is thinner and the cephalis is more elongated. It differs from Lithomelissa mitra Bütschli (Pl. 15, Figs. 4A–6) in that the cephalis is proportionally larger. This species is similar to Lithomelissa alkonost n. sp. (Pl. 16, Figs. 1A–7B), but differs in that the neck area is more clearly constricted. The pores on the cephalis and thorax are more regularly distributed and typically larger than in L. alkonost n. sp. and L. sirin n. sp. (Pl. 17, Figs. 1 –11B). Appendages on the thorax are typically very strong and bladed, similar to L. ehrenbergi and L. mitra , but different from the thin, conical spines typical in L. sirin and the usually short thoracic spines on L. alkonost . Despite their differences, all of these species are apparently closely related and will require further study to determine true species-level distinctions versus intraspecific morphological variation. Material examined. 65 specimens observed from samples 321-1337A-16H- 6, 121–124cm (Late Miocene), 321-1337A-12H-5, 23–26cm (Late Miocene), 321-1337A-10H-2, 91–94cm (Early Pliocene), 321-1337A-7H- 6, 104–107cm (Early Pliocene), and 321-1337A-5H-5, 11–14cm (Late Pliocene). Range. Late Miocene—Late Pliocene, EEP ( Table 1 ).