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 10544058 A9179C79-EE43-44E4-8723-919505500049 Lithomelissa (?) hoplites Foreman, 1968 Lithomelissa (?) hoplites n. sp. , Foreman, 1968 , pl. 3, figs. 2A–C. ? Tripodiscium sp. aff. Lithomelissa hoplites , Petrushevskaya and Kozlova, 1972 , pl. 7, fig. 2. Remarks. It is not clear whether or not this species belongs in Lithomelissa . Although it has an apical spine passing freely through the cephalis, the elongated and tapering/undulating nature of the thorax, relatively small and poreless cephalis, nature of the pores and ridges on the thorax, and very strong appendages high up on the thorax, are together very unusual characteristics for this genus, and unlike any of the other lophophaenids we observed in this study. If it really does belong in Lithomelissa , to our knowledge this species would be the only member of this genus that dating back to the Cretaceous. Furthermore, if correctly assigned, this species would make Lithomelissa the oldest lophophaenid genus of those included in this manuscript.