Family Kungalariidae, n. fam., new Mesozoic entactinarian Radiolaria with a nassellarian-type initial spicule

Based on internal structure, a new family of entactinarian radiolarians, th e Kungalariidae, is described with three new genera and four species: Kunga laria newcombi, Cachecreekaria californiensis, Transylvanaria devaensis, an d T. hattorii. Members of this family have an eccentric internal, nassellar ian-type initial spicule with bar MB, rays A, V, L, I, and spine Ax; a medu llary shell built above the plane of lateral rays as in the cephalis of man y nassellarians; and a spherical to subspherical cortical shell around the medullary shell. This new family is part of a group of Triassic entactinari ans structurally intermediate between Entactinaria, or spicule-bearing Spum ellaria, and Nassellaria. The new genera and species described occur in the Rhaetian of Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Aalenian to early-m id Bajocian of central Japan, Cenomanian of California, and Coniacian of Ro mania.