UPPER PALEOZOIC (UPPER DEVONIAN AND CARBONIFEROUS) RADIOLARIA FROM THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS, OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS (ALBAILLELLARIA, ENTACTINIA, SPUMELLARIA, NASSELLARIA)

Detailed radiolarian biostratigraphic zonation for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic has had great impact on stratigraphic studies inherent to the interpretation of regional geologic history throughout the world. In contrast, the study of Paleozoic Radiolaria is still in its infancy. In order to extend the utility of radiolarian biostratigraphy to the Paleozoic, Upper Devonian and Carboniferous units from the Ouachita Mountains, Oklahoma and Arkansas were collected and most biostratigraphically diagnostic radiolarian fauna were described.; The Albaillellaria Deflandre proved to be one of the most abundant and diversified groups throughout the Upper Paleozoic sections. Careful analysis of this group of exclusively Paleozoic Radiolaria has clarified the proposed relationships of hypothetical linkages based upon the development of the lamellar shell; the reduction of the free caveal rib pairs; the variation of the ratios of central triangle- forming rods; and the preliminary stratigraphic ranges. A new classification scheme is proposed which focuses on the mode of test construction. Hence, it differs fundamentally from those of previous authors. One new family, two new subfamilies, three new genera, and forty-six new species of albaillellas are described.; Opposing an earlier opinion addressed by Deflandre (1963, 1972) and Holdsworth (1977), it is suggested that the pylentonemids and archocyrtiids belong to the earliest known cyrtoid Nassellariina. Both groups bear the regularly diposed cephalic skeletal elements, the differentiated or polarized test, and the opening of an aperture. A phylogenetic relationship among entactiniids, pylentonemids, archocyrtiids, and cyrtoid Nassellariina is proposed based upon the internal spicular structures as well as the symmetry and polarity of the outer shell components. Twenty-five new species belonging to six genera and two families of pylentonemids and archocyrtiids were described.; The Popofskyellidae Deflandre represents the earliest known multicyrtid Nassellariina to mark their existence between Famennian and Namurian. Two longitudinal lateral rods of popofskyellids simply reflect the interior of two primary lateral bars which either directly connect to or are aligned towards these skeletal elements. Eighteen species belonging to three genera of popofskyellids are illustrated and described. The Archaeopyramisacea, n. superfam., displaying a labyrinthine wall structure which is characterized by a maze-like meshwork consisting of relatively thin, interwoven, hollow bars.