The primordial chamber of the Tholonida (or the central chamber, around which all cupolas are regularly disposed) is either a simple lentelliptical lattice-shell, like Cenolarcus, or it is a trizonal shell (with an enclosed concentric medullary shell), like Larnacilla. As in both cases the building and the disposition of the cupolas around it are quite the same, we can suppose that the whole family of Tholonida may have been derived originally from Larnacilla (or Trizonium), and that the Cenotholida (with a simple central chamber) are sprung from the Coccotholida (with a Larnacilla-shaped central chamber) by reduction and loss of the original medullary shell.
The family Tholonida can be divided into three subfamilies according to the disposition of the cupola-pairs in one, two, or three dimensive axes. In the Cubotholida lie two cupolas on the poles of the transverse axis of the central chamber (corresponding to Amphipyle); in the Staurotholida we find four cupolas crosswise disposed, on the poles of the transverse and principal axes (corresponding to Tetrapyle); in the Cubotholida are at least six cupolas, on the poles of all three dimensive axes (corresponding to Tholonium). In all three cases the number of cupolas may be augmented by the secondary apposition of other chambers or domes in the same disposition. Sometimes also the whole cortical shell becomes enclosed by an external veil or mantle of delicate network. The lentelliptical (or often nearly cubical) central chamber becomes often reduced, so that its sides are incompletely latticed or widely opened; in some Cubotholida only the twelve edges of the eight cornered cubical central chamber remain; its six sides are quite open and only over-vaulted by the six hemispherical cupolas. From the opposite points of the latter (in the deep annular constrictions between them) often arise radial spines, and these lie commonly in diagonal planes, separating the dome-pairs.
A similar dome-building or a composition of the polythalamous shell by pairs of cupolas we find also in the next (fifth) family, the Zonarida. But here the true cause of the peculiar dome-structure is quite different, not an apposition of new chambers, but the constriction of a cortical shell-like Larnacalpis by two or more constrictions. These constrictions lie in dimensive planes (or in planes parallel to these), and therefore the cupolas are (all or partly) in diagonal planes, a condition quite opposite to that found in the Tholonida. One of the annular constrictions is constantly in the sagittal plane (separating the right and left halves of the shell). The number of the constrictions in the few genera is two, three, and four, and therefore the number of the cupolas four, six, or eight. As this cortical shell constantly encloses a trizonal medullary shell (or Larnacilla-shell), we cannot doubt that the Zonarida must be derived from the Larnacida.
Whilst in all the foregoing five families of Larcoidea the shell-form is regular and their geometrical fundamental form is a lentellipsis (or a triaxial ellipsoid, with three unequal isopolar dimensive axes), in the four remaining families of this suborder the shell becomes bilateral or irregular (with the poles of the axes unequal). In two of these families (Lithelida and Streblemida) the growth of the shell becomes spiral, in the last two families (Soreumida and Phorticida) quite irregular. But as in all four families we encounter the typical trizonal medullary shell (or Larnacilla-shell), we are convinced that they must be derived (wholly or partially) from the Larnacida.
The Lithelida (the sixth family) are Larcoidea with spiral growth and bilateral form (like Nautilus); therefore the spiral line lies in one plane and this spiral plane divides the whole shell into two symmetrical halves (right and left). The axis of the spiral (around which the shell winds) is a straight line, one of the three dimensive axes. In the greater part of Lithelida (in the Larcospirida) the primordial of central chamber of the polythalamous shell is a trizonal medullary shell or Larnacilla-shell, and the growth of the first spiral turning begins as the development of the first (transverse) cortical girdle of Amphipyle; but as one wing (or lateral half) of this girdle grows more rapidly than the other, it overgrows the latter and begins the spiral winding; if the other wing follow and overgrow the first, the spiral becomes double. Each of the three dimensive girdles (of the Pylonida) may begin the spiral winding. There can be no doubt that all these Lithelida (the Larcospirida) must be derived from the Pylonida, by unequal growth of the two halves of one girdle. Perhaps from these may also derived the other part of this family, the Spiremida (Spirema and Lithelius); in these the primordial chamber of the spiral shell is simple, and may be derived by reduction of the original Larnacilla-shell. But it is also possible that the Spiremida proceed directly from the Larcarida, and that their ancestors did not possess a Larnacilla-shell.
The Streblemida (the seventh family) are Larcoidea with spiral growth and asymmetrical form of the polythalamous shell (like Helix or Turrilites); therefore the spiral line is twisted like a winding stair, and the spiral face is curved and divides the shell into two unequal halves. The Streblemida have the same likeness and relation to the turbinoid Foraminifera (Rotalia, Globigerina, &c.) as the Lithelida to the nautiloid Foraminifera (Polystomella, Nummulina, &c.). As in these calcareous Rhizopods also the peculiar growth of the siliceous Streblemida begins from a primordial chamber to which a variable number of roundish chambers (of increasing size) is apposed. But the building of these chambers and of their septa is by no means so regular and complete as in the greater number of turbinoid Foraminifera. As in a part of this family the primordial chamber is Larnacilla-shell, these also may be derived from the Larnacida, but the other part (with simple central chamber) is perhaps produced directly from the Larcarida.
The eighth family, Soreumida, is perhaps derived from the Streblemida by the loss of the spiral growth. The polythalamous shell is similar to the latter, but the chambers are aggregated without any order, like the Acervulinida among the Foraminifera. In some cases also here the primordial chamber is a trizonal Larnacilla-shell, in other cases it is a simple, subspherical or lentelliptical shell.
The last family, the Phorticida, is formed of irregular Larcoidea, in which a lentelliptical trizonal Larnacilla-shell (as an inner medullary shell) is enveloped by an irregular, latticed, or spongy cortical shell. They can be regarded as abnormalities or irregular deformities of Larnacida or Pylonida.
The central capsule of the Larcoidea is originally lentelliptical and preserves this form, the "triaxial ellipsoid," in the greater number of genera. In some groups it follows the prevalent growth of the shell in the direction of one of the three dimensive axes, and becomes prolonged in this way. In many chambered forms (particularly Tholonida and Zonarida) the growing central capsule gets constricted, corresponding to the constrictions of the shell. In the Soreumida and Phorticida its form often becomes irregular. But in general for the greater number of Larcoidea the lentelliptical form of their central capsule is quite characteristic.