1825  Familia Goniatitea de Haan: 156.
     1884  Glyphioceratidae.- Hyatt: 322.
     1895  Goniatitidae.-Zittel: 397.
     1925  Glyphioceratidae.- Schmidt: 528.
     1934  Goniatitidae.- Schindewolf: 160. [nom. correct.].
     1934  Goniatitidae.-Spath: 15.
     1952  Goniatitidae.- Delépine: 572 (emend.).
     1957  Goniatitidae.- ICZN, Direction 62 (Official List: 21, Nr. 175).
     1957  Goniatitidae.- Treatise: L55.
     1960  Goniatitidae.- Ruzhentsev: 210.
     1961  Goniatitidae.- Kullmann: 253.
     1962  Goniatitidae.- Kullmann: 14.
     1962  Goniatitidae.- Osnovy: 374.
     1970  Goniatitidae.- Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 55.
     1971  Goniatitidae.- Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 207.
     1999  Goniatitidae.- Korn, Klug & Mapes: 355.
     2008  Goniatitidae.- Korn & Ebbighausen: 96.

Type Genus: Goniatites de Haan,1825, p.39.

Superfamily Goniatitaceae:

A:   Conch form discoidal to globular, rarely oxycone; moderately involute, usually with narrow umbilicus. Inner whorls
       involute or evolute with rather wide umbilicus.
B:   Ornamentation in general inconspicuous, except for longitudinal (spiral) ornamentation.
G:   Basic sutural formula (Family Goniatitidae): [Germ.] (E1EmE1)ALUI, [Russ.] (V1V1)LU:ID]); increase of sutural elements
by trifurcation of branches of ventral lobe as well as of adventitious lobe (Delepinoceratidae), or by trifurcation of
adventitious lobe only (Agathiceratidae).

Family Goniatitidae DE HAAN, 1825

[nom. transl. SCHINDEWOLF, 1934, p.160 (ex Goniatitea DE HAAN, p. 156]. [= Glyphioceratidae HYATT, 1884, p. 322 (obj.)].

B-F: Spiral ornamentation, if present, conspicuous and in some forms stronger than growth lines or striae. Course of growth
lines and constrictions variable, with ventral sinus.
G:   Ventral lobe relatively narrow, with median saddle usually less than half as high as entire lobe, rarely higher; branches
diverging strongly. Ventrolateral saddle acute or subacute. Adventitious lobe in lateral position, broad, pointed. No
increase of additional suture elements.