1957  Delepinoceratidae Ruzhentsev: 58.
     1960  Delepinoceratidae.- Ruzhentsev: 211.
     1962  Delepinoceratidae.- Kullmann: 77.
     1962  Delepinoceratidae.- Osnovy: 375.
     1970  Delepinoceratidae.- Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 59.
     1971  Delepinoceratidae.- Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 215.
     2007  Delepinoceratidae.-Kullmann in Kullmann et al.:138.

Superfamily Goniatitaceae:

A:   Conch form discoidal to globular, rarely oxycone; moderately involute, usually with narrow 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 Delepinoceratidae:

A:   Conch form and ornamentation like Goniatitidae.
G:   Sutureline with tendency toward trifurcation of branches of ventral lobe and adventitious lobe. Sutural formula of
advanced forms:
   [Germ.] (E1dE1mE1vEmE1vE1mE1d)(AvAmAd)LUI,    [Russ.] (V2V1V2)(V2V1V2)(L2L1L2)U:ID].

Two subfamilies: 1. Delepinoceratinae Ruzhentsev,1957: Tendency of trifurcation of branches of ventral lobe as well
as of adventitious lobe.
                          2. Dombaritinae Kullmann n.subfam., herein: Tendency of trifurcation only of adventitious lobe.

[Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia, 1970, p. 59]: Shell very large, subdiscoconic. Whorls from very to completely involute.
Umbilicus from moderately to very narrow. Sculpture consisting of lirae or only of growth lines. Total of 8 lobes. Ventral
lobe very broad; contour of its branches varies from ampullaceous to tridentate. First lateral saddle comparatively
narrow, cuspidate above. Lateral lobe narrow, ranging from ampullaceous to tridentate.