1975  Phillipsoceras Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 55.
     1978  Phillipsoceras.-Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia: 245.

Type species: Goniatites (Beyrichoceras) circumplicatile Foord, 1903, p.200 [OD].

A:   Conch form with wide, in some forms moderately wide umbilicus (relation of width of umbilicus to diameter about
       0.5 - 0.3, average 0,39). Some species with tendency to form oxycone venter.
C:   Small rather strong ribs near the umbilicus; umbilical nodes at early whorls.
G:   Adventitious lobe wider than ventral lobe.

Phillipsoceras closely related and transitional to Reticuloceras, for discussion see Ruzhentsev & Bofgoslovskaia, 1978, p.275 and Ramsbottom & Saunders, 1993, p.995. Ramsbottom & Saunderrs regard the family as overplit and emphasize a re-assignment of many genera luike Phillipsoceras and others as subgenera.

[Ruzhentsev et Bogoslovskaya, 1978, p.245: Conch subophiocone in early growth stages, pachycone to subdiscoidal and even oxycone in adult state.  Whorls moderately to completely involute.  Umbilicus moderately wide to moderately tight.  Sculpture usually reticulated;  in some species lirae practically absent.  Umbilical protuberances (folds) present on young shells and disappear with age.   From these, clusters of ribs depart and form a ventral sinus, which becomes deeper with age.  Ventral lobe not very wide (w/h from 1.00 to 0.75);  its prongs thin and rounded or (in later species) sharpened at the base.  Median saddle not high (saddle height / lobe height 0.50 and less.]

Reticuloceras Bisat,1924: Type species: Goniatites reticulatus Phillips, 1836, p.235 [OD].
A:   Conch form involute, with narrow, in some forms very narrow umbilicus (relation of width of umbilicus/diameter
       0.25 - 0.15, average 0.18).
B:   Sculpture consisting of transverse growth striae, sometimes crenulate, with ventrolateral salient and ventral sinus,
      crossed by fine spiral lirae thus producing reticulate ornamentation.
C:   Small ribs near the umbilicus and faint umbilical nodes common at early whorls.
D:   Constrictions may be present, but no ventrolateral furrows.
G:   Ventral lobe rather wide, with almost parallel sides; median saddle reaching half the height of entire ventral lobe.
       Adventitious lobe as wide and deep as ventral lobe.

Reticuloceras (Reticuloceras):
B:   Sculpture consisting of reticulate ornamentation, at least on early stages.
C:   Small riblets near the umbilicus; faint umbilical nodes common at earlier whorls.

Reticuloceras (Swintoceras):
B:   Reticulate ornamentation weakly developed. Noncrenulate to crenulate transverse striae linked by faint spiral lirae.
C-D: Umbilical nodes and constrictions may be present.
G:   Ventral lobe with narrow prongs which tend to be swollen.

Phillipsoceras Ruzhentsev & Bogoslovskaia,1978. (Type species: Goniatites (Beyrichoceras) circumplicatile Foord, 1903)
A:   Conch form with wide, in some forms moderately wide umbilicus (relation of width of umbilicus to diameter about
       0.5 - 0.3, average 0,39). Some species with tendency to form oxycone venter.
C:   Small rather strong ribs near the umbilicus; umbilical nodes at early whorls.
G:   Adventitious lobe wider than ventral lobe.