ABSTRACT The type species of the majority of biserial toothplate-bearing genera are restudied using the SEM to investigate the morphological details of the apertural complex. A rationalisation of the classification is proposed based on overall morphology complemented by toothplate type. The Bolivinitidae are herein recognised as a family of the Buliminacea. The family is subdivided into the Bolivinitinae, Fursenkoininae, and the newly proposed Parabrizalininae and Sagrininae. The Bolivinitinae include the genera Bolivinita, Afrobolivina, Bolivina, Bolivinoides, Brizalina, Coryphostoma, Loxostomoides, Lugdunum, Sagrinella, Saidovina , and Sigmavirgulina . A neotype is designated for Bolivina plicata to stabilise the position of Bolivina , as compared to Brizalina . The genera Latibolivina and Parabolivina are synonymised into Bolivina . The Fursenkoininae include the genera Fursenkoina, Galliherina and Hopkinsinella. Details are discussed of a proposal submitted to the ICZN in order to stabilise the position of Fursenkoina in the light of the difficulties surrounding Cassidella. The species Virgulina tegulata Reuss is deemed unrecognisable. To further stabilise the position of Fursenkoina, a neotype for Virgulina squammosa is designated. The Parabrizalininae are created for the genera Parabrizalina, Euloxostoma and Loxostomina. The Sagrininae are proposed to cover the genera Sagrina, the newly proposed Alectinella, Pseudobrizalina, Virgulinopsis, and Virgulopsis. The genera Eouvigerina and Tappanina are removed to the Eouvigerinidae, while Grimsdaleinella and Zeauvigerina are removed to the Loxostomatidae, Pavoninacea. The bilamellar nature of the toothplate-like structure in Stainforthia, in conjunction with the deviating internal architecture leaves the genus incertae sedis within the Rotaliina. The genus Francesita is removed from the Caucasininae and left incertae sedis as well. Structural similarities between Francesita and Stainforthia are shown, but the creation of a suprageneric taxon to accommodate them is judged to be premature. The genus Tortoplectella is shown to be an agglutinating taxon and it is consequently removed from the Rotaliina to the Textulariina. Because of the turmoil in the classification of agglutinating forms, Tortoplectella is considered incertae sedis within the Textulariina.