CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE-CYCLE OF PENEROPLIS-PLANATUS (FICHTEL AND MOLL) MONTFORT

Direct observations of schizonts and agamonts releasing megalospheres clarified the asexual phase of the life cycle of Peneroplis planatus and made it most probable that this species has a paratrimorphic life cycle. Specimens with maximum lengths between 837 and 3,503 mu m released about 500 to 1,500 megalospheric juveniles, which possessed two chambers (proloculi and flexostyles) prior to emergence from the parental shell. The presence of gamonts was not shown and was only implied by the occurrence of the agamonts. Since agamonts and schizonts have been found from December to May and since asexual reproduction occurs in spring in flat, sexual reproduction probably occurs at another time of year (June to December). More detailed studies of this species need to be conducted throughout the year to improve our knowledge of the life cycle of this species.