GAMETES IN NUMMULITIDS (FORAMINIFERA)

The morphology of the gametes of four species of nummulitids is compar ed. Heterostegina depressa, Cycloclypeus carpenteri and Operculina cf, complanata have biflagellated gametes as most foraminifera. Nummulite s venosus has triflagellated gametes which previously has been documen ted only in gamontogamous species. In addition, gamete flagella of Ope rculina cf. complanata have mastigonemes, a feature previously reporte d in only two foraminifera: the ''lower'' allogromiid Boderia turneri and the ''higher'' amphisteginid Amphistegina gibbosa.