SEA CUCUMBER REPRODUCTION
To reproduce, Sea cucumbers rise up on their back ends and release their gametes into the ocean (the sea cucumber raises its body up so that its gametes dont fall to sea bottom). The sea cucumber's gametes come out in a single stream from a tube within the tentacles. The reproduction system is actually a gonad consisting of tubules which empty out into this tube.
Once fertilized, the small eggs of the sea cucumber becomes quite large and yolky. The hatchlings come out as free-swimming plankton and remain this way for around 3-5 weeks before metamorphosing into a sea cucumber.
Once fertilized, the small eggs of the sea cucumber becomes quite large and yolky. The hatchlings come out as free-swimming plankton and remain this way for around 3-5 weeks before metamorphosing into a sea cucumber.