How to Know If a Sea Urchin Is Male or Female?

Sea urchins are a member echinodermata phylum. Echinodermata is a Greek word meaning "spiny-skinned." Most sea urchins have spines covering there entire body. These spines are a defense mechanism, to move and burrow through rocks for a hiding spot. Male and female sea urchins are too similar in appearance to determine gender just by looking. There are however a couple ways to induce the sea urchin to produce sperm or eggs and thus determine gender.

Things You'll Need

  • Potassium chloride
  • Bell transformer
  • Lead electrodes
  • Rubber gloves
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Instructions

  1. Potassium Chloride

    • 1

      Before handling a sea urchin, learn what type it is. Some sea urchin spines are poisonous.

    • 2

      Inject the sea urchin with potassium chloride. The injected solution is 0.55 grams of potassium chloride diluted in distilled water. Inject 1-2 milliliters to get them to produce eggs or sperm.

    • 3

      Check around the anus for sperm or eggs. Sperm will be a white viscous fluid while eggs will be a yellow or red viscous fluid. It may take about 10 minutes. Make sure to keep them sprinkled with sea water.

    Electrical Current

    • 4

      Capture a sea urchin keeping it moist with sea water.

    • 5

      Use a bell transformer to reduce the 60 cycle alternating current coming out of the socket from 110 volts to 10 volts.

    • 6

      Take electrodes attached to the transformer and touch them to the damp outer skin of the sea urchin.

    • 7

      Check the anus to see if sperm or eggs are being secreted.