Fertilize: when a sperm and an egg join.
This is a light microscope photograph of sea urchin eggs after they have been fertilized. You can see the eggs surrounded by a layer, called the jelly layer. The light dots are the sperm. The eggs look blue in color, because of the microscope light.
CJ Kazilek. (2009, December 23). Sea Urchin Development - Eggs and Beyond. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved August 23, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/sea-urchin-eggs
CJ Kazilek. "Sea Urchin Development - Eggs and Beyond". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 December, 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/sea-urchin-eggs
CJ Kazilek. "Sea Urchin Development - Eggs and Beyond". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 Dec 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 23 Aug 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/sea-urchin-eggs
These are baby purple sea urchins called juveniles. Adult Strongylocentrotus purpuratus grow as big as a human fist. Image courtesy of Nancy Mozingo.
By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started.