Reproduction of the sea urchin Stomopneustes variolaris (Lam.) on the east coast of South Africa

Summary

A well defined annual reproductive cycle in a South African population of Stomopneustes variolaris is revealed by gonad index determination and histological analysis. Spawning occurs from late December to mid-February with a peak in January. Aspects of reproduction in this population of S. variolaris are compared with the reproduction of two populations on the coast of the Indian sub-continent.

Keywords:

• South Africa
• Stomopneustes
• sea urchin
• reproduction