Holothuria scabra
- Most sea cucumbers undergo an external form of sexual reproduction
- Most sea cucumbers are either of a male or female gender, producing either egg or sperm cells
- Some sea cucumbers can be of both genders and produce both egg and sperm cells
- If a sea cucumber can produce both types of gametes, they can reproduce asexually
- It is more likely a sea cucumber can reproduce sexually than asexually
- Sea cucumbers reproduce externally
- By simply releasing their gametes into the ocean the sperm and the egg will eventually meet up where the egg would be fertilized by the sperm
- Because it is so unlikely that a little sperm and egg of a japanese cucumber will meet up in a large oceanic environment, there a must be a large population of japanese cucumbers in order for this process to work
This is a picture of a sea cucumber undergoing sexual reproduction by releasing his sperm into the ocean
This a video that shows in more detail a sea cucumber releasing his sperm which begins the process of sea cucumbers sexually reproducing