Reproduction System

Echinoderms are either male or female and become sexually mature after about two to three years. Most release their eggs and sperm into the water where they are fertilized. A female can release one hundred million eggs at once. Larvae devlop which eventually settle on the sea floor in their adult form.

If an arm breaks off some echinoderms, a new arm or even a new echinoderm can regrow. Some sea stars and brittle stars have the ability to reproduce asexually by dividing in two halves while they are small juveniles.