Determination of developmental stages of embryo in the Sea Urchin, Echinometra mathaei

Sea Urchin is one of the most useful tools in developmental biology studies because this organism has the simplest kind of developmental stages. We aimed to determine developmental stages and timetable of Echinometra mathaei embryo (the species of Persian Gulf). The spawning of E. mathaei was induced by 0.5 M KCl injection (1ml) into the coelomic cavity. After fertilization, embryos were placed in beakers and were incubated at 29 degree C and a salinity of 39 ppt until embryos reached the pluteus stage. The developmental stages of embryos and the timing of each stage including cleavage, morulae, blastula, gastrula, prism and pluteus larvae were studied under the microscope. Our results showed that after 30 hours from fertilization time, the embryos developed to pluteus larvae. E. mathaei had the shorter development time in comparison to the other Sea Urchin species. Therefore, it may be appropriate as a model organism in biological researches.