Most species are dioecious, with separate male and female individuals (also referred to as gonochoric). Male and female starfish are usually not distinguishable from the outside; one needs to see the gonads or be lucky enough to catch them spawning. Some species are simultaneous hermaphrodites (producing eggs and sperm at the same time). In a few of these the same gonad (called an ovotestes) produces eggs and sperm. Yet other starfish are sequential hermaphrodites with some species being protandrous i.e. young individuals are males that change into females as they grow larger. (e.g. Asterina gibbosa ) and others protogynous. In some of these species, when a large female divides, the smaller individuals produced become males. When they grow big enough they change back into females. Each arm contains two gonads, which release gametes through openings called gonoducts, located on the central body between the arms. Fertilization is external in most species though a few show internal fertilization. In most species the buoyant eggs and sperm are simply released into the water (free spawning) and the resulting embryos and larvae live as part of the plankton. In others the eggs may be stuck onto the underside of rocks to develop. Certain species of starfish brood their eggs either by simply sitting on them or by holding them in specialised structures. These structures include chambers on their aboral surface, the pyloric stomach(Leptasterias tenera) or even the gonads themselves. Those starfish that brood their eggs by sitting on them usually raise their disc and assume a humped posture. One species broods a few of its young and broadcasts the remaining eggs which cannot fit into the pouch. In these brooding species, the eggs are relatively large, and supplied with yolk, and they generally (but not always]) develop directly into miniature starfish, without a larval stage. The developing young are called lecithotrophic because they get their nutrition from the yolk as opposed to planktotrophic feeding larvae. In one species of intragonadal brooder the young starfish get their nutrition by eating the eggs and embryos with them in their gonadal brood pouch. Brooding is especially common in polar and deep-sea species, environments less favourable for larvae and in smaller species that produce few eggs.
Btw, I'm rewatching Chanpuruu. I didn't realize how good the show was. I was 10 or something when I watched it. Should of appreciated it more. Jin's a boss. Might ask my girl to draw him or Fuu.
Michiko to Hatchin Found it. (Holy god, I forgot about this show for months.) Not sure if you even care though, Pyre, since you tend to change the subject a lot. Anyway, the words I can describe about this show is... very cool. Jay and Zatchmo AND Bolt would probably like it. theme
I f*cking hate Yuri animes but since it's one of Watanabe-sensei's work, I'll give it a chance... someday.
What did you want me to say? "Oh dude, I've heard of this one. I'm so gonna watch this show all day and give you my thoughts on it." All I said was it's kinda Yuri-ish (I'm sure it's really not) and there's no way I'm gonna get interested on it, even if the action is good. BUT, it's one of Watanabe-sensei's popular work, so I may watch it someday.
Oh and btw, Ano Natsu de Matteru just ended. It f*cking sucked. You don't need to bother watching it. Very bad show.