Regeneration of Spines in Echinus esculentus

Abstract

REGENERATION of the spines in Echinus esculentus is considered worthy of record, and is of importance with regard to the short fine spined forms which are sometimes obtained in the trawl or dredge. It seems probable that such natural, fine spined individuals, which are sufficiently strange to be regarded, not unreasonably, as a different species, may have been damaged in some way, as by rubbing and exposure during a previous capture, and have afterwards recovered as in the case of the specimen observed. The observation is also of interest in indicating that the species possesses unsuspected powers of regeneration, and may be a favourable subject for experiments on regeneration under suitable conditions.