A Study of Total Protein, Fat, and Ash Contents of Sea Urchins: Diadema Setosum (Leske) StomopneustesVarioliaris (Lamark) and Echinometra Mathaei (De Blainville

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate the total protein, fat, and ash contents from eggs, globiferous pedicellariae muscles, and spine stalks of three species of sea urchins, D. setosum. S.variolaris. and E. mathaei. Percent mean total protein and fat contents were high in the eggs and in globiferous pedicellariae muscles per gramme dry weight of tissues. Spine stalks had a high percentage mean total ash content of 87.03±3.53 per cent per gramme dry weight tissues. The result showed no significant difference (P<O.05) between D. setosum and S. variolam in protein content in eggs. The difference of fat and ash content in globiferous pedicellariae muscles and spine stalks respectively were not significant (P>0.05) in all three species of sea urchins.