With an almost alien appearance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this strangely shaped egg for a supernatural creature.
But it’s actually a shark egg case, also known as a mermaid’s purse, and every day Australians are being called on by scientists to hit the beach and find them.
There have already been 380,000 individual egg cases collected around the globe since The Shark Trustlaunched The Great Eggcase Hunt program in 2003 and now leading science research body the CSIRO is joining the search to find out valuable information about egg-laying sharks, skates, chimaeras and rays in Australia.
Australian waters are home to 182 species of shark, 132 species of rays, and at least 10 species of chimaera.
Researchers from the CSIRO are honing in on their eggs, hoping to discover more about where different species live, and if there are any out there that haven’t been discovered.
They are operating out of Hobart, with The Shark Trust hoping to catalogue Australia’s large diversity of chondrichthyans, or simply put cartilaginous fish.
“With a tailored identification guide created for each state, they really showcase the different catsharks, skate, horn sharks, carpetsharks and chimaera eggcases that can be found washed ashore or seen while diving,” senior conservation officer Cat Gordon said.
What does a shark egg look like and where can find one?
The appearance of the egg cases will vary depending on the species.
By looking at the size, shape and features of the recorded egg case, you can identify the species that laid it.
Some egg cases have a smooth and simple appearance, while others have ridges, keels or curling tendrils that anchor them to kelp or coral.
Read Related Also: Prince Andrew says he's going nowhere after signing a £250-a-week lease for the next 75 YEARS
Port Jackson sharks have corkscrew-shaped egg cases that they wedge into rocks.
Mermaid’s purses are found close to the ocean and often in seaweed or on the sand.
When egg cases dry out they’re very light and can get blown to the back of the beach or trapped in grasses on sand dunes. These are prime locations to search.
Egg cases wash up all year round, but the best egg hunting time is after stormy weather when lots of seaweed and debris have washed up on the beach.
Experts recommend making sure there’s not a live animal inside when searching for egg cases, and also to be wary not to damage habitats.
For your own safety, be aware of changing tides and don’t go to a location that could be cut off by rising water.
Contributing to the ongoing research is as simple as taking a photo of your find and submitting it to The Great Eggcase Hunt.
There is a tailored identification guide for each Australian state, so you can match the egg case you found to a species using the program’s app.
If you put an egg case in a bucket of fresh water and let it soak for up to two hours, it can be easier to identify a rehydrated egg.
The beachside activity is perfect for children and there are kid-friendly guides available online.
