Wild Wednesday - Mermaid's Purse
A mermaid’s purse is a tough leathery pouch that protects a developing shark, ray or skate embryo.
You may have wondered what these little black or brown pods washed up on beach are, as they’re often mistaken for seaweed, but these tough little pouches are actually designed to protect baby sharks and rays. If you see one, they are nearly always empty, as they become detached from the seabed when the egg has hatched.
Although most sharks and rays give birth to live young or pups, some sharks and skates lay eggs which are surrounded by a tough protective casing. The purses are laid by the adult female in a suitable habitat on the seafloor, with the young embryo developing from the egg within the case for up to 15 months. The baby shark or skate then hatches out of the purse and swims away, leaving the discarded egg case behind it.
Square or rectangular purses with spikes (horns) at each end are usually laid by skates and rays. These horns help to anchor the purse to the seabed, which may be sand, mud or gravel, depending on the fish’s habitat.
If you think the baby shark or ray may still be alive in its purse, carefully place it back in the sea in an area away from the surf and below the shoreline if possible - as long as you are safe to do so.
Read more here: Mermaid's purse treasure hunt | Marine Conservation Society (mcsuk.org)