Size:Maximum Eggcase Length: ~12cm (ranges from 10–15cm)Eggcase Length (without horns): ~5.5cm (ranges from 5-7.5cm)Maximum Eggcase Width (with keels): ~3.5cm (ranges from 3–3.5cm)Range: The Spotted Ray is widely distributed in the Northeast Atlantic from the Shetland Isles and Norway (including the western Baltic Sea and North Sea) to Morocco. from the south and west coasts of England and Wales, with sporadic reports from around the rest of the British Isles, distributed in the Northeast Atlantic from the Shetland Isles and Norway (including the western Baltic Sea and North Sea) to Morocco. It is one of the largest egg cases likely to be found on British shores. then it could be mistaken for the Spotted Ray. Click on logo for details, Click on the picture for self catering cottages on Islay's west coast. Present in the Mediterranean Sea and around the Canary Islands. Shark species are listed first, followed by skates. Click on the arrow to the right of the species names below to find out more about their eggcases. ... Blonde Ray. Click here to find out about physical and behavioural differences, as well as shark courtship... Find and record empty shark eggcases that have washed up on the beach. capsule length 75 mm Long filamentous horns at top. It's no wonder they've gained a reputation for being some of the most impressive and formidable predators on the planet! By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. How do you tell the difference between a male and female shark? Having Trouble Identifying Your Eggcase? Tonic immobility is a reflex that causes a temporary state of inactivity in an animal. Similar eggcase: Thornback eggcase. 3396164, Maximum Eggcase Length: ~5cm (ranges from 3–8cm), This is one of the most abundant shark species in British waters and as it's a coastal species, it's often encountered by divers and snorkellers, from around the majority of the British coastline. Click here to find everything you need to get started. Size:Maximum Eggcase Length: ~21cm (ranges from 12–25cm)Eggcase Length (without horns): ~10cm (ranges from 8-13cm)Maximum Eggcase Width (with keels): ~6.5cm (ranges from 3–8.5cm)Range: In the Northeast Atlantic you can find the Blonde Ray from Norway down to Morocco, and in the western Mediterranean Sea. Mary McGregor from the RSPB handed in this large mermaid's purse on Monday. Please tick the box below to confirm you're happy for us to email you. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. from southwest England, south Wales, and the Channel Islands, with scattered finds reported from the rest of the British coastline. So please do send us a photo with your submission - you can do this using our online recording form or via the app (iPhone/Android). Blonde Ray egg case. But this small eggcase has a very distinctive texture. Read our Privacy Policy to find out more. They're present from the southwest of the British Isles down to Senegal, including the Canary Islands and the western Mediterranean Sea. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us Or by contacting us. It has a patchy distribution in the North Sea. Sharks invest a lot of energy into producing a few, well-developed young. Difference: Blonde eggcase is much larger. Your membership of the Trust will allow us to continue our work at the Centre. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. Here's a photo of mine:  Being a goosecounter on Islay means you get plenty of opportunity to closely inspect gates and fences and, t... Jane Dawson, who founded the Islay Natural History Trust in 1984, in memory of her husband, Rod, died last night after a brief illness. Sharks have a range of adaptations that make them perfectly suited to their environment. Great Eggcase Hunt Records: The majority of Flapper Skate eggcases submitted have been from Orkney, indicating important grounds for this Critically Endangered species. Registered Charity No. Registered Office The Shark Trust4 Creykes CourtThe MillfieldsPlymouthPL1 3JB, UK+44 (0)1752 672008, © 2020 Shark Trust (unless otherwise attributed). Before identifying your egg case, soak it in water to rehydrate it and allow it to expand to its original size. Advertise here. In British waters, the exception to this is the Blackmouth Catshark - this species has small upper horns and no tendrils. An egg case or egg capsule is the casing that surrounds the eggs of oviparous sharks, skates and chimaeras.Egg cases typically contain one embryo, except for big skate and mottled skate egg cases, which contain up to 7 embryos. Registered Company No. Highlighting the latest news and discoveries from around the world... Canada announces groundbreaking move to protect Shortfin Mako in the Atlantic after a sustained campaign by the Shark League to follow the advice of ICCAT scientists. Catshark eggcases often have long, curly tendrils at each end. Similar Eggcase: The larger Blonde Ray eggcase. Eggcase hunting is great fun for all ages! Previously known as the Common Skate, which is now known to have masked 2 species - Flapper Skate and Blue Skate. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Underwater records are from scientific surveys. . Similar Eggcase: The square shape is similar to the Thornback Ray. Great Eggcase Hunt Records: Thornback Ray eggcases are commonly reported and have been … Small-eyed Small-eyed Ray – Raja microocellata Approx. IUCN Red List Entry The smaller and textured Starry Skate. Despite lots of people looking for it, including many who travelled here from different parts of Britain, the Ascension Frigatebird has not ... Mark from Octomore, who is working as a keeper on Islay Estates, reports that he has seen a Kingfisher on the River Sorn on two occasions du... After the usual start to the year with the carpets of snowdrops decorating Bridgend Woods, the cold spring delayed a great many flowering pl... Click on our logo to take you to our website, where you can download a membership form to join the Trust, and also find our Biological Records Database which you can browse to see what has been recorded here and/or submit your own records. Egg cases washed up on the shore can often be dry and brittle. I found this brilliant website with a key for identifying mermaid's purses and think this is the egg case of a Blonde Ray. Size:Maximum Eggcase Length: ~28cmEggcase Length (without horns): ~15cm (ranges from 12-19cm)Maximum Eggcase Width (with keels): ~12.5cm (ranges from 10-14.5cm). . The Nursehound (or Bull Huss) is usually found in shallow waters close to rocky shores and is often seen by divers, from the southwest of England and around the coast of Wales, from western and northern Wales including from Aberystwyth and the Llŷn Peninsula. . Sometimes eggcases can be tricky to ID, especially if they’re damaged. Size:Maximum Eggcase Length: ~23cm (ranges from 14–28cm)Eggcase Length (without horns): ~20cm (ranges from 13-24cm)Maximum Eggcase Width (with keels): ~12cm (ranges from 10-14cm)Range: Europe’s largest skate was once widespread across large parts of the Northeast Atlantic; but it's now locally extinct from much of its former range. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Size:Maximum Eggcase Length: ~12cm (ranges from 10–15cm)Eggcase Length (without horns): ~6.5cm (ranges from 5-8cm)Maximum Eggcase Width (with keels): ~4cm (ranges from 3–7cm)Range: The Thornback Ray has a widespread distribution across the Eastern Atlantic from Iceland to South Africa, including the North Sea, western Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Kingfisher on the Sorn - image Fritz Haen, Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) - Martin Armstrong, Rainbow over Port Charlotte this evening-, Singing Wood Warbler, Dunlossit Estate, Islay, Machir Bay to Saligo (Part 2) (Diamond Jubilee), Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, James MacDonald - Argyll Wildlife Photography, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Following the unfortunate deaths of a number of Whooper swans and other birds this autumn passage due to collision with overhead power cable... Two lovely shots of a Corncrake from Dean Eades. Skate eggcases are more rectangular in shape with a horn extending from each corner (these'll be more obvious in some species than others). Top horns much longer than bottom horns. The approximate lengths below are for rehydrated egg cases.