mermaid's purses
Skate egg cases
Mermaid's purses are the leathery egg cases of sharks, skates, and rays, often found washed up on beaches after the embryo has hatched.
The dark, rectangular pouches have tendrils at the corners that anchor them to seaweed or rocks.
The name comes from their purse-like shape and association with the sea: We found several mermaid's purses in the tide pools.
- beachcombingSearching shores for flotsam
- beach walkSeaside constitutional
- nature walkLeisurely outdoor trek
- tide poolWave-stranded water hollow
- egg caseProtective embryo capsule
tendrils · skate · folklore · shark · horn shark · ocean floor · sea creature · ray · coastal habitats · egg capsule · embryo · educational tools · natural history museums · dogfish · conservation efforts · artistic inspiration · keratinous · reproductive strategy
mermaid's pursesmollusk shells
Invertebrate exoskeletons from sea
seashells · conch shells · cowrie shells · oyster shells · scallop shells
mermaid, purse, mermaids, purses, pursed, pursing, maid, maids, maiden