What can be found on the strandline #2 Mermaid's Purses

Emma Chaplin
, 19 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #2 Mermaid's Purses
Mermaid's purse (Smallspotted Catshark) © Barry Yates

The strandline is the high water mark on a beach where waves dump materials which can later be found by discerning beach combers.

Winter is a brilliant time to go beach combing because the stormy weather tends to wash up interesting things onto the strandline more frequently and in greater quantity.

Mermaids purses 4191

Spotted Ray

Mermaid’s purses are a common sight on Sussex beaches. 

These little pouches are actually the egg cases of sharks, skates and rays! 

Mermaids purses 1020992

Thornback Ray

The adult animals lay the egg cases in shallow, protected waters and when the baby hatches, the empty egg case can get washed onto the beach and left on the strandline. If you find one on the beach, it is possible to identify which species it came from. 

Use this ID guide from the Shark Trust to work out what species you have found. You can also record your findings which will contribute to the growing understanding of the populations of sharks, skates and rays in the UK. 

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