Beachcombing

A little collection of interesting things I came a cross during a beach walk.

Egg capsule of a small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)

Nederlands: Hondshaai

The small-spotted catshark belongs to the egg-laying sharks. They mate in deep water but the female lays the eggs in shallow water. The curly wires on the corners help it stick to rocks or seaweeds. The egg capsule was 6 cm long.

Egg capsule of a blonde ray (Raja brachyura)

Nederlands: Blonde rog

This blonde ray lays the biggest egg capsules of any ray species in the North Sea. This egg capsule was 20 cm long. Blonde rays look like what you would expect from their name. Light brown with a few creamy-white blotches and dense dark spots.

Egg capsule of a thornback ray (Raja clavata)

Nederlands: Stekelrog

The thornback ray gets it name because of the small spines on his back, although they are also on the tail and belly. The egg capsules are smaller and more square than those of the blonde ray. This egg capsule was 10 cm. It is the most commonly found ray egg capsules on the Dutch coast.