Did you know some sharks are oviparous, meaning their developed eggs are hatched outside of body? These eggs are referred to as Mermaids pursues.
On the left we found a hatched Horn Shark egg casing. (Heterodontus francisci) the spiral design helps the egg casing to grip onto seaweed and wedge between rocks where it can safely develop.
On the right we have an egg casing of the Swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum). This egg casing has wiry tendrils coming from all four corners to help catch onto seaweeds or rocks to anchor it down while it develops. The Swell shark egg is a lighter colour, resembling some seaweeds for easy camouflage.
If you find one washed up ashore, check inside by holding light behind the casing. If there is a baby shark, or what looks like a yolk sack inside you can try to anchor it down to some seaweed or send it back out to the sea where it can catch onto something itself. These eggs need to stay submerged in water for these little guys to live.
Only 30% of eggs successfully hatch.
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