Breathing holes from a giant undersea Cthulhu

November 7, 2009 9:09 AM

What is this thing that we found on the beach?

We saw several of these things in the sand during low tide in Panacea, Florida. My wife poked at one and it fell apart. What is it?

posted by shammack to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

If it appears to be sand held together with mucus then probably a snails egg mantle. Here in the NW the moon snail produces these collar-like sandy slightly slimy rings which have their eggs embedded in them. They are similar to what you picture.
posted by Rumple at 9:25 AM on November 7, 2009

Looks a bit like a closed up anemone.
posted by Mountain Goatse at 9:33 AM on November 7, 2009

Here is a picture of the moon snail's egg collar that Rumple was talking about. That's what it looks like to me too.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:06 AM on November 7, 2009

Anemones are extremely tough and muscular and I find it hard to believe that even a rotten one would fall apart when poked with a stick. They also live primarily on rocks or solid substrate, not sandy beaches. I acknowledge that the superficial appearance is close, though.
posted by Rumple at 11:40 AM on November 7, 2009

It's a moon snail's egg collar, 100% for sure.
posted by ErikaB at 12:44 PM on November 7, 2009

Definitely the moon snail egg mantle. Google Images will show you a bunch of them.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:33 PM on November 7, 2009