What Eggs Have I Found?

Whether you’re looking into pools in the springtime or walking on the strandline after the winter storms, you’re likely to come across the eggs of different sea creatures.

This gallery shows some of the eggs I often find here in Cornwall. Always leave any live eggs where you found them so that they are able to hatch out safely. If you would like to tell me about your finds, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Searching for eggs on the shore and identifying shark and skate eggcases are just two of the activities in Beach Explorer: 50 Things to See and Discover, available now from all book shops and online retailers.

  • Catshark egg case (Scyliorhinus stellaris). The live fish hatches after around 7-9 months in this case.
  • Clingfish eggs - with one newly-hatched fish (centre)
    Clingfish eggs – with one newly-hatched fish (centre).
  • Scorpion fish eggs with eyes looking out. The puckered surface of these eggs makes them look a bit like golf balls.
    Sea scorpion fish eggs with eyes looking out. The puckered surface of these eggs makes them look a bit like golf balls.
  • A Calma gobioophaga sea slug feeding on goby eggs. Goby eggs are a pointy lozenge shape.
    A Calma gobioophaga sea slug feeding on goby eggs. These fish eggs are a pointy lozenge shape.
  • A male worm pipefish with eggs
    A male worm pipefish with eggs. Pipefish are related to seahorses, so it is the father that looks after the eggs until they hatch.
  • ‘Snot worm’ eggs. These are the eggs of a paddle worm.
  • The eggs of the sea hare (Aplysia punctata) look like pink silly string.
    The eggs of the sea hare (Aplysia punctata) look like pink spaghetti. Sea hares are a type of slug which eats seaweed.
  • A coil of sea slug spawn from the 'sheep slug' aka 'Grey slug' (Aeolidia papillosa)
    A coil of sea slug spawn from the ‘sheep slug’ aka ‘Great grey slug’ (Aeolidia filomenae)
  • Netted dog whelk egg capsules
    Netted dog whelk egg capsules. These snail eggs are enclosed in a transparent disc.
  • A colony of dog whelks with their yellow egg capsules
    A colony of dog whelks with their yellow egg capsules. These snail eggs can also be pink.
  • Green shore crab with eggs - Christmas eve 2018 in Looe
    Green shore crab with eggs under her tail.
  • The Xantho pilipes crab holds her huge clutch of eggs in place with special feathery grips on her tail.
    The Xantho pilipes crab holds her huge clutch of eggs in place with special feathery grips on her tail.
  • A cushion star with its eggs. When the tiny baby starfish hatch out, they are already fully-formed and ready to explore the rocks and feed.
  • We found lots of egg cases on our last hunt - mostly from spotted rays
    Mermaid’s purses which are dark in colour and have a pair of horns at each end are the egg cases of skates – there are lots of different species. Paler egg cases with curly tendrils are the egg cases of catsharks.
  • Flat periwinkle eggs.
    Flat periwinkle eggs. Flat periwinkles are colourful little snails that eat seaweed.

Discover the secret world of rock pool creatures with my book Rock Pool: Extraordinary Encounters Between the Tides.

Have your own beach adventures and see the underwater world as never before with my hands-on children’s activity book, Beach Explorer: 50 Things to See and Discover.

For everyone who loves Cornwall's rock pools. Information about great beaches, marine wildlife and conservation.