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 Common Skate - Dipturus batis |
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 Large and square (hard to initially distinguish due to depth of fields). |
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| Approximately 120-180 mm in length (when soaked). |
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| Horns may initially appear quite short as sunk into deep fields. At close inspection proximal horns are almost as long as the capsule, distal horns approximately half that length. |
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| Distinct. |
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| Deep and often ragged along edges. |
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| This is an extremely large eggcase. Soaked specimens are easily the size of an A5 sheet of paper. Dry eggcases contract significantly and take over 24 hours to rehydrate. Weathering seems to change the appearance - less weathered specimens are often covered in a golden fibrous 'bark' which will come off in strands to expose the smooth, dark capsule below. These eggcases are rare, please notify the Shark Trust immediately if you think you have found one! |
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