Having problems identifying your eggcase? 

 It’s broken
It is unlikely that eggcases will be washed up on to the beach intact, especially if they have delicate horns – therefore it is quite likely that you will have to identify the eggcase with missing elements.

 

 Hairs and other attachments
You may notice patches of velvety, fawn coloured hairs or other items growing or attached to the eggcase – please ignore these as they are not useful in identifying the eggcase once it has been washed up on to the beach.

 

 Misshapen capsules
Eggcases that have been dry for a long time will take longer to rehydrate, and may not fully recover their original shape.
 

 Short horns
Look closely at the horns, they may have snapped and therefore look a lot shorter than they should.  Species, such as the Small-eyed Ray, that have long, fine, filamentous endings to the horns are unlikely to survive the surf with these delicate appendages intact.

 

 Eggcase impersonators
Do not be fooled into thinking that the large air bladders of some species of seaweed are eggcases.  These can easily be identified by the lack of horns at each corner.

 

 Colour
Do not use colour as an identifying factor – individual animals have unique charateristics which make their eggcases slightly diffierent to other animals of the same species. Also, eggcases will change their colour with increased exposure to sunlight and oxygen.

 

 Size
There is a great deal of variability in the sizes of eggcases from individual species. This means that when identifying, size is a good way of discounting some eggcases but is not a reliable way of determining exactly which species you have. Use the individual characteristics for each species listed on the Species Pages to make a definitive identification.

If you are having trouble identifying your eggcase or want reassurance that what you think is correct then please email a picture of the eggcase to sightings@sharktrust.org

•	Place the soaked eggcase on a white background.
•	Include either a ruler or a 2p to give it scale.
•	Take well-lit photos of the eggcase from above and from the side.
•	Write clear notes on: capsule size (length and breadth); horns; fields and keels; where and when you found it.