Cart-rut Snail Eggs by onewing

Cart-rut Snail Eggs

While walking on the beach a few days ago after the storms, I spotted these strange purple egg like shapes attached to a rather sandy sea sponge. I have no idea what they are, can anyone help me identify them?

Hi again, here is an update as to what these eggs are.

I emailed a friend of mine, Jeannie, last night about these strange eggs. Jeannie is a marine biologist and I thought she would know what they are.

Here is her reply that just came in this morning.

"These are the eggs of the Cart-rut Snail (Dicathais orbita). These ones have already hatched (see the holes in the top of each egg capsule). The purple colour is an antibiotic substance that the mother snail injects into each capsule to keep her babies healthy. This substance is now being investigated by Woolongong University to see if it has applications as a future antibiotic for human use. Seeing these eggs means that spring has come to the ocean, there will be lots more of these egg cases wash up on the beach over the coming months."

I also Googled it again and here is what I found.
https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/molluscs/cart-rut-shell/

I am sure we have all seen this particular shell on the beach at some time or other and now we all know about the creature that lives inside it.

Never seen anything like these BABS
August 16th, 2019  
New to me too, would like to know...Great find.
August 16th, 2019  
Have not got a clue.
But makes a great image...
Do jelly fish have eggs?
August 16th, 2019  
Beautiful , amazing , -- sea creature eggs of some sort ! let us know when you find out what it is !
August 16th, 2019  
I would guess fish eggs. Nice find and photo. I've certainly seen them before.
August 16th, 2019  
Haven't a clue, will be interested to find out!! πŸ˜‚
August 16th, 2019  
No idea, either. Looks like they are eggs of some sort and the sponge looks like coral.
August 16th, 2019  
Sorry no idea, but I love the colour
August 16th, 2019  
Unfortunately not Babs, it is a stunning shot with great textures and colours. Fav
August 16th, 2019  
That's a puzzle for me too :)
August 16th, 2019  
...not a clue
August 16th, 2019  
A cool photo, I’m guessing fish eggs, too. We need a Marine Biologist 365er to weigh in on the discussion.
August 16th, 2019  
Make a nice image whatever they are
August 16th, 2019  
No idea, but what a wonderful pattern! Colour is beautiful.
August 16th, 2019  
Love the beautiful color! Very fascinating. Would love to know!
August 16th, 2019  
Fascinating, but no idea what they are:)
August 16th, 2019  
They look beautiful, sorry I can't help as I have never seen anything like this.
August 16th, 2019  
goodness me - it looks like a sculpture - gorgeous - no idea what they are!
August 16th, 2019  
Sorry, no idea but they do look intriguing.
August 16th, 2019  
Great shapes, textures, and colors.
August 16th, 2019  
Neat find and capture...I have no idea what they are.
August 16th, 2019  
Purple fish eggs, nice!!
August 16th, 2019  
what a find. they are great shapes and colour whatever they are.
August 16th, 2019  
What ever it is its a wonderful find and capture Babs:)
August 16th, 2019  
Can't find them anywhere. Wonderful aren't they.
August 16th, 2019  
No idea but they are beautiful whatever they are 😊
August 16th, 2019  
No idea but sure is cool looking
August 16th, 2019  
@777margo @happysnaps @julzmaioro @beryl @pusspup @peadar @sangwann @sarahlth @ludwigsdiana @gilbertwood @peterday @louannwarren @lyndamcg @creativenature72 @marylandgirl58 @merrelyn @nicolecampbell @pistache @busylady @mittens @seattlite @30pics4jackiesdiamond @helenhall @pcoulson @chimfa @cupofteajudy @samae Thanks. You wouldn't believe the amount of time I have spent researching what this is.

Julia asked if jelly fish lay eggs and yes they do but I haven't seen anything like this. Fish eggs too are mainly round and these jelly like shapes are flat on one side.

Merely speculation, but after reading up on the sex life of a sponge I am wondering if these are eggs that are inside the actual sponge and it has been split in the rough sea. Maybe these are the eggs that were inside the female sponge. It would take too long to write what I have learnt about them here, but if you are interested, look it up for yourselves and see what you think.
August 16th, 2019  
No idea but fascinating
August 17th, 2019  
I have no idea either but like you thought maybe they were sponge eggs. They sure are interesting looking!
August 17th, 2019  
Intriguing!
August 17th, 2019  
now, you have to send the photo to the museum for an identification. very interesting.
August 17th, 2019  
Intriguing, especially while nobody seems to recognize this ....
August 17th, 2019  
Interesting and pretty. I wish someone knew. I can’t find it either.
August 17th, 2019  
A very interesting capture. I would love to know what they are.
August 17th, 2019  
@jgpittenger @olivetreeann @4rky @yaorenliu @momamo @shutterbug49 @susiemc If I find out what it is I will let you know.
I have a couple of people who I can ask
August 17th, 2019  
@777margo @happysnaps @julzmaioro @beryl @pusspup @peadar @sangwann @sarahlth @ludwigsdiana @gilbertwood @peterday @louannwarren @lyndamcg @creativenature72 @marylandgirl58 @merrelyn @nicolecampbell @pistache @busylady @mittens @seattlite @30pics4jackiesdiamond @helenhall @pcoulson @chimfa @cupofteajudy @samae @jgpittenger @olivetreeann @4rky @yaorenliu @momamo @shutterbug49 @susiemc Hi again. I emailed a friend of mine, Jeannie, last night about these strange eggs. Jeannie is a marine biologist and I thought she would know what they are.

Here is her reply that just came in this morning.

"These are the eggs of the Cart-rut Snail (Dicathais orbita). These ones have already hatched (see the holes in the top of each egg capsule). The purple colour is an antibiotic substance that the mother snail injects into each capsule to keep her babies healthy. This substance is now being investigated by Woolongong University to see if it has applications as a future antibiotic for human use. Seeing these eggs means that spring has come to the ocean, there will be lots more of these egg cases wash up on the beach over the coming months."

I also Googled it again and here is what I found.
https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/molluscs/cart-rut-shell/

I am sure we have all seen this particular shell on the beach at some time or other and now we all know about the creature that lives inside it.

I love walking round the rock pools with Jeannie, she is amazing at finding such interesting creatures.
August 18th, 2019  
@onewing That is amazing!!! As a nurse, I will be interested to see what they decide!
August 18th, 2019  
Thanks for the update and link, Babs. Fascinating!
August 18th, 2019  
@onewing fascinating. Thanks for following up on that. It is interesting.
August 18th, 2019  
@onewing so interesting! Thanks for updating us!
August 18th, 2019  
@onewing thats awesome! Thanks for letting us know.
August 18th, 2019  
Fascinating, great to get the answers .
August 18th, 2019  
@onewing Thanks for that interesting info, mother nature is so amazing :-)
August 18th, 2019  
Thank you for the update. Extremely interesting and with possibilities for the future for us humans.
August 18th, 2019  
Such a find and interesting comment from your learned friend. Thanks
August 18th, 2019  
Beautiful photo and very interesting info!
August 18th, 2019  
Fascinating, great information and beautiful shot.
August 18th, 2019  
No idea but its very beautiful
August 19th, 2019  
@kjarn if you read the narrative again you will see that my friend Jeannie identified the eggs for me
August 19th, 2019  
@onewing I read it after I posted my comment πŸ€ͺ
August 19th, 2019  
What an incredible find
August 21st, 2019  
wow! amazing - I will keep my eye out when I am wandering the shores
August 22nd, 2019  
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