Egg Spirals ?

[calypsonick]

Found this floating just under the surface. It looked like a giant slinkey made up of spiral strings of eggs.

Any ideas?

 

[SueMermaid]

Where was the photo taken? Fresh or salt water? Can you give us a little more info on the context of the photo?
Cool! They look like eggs to me, (esp cause they're pink) but they could also be some sorta squidgy fishy thing, too. I am looking forward to hearing the experts chime in on this one!

 

[gr8fulr2]

it kind of looks like unattached tunicate

 

[calypsonick]

Where was the photo taken? Fresh or salt water? Can you give us a little more info on the context of the photo?
Cool! They look like eggs to me, (esp cause they're pink) but they could also be some sorta squidgy fishy thing, too. I am looking forward to hearing the experts chime in on this one!

Sue, the pictures were taken off the coast of East Timor.

 

[archman]

I'll go with eggs. Beats me what did it, but judging from the size of the mass in comparison to that floating piece of Turbinaria, it was something large. Probably a mollusc.

 

[Rick Murchison]

A "Wonderful Wonder," yes?
Every time I get to thinking I know a little about the ocean and it's critters something like this comes along to remind me that what we don't know about 'em all... is a lot!
Rick

 

[SueMermaid]

You took the words right outta my mouth Rick.

 

[maractwin]

It's an egg mass from an open ocean squid. It's a gelatinous sac, with the eggs embedded in the inside surface.

There's a picture almost exactly like that in Mark Norman's Cephalapods: A World Guide.

 

[calypsonick]

maractwin, thanks for finding that!!

Nick

 

[archman]

It's an egg mass from an open ocean squid. It's a gelatinous sac, with the eggs embedded in the inside surface.

There's a picture almost exactly like that in Mark Norman's Cephalapods: A World Guide.

What group of squids does the Guide say these things belong to? "Open Ocean Squid" is pretty broad.