Strange things on the beach

[littleoldme]

Over the last few evenings, I've noticed some strange objects on the beach (south coast) at low tide. The best way to describe them is similar in colour to the sand but semi-transparent, varying from about two to six inches in length, of "jellyish" consistency (or a little stronger) and teardrop shaped. The ones that have been stranded on the beach just lie there, but the ones still under the waterline seem to be anchored into the sand at their pointy end. Never noticed them in previous years, but now there are loads of them.

Any ideas what they could be? I'm guessing they're some kind of egg sac, but if so, what laid them?

[Trillipse]

are you sure they're not , in fact, little jellyfish?

[littleoldme]

I don't think so. There are no tentacles or canopy (or whatever you call the 'hood' part of a jellyfish) and as I say, they're anchored into the sand rather than free-swimming.

[HAnn521]

Sounds to me like an alien life-form has come and deposited egg sacks on your shore...when they hatch, an army will be born and they will all emerge out of the ocean and attempt to take over the world!.....

run!

[littleoldme]

Oh lordy, not AGAIN. We'll have to borrow one of you delightful Americans to save the world, but we can't afford Bruce Willis. Got any holiday time coming up, HAnn521? :-)

There is something quite sci-fi about them, now you mention it.

[estie]

That is so strange! I just signed on to post the same question! On my beach (in New Jersey, USA)  they are really small, about 1/2-1 inch in diameter. They are almost round, with no visible appendages. I have never seen them before, in years of global beach-going. What part of the world are you in?

[Tim Baxter]

Sharks and their ilk lay egg sacks (called mermaids' purses) but I'm not sure of their size, the sacks that is.  I bet gooooogle can tell you.

[littleoldme]

estie - I'm on the south coast of England, slightly east of halfway along. Maybe it's a global phenomenon!

[Brinjal]

I have also seen them on the beach in Cape town on blauberg .  Varying sizes small ones and big ones.  I also thought they were jellyfish at first but they arent.   Is this a cold water thing or does it occur on warm water beaches as well.

[chippy]

sound like cuttlefish or squid eggs

[Kingaroo]

Could they be kelp bladders? These are air filled sacs that keep long kelp (seaweed) floating upright in the water.
Do a Google image search and see if they look right. Anything higher up the plant than the bladder may have broken off.