What is a sea wash ball?
Q&A editor Sarah McPherson uncovers the mystery of a common beach find.
This is a common find on the winter strandline, and is a baseball-sized sphere comprising a mass of empty common whelk egg cases.
It’s often seen attached to rocks or stones, and colour is significant: if it’s pale yellow, there may still be some eggs inside; if it’s greyish, the young will have left. Many of the hatchlings don’t survive, gobbled up by their stronger siblings.
Main image: Sea wash ball. © Steve Trewhella/Getty
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