1000+ Marine Skeleton ID's please

Stomperone · #1 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 09:35 PM

Walking along the tideline on a beach in Cornwall I came across a huge area of these all washed up on the shore. Firstly can anyone please identify them? Secondly would someone have an idea as to why there were so many at the same time. The date the pictures were taken was 21/08/09. There had not been any major storms or large swell. Thank you
Peter

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 09:57 PM

Some kind of Irregular Echinoid(Sea Urchin)Stomperone

Stomperone · #3 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 10:00 PM

thanks Jason but there were 1000s of them and all the same shape not just the one.
I didnt give an idea of size they were just slightly larger in diameter than a 50p piece and about .5" high as it is in the photo

Jason Claxton · #4 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 10:19 PM

Um as to why there are so many washed up I dont know ,but I recognise these from fossils that I have of Irregular Echinoids such as Sea urchins,Sand Dollars and Heart Urchins,We may have to wait for a Marine biologist,Stomperone,sorry

Jason

tom00_uk · #5 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 10:36 PM

Echinocardium cordatum sea potato

Stomperone · #6 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:06 PM

OK Jason Thank you for the pointer

Tom you are a star

Thank you very much.
Though this now leaves me another puzzle, From what I have just read on the internet they are found in Scotland (though I only got the info from one site) .. and grow up to 10cm so what the heck are they doing washed up in thier thousands on a beach in SW cornwall and also they all seem a lot smaller than 10cm..

Stomperone · #7 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:11 PM

this is far too long to quote so will put a link up to a couple explanations I have found on a site for mass mortality I thought it was interesting so worth sharing
MASS MORTALITY OF THE HEART URCHIN

Jason Claxton · #8 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:29 PM

Good research Stomperone,now I know as well Cheers Jason

Stomperone · #9 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:40 PM

no problems
I would still love to know whether it is an unusual sighting for SE Cornwall I cant really find anything definative about thier home turf.

Ukwildlifeo · #10 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:51 PM

sea potatoes are about the size you have mentioned. I found a number, some just the test as yours are and others with the soft parts still attached in Pembrokeshire. I think they are found in sandy sallow seas around the UK. Yours are sea potatoes or a related irregular echinoid, as others have pretty much said

As for why they have come up, irregular echinoids live in the mud/sand on the sea bed so when they died they could have stayed there until a change of current or storm etc. washed them out and on to the beach. That would be my guess.