Strandline - secrets of the seashore Amongst the seaweed and
debris on the strandline, various animal eggs and egg cases may
be washed ashore. These provide clues to how various marine
animals protect their eggs to help increase the chance of their
young surviving. These include the leathery egg cases of rays,
dogfish and whelks. Scientists can study these beached egg cases
to help discover which coastlines different sea creatures live
and breed on. While many of the cases are empty, some may still
have developing animals inside, especially if they have been
washed up after a storm. Skates and rays Skates and rays also
have a skeleton made of cartilage and are closely related to
sharks. They are flat-bodied and have a disc-shaped body with
winglike fins. When not swimming they rest on the seabed. Skates
and rays have declined in number around the British coastline.
Sharks and dogfish Sharks differ from most other fish in that
they have a skeleton made of cartilage rather than bone. They
range from fast-swimmi