Aussies asked to report 'alien' beach discoveries
The Tasmanian beach find is an important discovery for scientists to be aware of.
An interesting find washed ashore on a Tasmanian beach is the exact type of coastal discovery scientists are asking Aussies to tell them about.
On Saturday a local spotted the "alien" find on Bakers Beach, situated on the state's northern coast, and jumped online to ask what the black capsule was.
"I am looking for an identification on this please," the local wrote, sharing a picture of the unknown object. Many were quick to compare it to the fictional predators in sci-fi film Aliens and joked not to touch it.
Discovery identified as an 'important' sighting
The black capsule was identified as an "elephant fish egg", a marine species related to sharks.
"The elephant fish usually lay their eggs on a soft sentiment and the egg kind of adheres to the mud," CSIRO Research Technician Helen O'Neill told Yahoo News Australia. "It stops it from getting swept away from tides and waves."
Despite the egg in question appearing to have been swept away by currents, the sighting is helpful for scientists to piece together information about the animal.
"In cases like these they act as a bit of a calling card of where they've been," Ms O'Neill said. "You can say that species occurs there ... and they're also reproducing in the area. It could be an important nursing area."
Beachgoers urged to share their finds
The CSIRO, or Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science organisation and is calling for "all citizens" to find and record eggs found on the coast to aid researchers gather information — an initiative called the Great Eggcase Hunt.
"Sharks, like other animals, they breed and give birth to young in certain areas that are better for survivability... it's a good signifier that it's an important habitat for species."
What exactly are Elephant Fish?
These marine animals are cartilaginous like sharks, however, have a different evolutionary lineage. They are easily recognisable due to the hoe-shaped structure on their snout, with a number of sensory pores on its head.
They are mostly found in southern Australia and New Zealand, and lay up to 22 eggs during summer months, usually living in depths of at least 200 metres on the continental shelf, however, they travel inshore to lay their eggs.
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