Whelk egg case

Distribution:         Far offshore in 

This series of dried up egg capsules were laid by the giant conch (Syrinx aruanus) – the largest gastropod species in the world. The first flat egg case (with enclosed eggs) is stuck to a rock or hard substrate by ‘dobs’ of mucous and subsequent egg cases are fastened on one side to the one below, so that the egg mass stands upright. When the eggs in each case hatch, they crawl out as tiny snails (about 2 cm long).