7-8 cm capsule length. Posterior horns overlap each other and curl tightly at the tips. Two waists. Fibrous material may be attached to anterior end.

A small slender species inhabiting shallow inshore sandy and rocky reefs. This species is named after William Macleay a renowned naturalist who described many fish species.

11–13 cm capsule length. Vase shaped. Many transverse ridges. One anterior waist. Long curled tendrils on anterior and posterior ends.

A common shark in southern Australian coastal waters. When threatened, they make themselves look larger by inflating their stomachs with air or water in attempt to avoid predation.

6-7 cm capsule length. Posterior horns overlap each other and curl tightly at the tips. Two waists. Fibrous material may be attached to anterior end.

A small slender species which is common on the continental shelf on mud, sand and shelly bottoms. Little else is known about its biology and ecology.

5-6 cm capsule length. Vase shaped. 1 anterior waist. Fibrous material may be attached eggcase surface

A small slender species endemic to Western Australia from Recherche Archipelago to the Houtman Abrolhos. A nocturnal species occurring on coastal and offshore reefs.

Small eggcase (capsule 4.5 - 6.5 cm). No tendrils. Two short curved upper horns and hooked lower horns that curve inwards.

A small, slender catshark with large darker saddles and smaller spots. An offshore species (mostly at 200 - 500m depth), the eggcases are rarely reported to the Great Eggcase Hunt.

Large eggcase (capsule 10 - 12 cm). Often has a distinctive pinch at the base of the upper horns. Lateral keels present along the lengths of the capsule.

A medium-large skate that is pale brown in colour and covered in dark spots, which extend to the very edges of the wings.

Large eggcase (capsule 13 - 15 cm). Capsule surface covered with dense fibrous layer that peels away to reveal the darker capsule beneath.

Previously included in the Common Skate complex (along with the Flapper Skate), with the two only being recognised as distinct species in 2010. Eggcases of this species are rarely recorded to the Great Eggcase Hunt!

6-7 cm capsule length. Oval in shape. 3 horns

A long and slender catshark found on or near rocky reefs. Little else is known about the biology or ecology of this species.

11-13 cm capsule length. Spiral shaped. Tendrils at posterior end only

Crested Hornshark eggcases have long tendrils that get wrapped around seaweed by the mother when laid, preventing the eggcase from being swept away by tides and waves.

Small eggcase (capsule 5 - 6 cm). Capsule very neat and rounded. Very long, curved upper horns, about twice the length of the lower horns.

A key distinguishing feature of this species is the presence of a large eyespot with marbled markings on each wing. The eggcase when viewed from the side, is a sleigh-like shape.

Eggcase of this species is currently unknown, but is likely to have similar features to other Atelomycterus species including: ~6–8 cm capsule length. Posterior horns overlap each other and curl tightly at the tips. Two waists. Fibrous filaments may be attached to anterior end.

A small slender species reaching about 48 cm. It inhabits coarse rubble substrates. Little is known about the biology and ecology of this species and its egg cases have not yet been observed!

25 cm capsule length. Large, thin keels border an elongate capsule body.

Elephantfish are strange looking relatives of sharks, with plough-like noses to probe the soft sediment looking for small fish and invertebrates to eat.

A very long and slender shark only known from one female specimen taken from the stomach of a school shark. The egg cases for this species are not known.

9-10 cm capsule length. Oval in shape. Large lateral keel. Covered in fibrous material.

The Epaulette Shark is long slender species occurring on or near reefs. During large spring tides Epaulette Sharks can crawl over rocks and corals to move between rockpools!

15 - 20 cm capsule length. Capsule surface covered with dense fibrous layer that easily peels away to reveal the darker capsule beneath.

Previously known as the Common Skate, this is the largest species of skate in European waters - measuring nearly 3m!

10 cm capsule length. Roughly oval shaped. May be covered in fibrous material and have long fibrous on the anterior end. Strong lateral keel.

A small slender species that feeds on small fishes and invertebrates such as polychaete worms and shrimps. Juveniles have a black and white banding pattern, thought to help provide camouflage.

5–6 cm capsule length. Narrow eggcase with two waists, the anterior more prominent than posterior. Posterior horns curved making a rounded posterior border

Grey Spotted Catshark are endemic to eastern Australia, from off Cape Moreton, southern Queensland to off lakes Entrance, Eastern Victoria.

4-5 cm capsule length. Vase shaped. Tendrils on the posterior end. Posterior horns curved making a rounded posterior border

A medium-sized attractive catshark with a white-spotted colour pattern. In the Bass strait they are frequently found on seagrass beds.

6-7 cm capsule length. Roughly squarish in shape. Four prominent, curved horns. Large lateral keels

Australian Longnosed Skate are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to declining populations.

8-9 cm capsule length. Rectangular in shape. Four prominent horns. May have thread-like fibres attached to horns

Endemic to Macquarie Harbour and Bathurst Harbour in western Tasmania, although it hasn’t been seen in Bathurst Harbour since the last surveys conducted in the late 1980’s.

20-25 cm capsule length. Flat and rectangular in shape. Large lateral keels. Large anterior and posterior aprons. Long strands peel away as eggcase degrades

Melbourne Skate are the largest species of skate in Australia reaching up to 2 m in length and weighing more than 50 kg.

8 - 10 cm capsule length. Thick, curly tendrils extend from each corner. Thick walls join the two capsule sides together.

A large, stocky catshark with black spots on a paler background, darker saddles are sometimes present. Eggcases are a similar shape to the Smallspotted Catshark, but are much larger and more robust.

4-5 cm capsule length. Narrow eggcase with 2 waists, the anterior more prominent than posterior. Posterior horns curved making a rounded posterior border.

A small shark reaching to about 55 cm total length. A poorly known species with little known about its biology and ecology.

3-4 cm capsule length. 4 horns. Anterior horns very long, longer than eggcase length. May be covered in threadlike fibres.

A small species, reaching ~37 cm total length with a heart shaped disc. The most abundant and widely distributed skate on the continental shelf and upper slope of southern Australia.

13–15 cm capsule length. Spiral shaped. Tendrils absent.

Females use their mouths to wedge freshly laid, soft eggcases into rock crevices where they will harden and become stuck, preventing them from being swept away by tides and waves.

Eggcase of this species is currently unknown, but is likely to have similar features to other Dentiraja species including: 4–6 cm capsule length. Roughly rectangular in shape. Four prominent horns

Endemic to Southern Australia, this species has a restricted distribution off Adelaide and Port Lincoln. Little is known about the biology and ecology of this species and its eggcases have not yet been observed!

Likely 10-11 cm capsule length. Oval in shape. Three horns. May be covered in thread-like fibres

A long and slender shark that shelters inside caves and crevices during the day and forages on crustaceans and shellfish at night amongst kelp on rocky reefs, seagrass beds and sand flats. Its eggcases are difficult to distinguish from those of the Varied Carpetshark.

7 - 8 cm capsule length. Capsule tapers from top to bottom. Upper horns are long and fine, lower horns are short and hooked. Lateral keels present along the lengths of the capsule.

This skate favours sandy bays. It's pale sandy brown to olive grey in colour with light bands running almost parallel to disc margins.

5 - 7 cm capsule length. Fine, curly tendrils extend from each corner. Colour is highly variable, ranging from golden to black.

A slender catshark with numerous small, dark spots on a light background, sometimes has scattered white spots. This is the most commonly found shark eggcase in the British Isles.

8-9 cm capsule length. Roughly oval in shape. Large lateral keel. Covered in fibrous material

Long slender species occurring on or near reefs. This species occurs in shallow rockpools in areas with high tidal ranges.

Small, neat eggcase (capsule 5 - 7 cm). No lateral keels.

The Spotted Ray has numerous dark spots which do not extend to the edge of the wings, as they do with the Blonde Ray. Eggcases could be mistaken for those of the Undulate Ray due to overlapping size and a cross-over of species range.

3.5 - 4.5 cm capsule length. Capsule has a ‘washboard’ texture. Lateral keels present along the lengths of the capsule.

Starry Skate reach a much larger size in the Northwest Atlantic (where it's known as the Thorny Skate) than in European waters. The capsule size of eggcases also varies considerably.

5–6 cm capsule length. Roughly rectangular in shape, widest part at the centre of egg case. Four prominent horns. Small lateral keels. May be covered in fibrous material.

The most commonly caught skate on the continental shelf off central eastern Australia. This species can be distinguished from other skate by having more rows of tail thorns and more patches of thorns around the eyes.

6 - 7 cm capsule length. Square or rectangular in shape. Lateral keels present along the lengths of the capsule.

The Thornback Ray is one of the most abundant skates in north European coastal waters. This is the most commonly recorded eggcase submitted to the Great Eggcase Hunt.

6-7 cm capsule length. Four prominent horns. Widest part at the posterior end. Dorsal surface only may be covered in fibrous material.

Thornback Skate are common off southeastern Australia on soft sand and mud bottoms. As its name suggests it has lots of spines on its dorsal surface and tail.

7 - 8 cm capsule length. No lateral keels. Small fringe or additional fibres may be present on the margins.

This medium-sized skate has patterns of dark wavy bands bordered by rows of small white spots. The south coast of the British Isles represent the northern most limit of their range.

7–8 cm capsule length. Oval in shape. Three horns. May be covered in thread-like fibres.

A long and slender shark that shelters inside caves and crevices during the day and forages on shellfish at night amongst kelp on rocky reefs and seagrass. Its eggcases are difficult to distinguish from those of the Rusty Carpetshark.

5-6 cm capsule length. Vase shaped. Posterior horns curved making a rounded posterior border.

Nocturnal species, inhabiting caves and ledges on rocky reefs. Little else is known about their biology and ecology and its eggcases are rare in collections.

13 - 15 cm capsule length. Total length with horns >20 cm. Ribbon-like upper horns and short, hooked lower horns. Capsule surface has a distinct textured pattern, with a lattice-like appearance.

One of Europe's largest skate at around 2.4m! This species has limited distribution in the Northeast Atlantic and is rarely recorded to the Great Eggcase Hunt. This is one of the largest eggcases that can be found in the region.

15-19 cm capsule length. Oval in shape with a squarish anterior end. May be covered in thread-like fibres. Thick, rigid lateral keels

The largest species of oviparous (egg laying) shark. Newly hatched juveniles have black and white stripes which is thought to resemble banded sea snakes in attempt to deter predators!

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