Hi Zac
Cool post, I love mermaid's purses. When I was a teen I found a handful washed up on the beach after a huge storm and the little sharks were still inside them, they weren't dark black like these so they were probably still quite fresh. I put them back in the water but I doubt they would have survived having no longer being attached to kelp or the like.
Are you still allowed to collect nautilus shells? I remember hearing somewhere that they had outlawed it in SA, don't know why they would, I mean it's not like the animal is alive anymore if they've washed up empty on the beach. I must actually look that up. I love the shape of them and how delicate they are.
Hi Andy.
Correct me if I am wrong in thought that you are also in the Cape?
So glad that you know mermaid's purses, as no one over here in our area seems to know them.
Just today I said to Marian that I would love to see one with life emerging from it, and you had such an opportunity albeit under difficult circumstances.
Let's hope that they all survived, as the ocean looks after its own.
Nope, I am not aware that it is illegal to collect empty Nautilus shells and such a law really doesn't make sense. Or maybe the thought is that the empty shells could be re-used by other adult octopus females (joking).
Yes the shells are also my favorite as I know their story and sadly they are difficult to find, as I said elsewhere that we keep a lookout for them every time that we stroll on the beach and in our 3 years here, I have only found the two in the post.
Have some !PIZZA and thank you for the visit.
Hi Zac, thanks for the reply.
I used to live in the Cape, but now up a bit more up north.
You will find a mermaid's purse with a little one inside, I know the universe grants wishes now and again like that.
Maybe I'm thinking of pansy shells or sand dollars as I think they're sometimes called? I seem to remember it being nautilus (or argonauts), but I could be totally wrong, it's been so long since I was in that industry and my memory sucks big time 🤣
I need a walk on the beach! I haven't been shell collecting for too long, maybe your post was the nudge I needed 🙂
Hold onto those gorgeous shells, I think they will become more and more scarce as time moves on. Have a great evening and many thanks for the pizza!
Hi Andy.
Ah okay then I understand.
I wouldn't bank on it to find one, as Mother nature likes to play her tricks on me.
No Idea and I haven't had the time to do some research yet. Apart from our charity work taking a lot of time, I have to rush now to complete the replies on Hive as we have another power cut soon.
But I will get there.
Hidden messages that only a discerning eye can see and no doubt you have such an eye, so I feel that your visit to the beach will occur soon.
They are my treasures and I keep them in a special transparent case.
Have some !PIZZA