What's this then?

[Mr Obertshaw]

A mate has just posted up a couple of pics of this on Facebook. Taken on the beach in Swansea.

Does anyone have any idea what it is?

[Mr Obertshaw]

Is it one of these?

[El Capitano]

my guess is a dogfish skeleton??

edit.. actually scrub that... there is too much solid bone to be a dogfish... a ray possibly? ... hmmm

Edited by El Capitano on Sunday 11th April 19:43

[HBLC]

I don't know, but it looks a darn sight healthier than some of those birds over on the Aintree thread.

[B0LLIKS]

HBLC said:

I don't know, but it looks a darn sight healthier than some of those birds over on the Aintree thread.

probs smell better too

[Jasandjules]

I could be wrong but I think sharks and rays have cartilage not bones so don't get a skeleton as such? (though the teeth remain).

[ZOLLAR]

Which beach in swansea? Wasn't llangenith beach was it?, when I used to surf there I always used to see all sorts of strange things washed up on the beach!.
Never seen one of those though!

[Mr Obertshaw]

ZOLLAR said:

Which beach in swansea? Wasn't llangenith beach was it?, when I used to surf there I always used to see all sorts of strange things washed up on the beach!.
Never seen one of those though!

Swansea bay near the uni. You don't really see much on the beach here apart from Smack heads.

[ZOLLAR]

I was running down the front there friday just gone the water was really far out so it must have been underwater than washed up, is it still there may head down tomorrow and have a look (yes things are that boring at the moment lol)

[Puggit]

Manta ray skeleton for comparison:

[Mr Obertshaw]

ZOLLAR said:

I was running down the front there friday just gone the water was really far out so it must have been underwater than washed up, is it still there may head down tomorrow and have a look (yes things are that boring at the moment lol)

Not got a clue if it will still be there the tide was really far out today. If it had been me that had found it I would have taken it home to have a better look at.

My mates convinced it's an alien.

[Xenocide]

Puggit said:

Manta ray skeleton for comparison:

:|

Holy sheet. Is that all bone structure?

That's incredible. Isn't nature beautiful?

[ZOLLAR]

alien! Tell him to ring the evening post they make stuff like this front page!

[Austin.J]

Dead?

[JakeS]

Xenocide said:

Puggit said:

Manta ray skeleton for comparison:

:|

Holy sheet. Is that all bone structure?

That's incredible. Isn't nature beautiful?

Amen.

On a serious note those bones in there wings/fins (are they wings?) must be flexible which is truly amazing!

[Fex2005]

Looks more like cartage than bone,and based off the size and shape, and distinctive spikes on the tail, I recon its the remains of a Skate


http://www.mexfish.com/fish/rtskate/rtskate.htm



The inside structure also matches a scate

http://chestofbooks.com/animals/zoology/Anatomy/im...

Edited by Fex2005 on Sunday 11th April 21:39

[Cotty]

I was thinking Sawshark but I think its the wrong way round

But I remember watching something on Discovery that had a saw toothed fish (smaller than the sawshark) can't remember what its called.

Edited by Cotty on Sunday 11th April 21:32

[odyssey2200]

Alien Facehugger


Simples!

[Mobile Chicane]

Those tailbones look articulated, therefore I think it's a ray / skate of some kind. Fascinating find though, and a pity it wasn't whole. Skate is good eating and best when a few days dead.

Skate:

[Ganglandboss]

Mobile Chicane said:

Those tailbones look articulated, therefore I think it's a ray / skate of some kind. Fascinating find though, and a pity it wasn't whole. Skate is good eating and best when a few days dead.

Skate:

Mmmmmmmmm!