Editor's Column
Robin's Thoughts and Rambles

Hello!

Vince Frank emailed a while ago to ask if I'd be interested in review his new video.  A few days later, Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers showed up in my mailbox.  I've watched this DVD several times and love it! The sound of peepers made me smile the first time I watched.  It was snowing outside and peepers seem almost a lifetime away. Each time I watch I see or learn something new.  The DVD supplies information on the 53 reptiles and amphibians in New England, some of the conservation work involved in maintaining healthy populations and much more.  

There are three hours worth of information on this DVD.  Each sessions feels like you've been on a field trip.  The music and scenery are great.  You can take a Reptile Adventure (high speed connection needed) to see for yourself.  Pay close attention to the DVD, there's a quiz at the end.  No really, there is.  The DVD includes documents you can print.  

I'd love to see this video in all of our schools. It's an excellent learning tool for kids from kindergarten through high school. My 15 year old daughter said, "I didn't know that," several times.  This is a great gift for everyone.  Watch the clips on the website - I'm sure you'll agree.

Happy Holidays to all!  My favorite day, Solstice, has come and gone. We'll have a little more daylight each day!

Enjoy your week!

Sincerely,

Robin Follette
Editor/Publisher
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Maine Nature News

December 23, 2008

What is it?

JB sent this in as a trivia question.  Do you know what this is?
Click on What is it above to email your answer.

There are a lot of answers to last week's What is it?  Did you know that this is a...
  • a "mermaid's purse," the egg case of a skate or shark.  LH
  • That is too easy!  It's an egg case of a skate.  AKA "mermaid's purse"  KB
  • Skate egg case? KJ
  • The object that JB found is the egg case of a skate. A skate is a fish related to rays and sharks. Skates live on the bottom of the sea floor. Sometimes the egg cases wash ashore and are found by beachcombers. The 4 prongs are meant to anchor the egg case to seaweed, rocks, or sand. The cases are sometimes called “mermaids purses.” This species is probably the Little Skate (Raja erinacea) which grows to about 16”-20”.  ARS
  • It is the egg case of a Skate.  They are sometimes called “a mermaid’s purse.” I don’t know which skate species.  There are apparently at least five in the Gulf of Maine with Smooth and Thorny being the most common. Skates lay their eggs in cases in the sand.  The hooks hitch onto seaweed, I gather, but a number wash up on beaches - hopefully after the little skates hatch.  S
  • The answer to the trivia question is: it's a dried out skate (or ray) egg case.  I grew up in OOB, and when I was about 12 or so I found one that was not dried out, but was still relatively fresh, being green colored and about twice as long.  I tore it open, and there was a baby skate, with yoke sack, inside.  I felt kind of bad about that, but since it was up on the beach, I think it was already dead.  PP
If you'd like to do this again please email a photo and brief description.
Phippsburg, Sebasco Beach, Totman Cove Preserve  (Map 6)
A gull has landed, then hopped and walked away in the sand.  RRR

December 3, Phippsburg, Map 6, Hermit Island
A single Goldenrod that has gone to seed but not blown away yet.  RRR