Why Do Shark Eggs Look So Weird?

A shark’s egg is no ordinary egg. Usually, when referring to an egg, we think of an oval-shaped object laid by female birds or reptiles that may contain a developing embryo. But sharks lay an unusual-looking “egg” in the ocean. Some look like a mermaid’s purse, while others resemble a spiral conch shell.

Apart from being an aesthetic shape, the eggs’ peculiar shape has a functional role. They have functions such as attaching the egg to seaweed, between rocks or in the sea bed, and protecting the baby shark from danger.