We estimated there were over 1,000 pyrosomes washed up along about a 1-km stretch of beach.
Below is a closer view. You might recall that pyrosomes are a type of pelagic tunicate, related to sea squirts. [For an introduction to pyrosomes, review the "Fire bodies" post from 8 December 2014.]
We encountered a variety of sizes (most of them were on the larger end of this size range):
I've received a few questions about how to tell pyrosomes from Corolla spectabilis pseudoconchs. So for anyone who's been puzzling over either one, here's a side-by-side comparison. Note the overall shape (oval vs. elongate) and color (clear and transparent vs. pinkish and opaque) and structural differences (slipper-shaped vs. tubular).
And if you haven't seen it yet, there's an introduction to Corolla on the "Gelatinous thimble" post on 11 August 2012.
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