Tuesday 19 February 2013

That slime

There have been several suggestions as to the identity of the slime was that we found on our walk on Sunday - see post here.  Since the links are difficult to deal with in the Comments section, here they are:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/outdoors/galleries/jelly/

http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/11Nature%20Detective%20Food%20and%20Poo.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-21498062

Many thanks to Sheila, Alan and an anonymous commentator for their research.  While the old names include star jelly, astral jelly, and astromyxin, the favoured theory is that it is caused by cyanobacteria.  Whatever it is, it's very peculiar!
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5 comments:

  1. Dave McFadzean Moniaive19 February 2013 at 17:23

    The dreaded star snot! The opinion of some down here is that it is unripe spawn jelly carried by the likes of heron, etc. Not sure myself. Took some pix a while ago. Mine was opaque milky white. Some shots show almost clear jelly!

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  2. Unknown19 February 2013 at 19:38

    Another report about odd slime...

    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/-jelly-invasion--at-somerset-nature-reserve-baffles-scientists--150928727.html

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  3. Michael21 February 2013 at 11:08

    Article suggests it might be unfertilised frogspawn...

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9880906/Strange-slime-identified-as-unfertilised-frogspawn.html

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  4. Jon21 February 2013 at 14:46

    This article might explain the faeces we found beside the slime - heron? Jon

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  5. Unknown23 March 2018 at 04:01

    Hey, I know these posts are over several years old, but I’ve found this stuff appearing on my sidewalk in my backyard. I live in Hawaii and no one can seem to give me answers. I have photos that are so similar to yours. If anyone has any new info, please contact me: boltzkate@gmail.com

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