It has layers like an onion and in the center its a small hard pearl-like structure.
Probably the spherical lens of the eyes of prey (teleost fish). The protein of the lens is not easily digested.
This is very common in the stomach of predatory fish.
Oh wow! never seen anything like this! eagerly waiting for an answer from someone
Not sure what it is from the picture. Could it be a partially digested juvenile urchin? You might try using "A Practical Guide to the Marine Animals of the Northeast North America" by Pollock. It is a really good key.
Probably the spherical lens of the eyes of prey (teleost fish). The protein of the lens is not easily digested.
This is very common in the stomach of predatory fish.
I presume both structures on the photo are similar objects, the left one intact and the right one opened up to show the interior. The pearl-like structure reminds me of a fish-eye lens as mentioned above by Jean-Lou Justine. In that case the left structure would be the sclera - the outer part of the the eye. The resemblance to a sea-urchin skeleton is only superficial, it clearly lacks the pentaradial symmetry of a regular echinoid and spine attachments. And a sea urchin does not peel like an onion.
I agree with Jean-Lou that this is most likely the partly digested spherical lens of a teleost fish eye.
This paper may be useful
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260214154_Unexpected_Headless_and_Tailless_Fish_in_the_Stomach_Content_of_Shortfin_Mako_Isurus_oxyrinchus
Article Unexpected Headless and Tailless Fish in the Stomach Content...
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Zoology
- Ichthyology