Rare shark washes up on a Sussex beach after stormy weather

James Curd discovered the creature on Lancing Beach on Friday.

Images show the creature washed up on the pebbled seafront, but without any obvious signs of injury.

Sarah Ward, living seas officer at Sussex Wildlife Trust, identified the animal as a nursehound shark, sometimes referred to as a buss huss, rock salmon or greater spotted cat shark.

The animal was found on Lancing beach on Friday

She said: “They are fairly common in the area, although not seen as frequently as their cousin, the small spotted cat shark.

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“You can usually tell the difference between these two species by their size: nursehounds tend to be bigger and stockier.

“Like small-spotted cat sharks, nursehounds lay eggs, which often end up washed up on the beach - these are known as mermaids’ purses.”

A conger eel was found on Ferring Beach, Worthing in February

Sarah said the creatures may have washed up on the beach as a result of the recent stormy weather.

The latest stranding comes after a series of sea creatures washed up on beaches across Sussex last month.

The Argus reported that a large conger eel was found dead on Ferring Beach, Worthing.

A thornback ray and a star fish also washed up on Shoreham beach.

Sussex Wildlife Trust say that most wildlife that gets washed up on the beach is “harmless” and will be washed back out to sea at the next high tide.

However, stranded marine mammals should be reported to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme on 0800 652 0333.

Standings of sharks or mermaids purses should be reported to The Sharks Trust as part of their “Great Eggcase Hunt” citizen science project.