Can you identify this?

[Oww My Back Hurts]

I took the kids out in the canoe yesterday and we saw this floating in the water. Does anyone know what it is? My kids were terrified cause they thought it was a dead snake but I told them not to worry, it was just a... well.. err.. not exactly sure what it is but it's probably nothing to be scared of...


Ack for some reason it is rotated but hopefully you get the idea

 

[begreen]

Interesting. It looks like it might be an egg casing for some marshland denizen.

 

[KaptJaq]

(Click image for full size)

The top or root of a weed/plant/reed that broke off before it sprouted/bloomed and is starting to rot?

 

[begreen]

Thanks for rotating it Kapt. That provides a much better sense of scale. Waterlogged cattail?

 

[firefighterjake]

Oh, oh . . . I think I know this one . . . but only because a friend posted a pic very similar to this a week or two ago.

I believe it's a water lily root system.

 

[Oww My Back Hurts]

Thanks everyone I think you are right!

 

[firefighterjake]

I misspoke . . . water lilly rhizome . . . kindof, sortof a root system.

Here's a pic from April that my buddy took . . . also more than week or two ago like I thought. Originally I thought it was the carcass of the Loch Ness monster.

 

[begreen]

Good sleuthing Jake. Had me scratching my head there.

 

[Jags]

Yep - I think Jake is on it. I see those frequently around water lily patches.

 

[Flatbedford]

I'd tell the kids its a tendril from a fresh water octopus.

 

[Shane N]

Those wash up all the time over here. Definitely has the potential to creep someone out the first time they see one.