Identifying this creature has become my new raison d’etre
It is something like this:
But I think it is a different creature, as the hag moth is native to the USA.
I sent a mail to a biologist who identifies bugs and other creatures in the social networks. I asked him if he could help me identifying the creature using the photo.
Good night Mustafa!
Boa noite gatinho.
A new visitor to the birdbath:
Eastern Spinebill.
https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Acanthorhynchus-tenuirostris
Never heard the term “sea cookie” for these before! That was a good thing for my childhood dental bills, I guess.
People here call it bolacha-do-mar, that is something like sea biscuit. I never saw one these creatures alive. This poor guy probably was draged by the nets of the fishermen from Copacana, where I took this photo a long time ago.
I bet it is salty and crunchy!
when I was a boy, back in the 60s & 70s, we would beach on Padre Island near Corpus Christi. there in the low surf, in sandbars, there would be 1000s of them under foot. they tickled, having no spines like the spiny urchin you get uni from.
there is really nothing but saltwater inside that shell, so unlike uni, I suppose these would be salty and tooth-breakingly crunchy, should one attempt to ingest (I wouldn’t recommend it)
So @PsiPhiGrrrl is right: do not eat hard shelled sea creatures, kids.
Basking in the light of the christmas tree. All three cats were staring at it (or the tempting ornaments) but the kid was dancing around so much I couldn’t get any other pics. A bit early for me, but hubs and the child wanted it up.
Actually your cat looks like an ornament!