Singapore may be a small island, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring in the terms of the natural sights and peculiar organisms we can see if we explore the great outdoors.
One woman was out and about near the bank of a reservoir in Singapore when she stumbled upon a scene straight out of an alien movie.
Numerous clusters of tiny pink eggs were spread across the rocks, giving the area an unearthly appearance.
However, being Singaporeans, we’ve food on our minds constantly, and some commented that they look like mentaiko.
In her post on the Nature Society (Singapore) Facebook page, the netizen by the name of Anne Yong said she got goosebumps at the strange sight.
For those who don’t have trypophobia – discomfort at the sight of cluster of holes or bumps – here’s a close-up look at the eggs.
Ms Yong also saw an egret among the eggs, but it apparently didn’t touch them.
When a commenter asked why animals don’t eat them, he was informed that they’re toxic.
Ms Yong said that despite hanging around for awhile, she didn’t see any takers for the eggs, not even the egret.
In response to another commenter’s question, she also identified the pink eggs as Apple Snail’s eggs.
Golden Apple Snails (Pomacea canaliculata) are pests originally from South America that were introduced to South-east Asia in 1980, according to the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD).
It’s considered the No. 1 pest of rice crops, and has decimated fields across the region.
According to GISD,
Their presence is often first noted by observation of their bright pink egg masses laid on solid surfaces up to about 50cm above the water surface.
They’re also filled with powerful toxins, which means almost all animals can’t eat them.
An average cluster contains 200-600 eggs.
If you think they look “alien”, you’re right in a sense – the snail is listed among the top 100 most-invasive alien species in the world.
If you want to take a look at the eggs with your own eyes, one commenter said he’s seen them along Sungei Serangoon.
Another netizen said he’s seen them at the nearby Seletar Reservior.
However, if you do go down and see them, do remember that they’re toxic so don’t touch them.
Despite their toxic nature, something delicious came to netizens’ minds when they saw the photos.
Namely, mentaiko – or salted and marinated cod roe.
In Singapore, it can be found on its own or as a garnishing on food like salmon sushi and spaghetti.
From the photos, we can see why some people thought of mentaiko.
However, do not, we repeat do not, touch or consume the eggs if you see them.
While the sight of these “alien creatures” might be bizarre, it’s not the first time they’ve been reported in Singapore.
In 2014, Apple Snail’s eggs also sprouted on the banks of the Whampoa River, causing concern to nearby residents, AsiaOne reported.
As they will hatch into pests, perhaps the authorities might want to take action to prevent them from damaging the environment.
No matter how much they look like tasty bits of food, we many not want more of them lying around.
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Featured images adapted from Facebook and Facebook.
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