Image of Corolla spectabilis Dall 1871

Description:

Quite a number of these were washed ashore on the beach. Maybe 2-3 cm in length, they were gelatinous, but fairly stiff (maintaining their shape when handled). They looked like little crystal jelly bed slippers to me. Given there were quite a few, and one of my field partners thought she had seen them before, I figured they were not unusual. However, so far I've not found them in any book, and no one I have asked has recognized them. I did get a suggestion that maybe they are the 'shell' of a pseudothecosome pteropod. I would welcome any insight to this mystery.