Alien-Looking Eggs That Look Like Mentaiko Found on Reservoir Bank; Turn Out to be Toxic

Warning: If you’re a fan of the savoury marinated cod roe typically used in sushi, this article may be a turn-off for you. 

Imagine setting out on an adventure to explore the great wilderness of our sunny island one day, only to come face-to-face with clusters of… mentaiko spread out across a bed of rocks? 

This may sound like a fever dream, but it’s exactly what one woman stumbled across on her walk near a reservoir bank in Singapore. 

She found clusters of tiny pink eggs resembling the well-loved cod roe spread out across the rocks—an otherworldly sight reminiscent of an alien invasion. 

Alien-Looking Eggs That Look Like Mentaiko Found on Reservoir Bank; Turn Out to be Toxic

The netizen who came across the strange sight, Anne Yong, mentioned in her post on the Nature Society (Singapore) Facebook page that she got goosebumps from the scene.

Ms Yong also spotted an egret near the eggs, but it did not touch them.

A commenter questioned why the eggs weren’t being fed on by animals, to which he learned that the eggs are toxic and cannot be eaten.

This was confirmed by Ms Yong, who said that she did not see any animals feeding on the eggs even though she had hung around the area for some time. 

Eventually, she identified the pink eggs as apple snail eggs. 

Netizens have pointed out that the eggs have been sighted along Sungei Serangoon and Seletar Reservoir, so if you wish to check out the bizarre sight, be my guest. 

And yes, the eggs may look delicious to some who make the automatic association to mentaiko, but under no circumstances should you touch or taste the eggs; if you’ve already forgotten, they’re poisonous. 

Not The First Time 

If this sounds familiar to you, you may remember a similar incident back in 2014 when apple snail eggs were found on the banks of the Whampoa River, alarming nearby residents who were concerned that this may have a detrimental effect on water quality. 

They were probably worried about a possible alien intervention too.

According to the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD), apple snails are pests that originate from South America. They were introduced to Southeast Asia in 1980 and are considered the top pest plaguing rice crops—they have destroyed rice fields across the region. 

Additionally, they carry powerful toxins, so animals stay away from them. An average cluster contains 200-600 eggs. 

Fun fact: The apple snail is among the top 100 most invasive alien species in the world, so perhaps an alien invasion isn’t too far off from reality.

Feature Image: Facebook (Anne Yong)