Seal Snouts

The National Zoo has introduced several new individuals into its pinniped exhibit, so now both harbor and grey seals glide with languorous strokes through the water and perform twirls and underwater spins for our and their amusement.

Among the many photos of these guys that I took this weekend are several that illustrate one of the main differences between grey and harbor seals. In short: grey seals have long noses, and harbor seals have snubbed ones.

For example, this is a grey seal:

And this is a harbor seal:

Grey seal:

Harbor seal:

See? Now you can tell them apart if you’re ever at a cocktail party with them.

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Bastille Day: The Tricolor in Invertebrates

Allons, insectes de la patrie!

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Flamingo Friday: Folds and Feathers

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Vacation Photos

Some people like landscapes, or pictures of themselves, or of those they’ve visited.

I prefer photos of toadstools,

Or simply toads:

[Seen in Angola, Indiana]

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Flamingo Friday: Bird Banding

{A note: I do write all text and take all pictures. Please do not reproduce either without my permission.}