Beautiful Animals

Thanks, Barry. There aren't too many animals that have it easy, but penguins take life's difficulties to the extreme in some ways.

European wildcat:

"You have a lot to learn about playing dead, kids: Rambunctious baby opossums pile on each other in a cage at the Treehouse Wildlife Center, a wildlife rehab facility in Dow, Ill."
Photo: Steve Nagy / Belleville News Democrat/sfgate

osso, I know you didn't write the comment. But I gotta say: Why would opossums (babies or adults) play dead if they don't feel threatened? Not your problem. And a wonderful picture. I'm fascinated by ears of the baby in the front.

A lot of the sfgate leads to the photos are on the lame side, in my opinion. I let that one go.. Have to add that since I mine their photos I shouldn't whine.

We used to have an opossum under our house. Old craftsmen houses were build on cripple walls back in the day. I presumed it was a mom. I walked into the front yard at night a few times and saw her in the then leafless liquidambar tree holding on, dead as a putative doornail.

That baby possum has stylish ears and a lovely smile.

We liked that movie a lot! I wouldn't mind watching again. I thought I owned it, but just checked my index and it's not there, so I'll have to rent it.

A leopard leaps onto a Land Rover for his big close up. Sergey Kotelnikov was shocked when this overly camera-friendly young leopard jumped onto the roof of his vehicle in Namibia, close to the border with Botswana. Sergey Ivanov, who snapped the photo from an adjacent vehicle, said: "My friend was scared. I was frightened, too, even though I was on the roof of the other car, as you expect it to begin attacking. But we soon relaxed when we realised that this big kitten was just playing."
Picture: Sergey Ivanov / CATERS

Food fight!

Here, kitty kitty..

I'm guessing the friend reacted instinctively in a playful vocal mode - wonder what the friend would say about that.

Irish, Big kitten? Just playing. Oh, that's ok then.

I tell ya, these wildlife photographers are meshuginas. But I mean that in a good way.

the daily B & O



northern bird pics later today or tomorrow for sure

Osso, it looks like the bottom possum is about to address the cameraman with some personal anecdote. Great photo.

Irishk, that photograph (since it ended up on the good side) will haunt the photographer for the rest of his life. No one will ever let him down regarding his "I'm going to die" expression on his face. Priceless!

The birds in a duel... equally great action movie shot Roberta.

And finally.... It's good you got your Bunny/otter photos of the day back DJ. You were wrongfully slacking off for an excusable amount of time. Roberta was doing a great job as your replacement.

(((Harump))) Don't ever slack off like that again! (((tsk tsk)))

dj, The real B&O is back. Great to see. I'm looking forward to the pics from up north.

Frilled shark:

That shark doesn't look very girlish/frilly to me.

It's called the frilled shark because it has gills that have a certain frilly look. For all I know, the shark in the picture could be a boy.



There is some speculation that these sharks may have been viewed as sea serpents by ancient sailors.

Touche!

Shetland ponies:

A battalion of pretty ponies! Do you know where this shot takes place?

Nope, the Web site doesn't say. Sorry.

Mantis shrimp:



Devil's flower mantis:

Goliath beetle (da biggest bug):