Beautiful Animals

Wonderful, Snood.

She reeks of cuteness: Flo is the newest addition to the Edinburgh Zoo. Just don't startle her. She hates that.
Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2012/06/01/ba-145523232_WRE0111380019.jpg

Notice the extremely contracted eye pupils. I would almost bet a photographer could use a cat's eyes for a light meter. Like telling the temperature from the length of a sleeping cat, each kitty needs to be calibrated.

Oops, I forgot the img button -

She reeks of cuteness: Flo is the newest addition to the Edinburgh Zoo. Just don't startle her. She hates that.
Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

Is that a honey badger?

JTT, Yes, I'm a city slicker. But I spent the summers of my childhood in the country. I remember going to a dairy farm to get milk. Met some bovines up close and personal. They're big! Kept my hands clean, but not my shoes/feet. C'est la vie cowshit-wise.

c.i., Looking forward to the pics.

Snood, Wonderful video. Every cat needs a dog. The coloring of both animals blended perfectly. And your Dash is a beauty. Give Dash a chin chuck from me.

firefly, That little guy is a bee? Hope he gets what he needs. The big guy won't mind.

Barry, What a gawgeous guy. Give him a scritch from me.

osso, Another cutie. Is Flo short for Flower?

t2l, That looks like a skunk to me. I could be wrong.

Cone snail. All versions of cone snails are venomous. The smaller ones will not likely kill a full-grown human, but the larger ones can and have.

I don't know - the chronicle day-in-pictures writer gets sort of cutesy and there was something about it being an odd ferret, which, I don't think so. (quote - What an adorable striped ferret! Get a whiff of weekend) My guess is it's a skunk, but I'll await enlightenment.

Yes, I was assuming skunk! (What with the "reeks" and "don't startle her.") Looks like a skunk too.

The snuggly cat from last page is extremely sweet.

Probably, Robbie.

Such a face.

So we coalesce on it being a skunk. (I mine the Chronicle's day in pictures site, but sometimes have to edit the lead ins, lest people at a2k think I said (whatever cutiepie words). I can get ebullient myself, but trend against cute.

Adds, I lived in some apprehension back in northern california, as there were skunks in the immediate neighborhood and I then had a sizable yard. Thing is, I essentially can't smell. So, if Pacco had gotten skunked, I would have had to figure it out by behavior. As good fortune would have it, this never happened.

I don't think.

Mimic octopus:

Peacock

That's just the most incredible video I've ever seen.

Tortoise Beetles

firefly, Amazing that peacocks look good even from the back. Thanks for the pic.

Glad you liked it, Roger. Ain't nature wonderful?

rosborne, The beetles are wonderful. I've often looked for iridescent beetles. Never found these. Thanks mucho.

Speaking of iridescent, here's a glowlight tetra:

Please pardon my picky (but respectful) correction, but having been an aquarist, I believe that you're showing a link to a Cardinal Tetra or a Neon Tetra (smaller version and less hardy which is nearly identical to Cardinal).

The following is a picture of a Glowlight Tetra (also iridescent):

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS433US433&biw=1152&bih=549&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=SmG4OGw36m91AM:&imgrefurl=http://wereallwet.com/glowlight-tetra-care/&docid=mr3VoB-PAU9Q3M&imgurl=http://wereallwet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/glowlight_tetra_care.jpg&w=500&h=341&ei=QIzOT-_ZHY7gggeV3MVh&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=837&vpy=114&dur=919&hovh=185&hovw=272&tx=205&ty=91&sig=101490207625167701438&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:109

Roberta, that mimic octopus was spectacular. Thanks.

I agree. That is what I'd call a natural miracle.

Ragman, Thanks for the right info. Some things I know. Some things I just take Google's word for it. I respectfully appreciate the correction.

Glad you guys like the mimic octopus. Breathtaking.

Look at this face:

Y'all know I've got to show this photo -

A loose ball leads to a scramble between Chance Trotter, 12, and a Corgi in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Chance was shooting hoops with his friend Dylan Carroll.
Photo: Gabe Green / Associated Press / sfgate

Great pic, osso. Chance has longer legs, but the corgi has more of 'em.

Speaking of more legs, here's the blue-ringed octopus.