January 25, 2013 - bye bye birdie
 

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Photo Captures Penguin Swimming Into 'Jaws of Death' (ABC News)

A young penguin swam into the "jaws of death" of a leopard seal in Port Lockroy, on the Antarctic Peninsula, in this photo by underwater photographer Amos Nachoun.
The photos were taken in 2009 while Nachoun attempted to capture a series documenting how frigid water leopard seals hunt.
Young penguins are at higher risk of predators because they are not yet aware of the dangers, according to information provided by the photographer.

CHOMP!

How do the seals procreate if they're 'frigid'?

They lie back, close their eyes, and think of England.

That seal has roughly the same design as a plesiosaur.

"Yeah... I don't know, dude, that molar's looking pretty bad... I'd go ahead and make the appointment..."

choco FTW

I'd say nature optimized that design. twice

Love this IoTD.

The seals thrive when the 'guins hatch. Which is why they breed in large colonies.
During the Antarctic summer the seals have to use the element of surprise, popping up through the ice.

Both animals are slightly ungainly on the ice, but tranformed in the water.

I heard about that lion seal ---- apparently she fell in love with him and would sleep next to his boat when he was sleeping. He could hear her snoring.

Yep. Hallmark is missing a wonderful opportunity for a either a Valentine's Day or Mother's Day card, depending on the relationship.

If she'd turned on him and tried to eat him after a month or two, I'd vote 'girlfriend'.;)

Of course one of the first mistakes guys like him make when dating seals is to offer to take them clubbing.....

Nice photo, but where's the photo that came right after this one?

:D:D

:D

Nice example of convergent evolution.