The seal that inflates a bright red balloon out of one nostril
This seal attracts mates by blowing a bright red balloon out of one nostril.
Which one is REALLY true about the Hooded Seal?
The short version
Male hooded seals have two bizarre display organs: a black inflatable hood (an enlarged nasal cavity) that balloons over the face, and a glossy pink-red membrane pushed out through one nostril and inflated, then shaken at rivals and females. Their pups also nurse for only about four days — the shortest nursing period of any mammal.
Why it's so weird
- ✓The Hooded Seal pushes part of the lining of its nose out through one nostril and blows it up into a glossy pink and red bubble.
- ✓The Hooded Seal waves that red bubble around and shakes it at rival males and at females.
- ✓The Hooded Seal inflates a second display organ too, a black stretchy hood that balloons over its face like a lumpy beret.
- ✓The Hooded Seal grows both of those bizarre display organs only in adult males.
- ✓The Hooded Seal feeds its pups milk for only about four days, the shortest nursing period of any mammal on Earth.
The Hooded Seal is about 2.1× as long as a 7-year-old! 🤯
The full story
This seal attracts mates by blowing a bright red balloon out of one nostril. Meet the hooded seal of the freezing North Atlantic. Adult males have two truly bizarre display organs on their heads. The first is a black, stretchy hood, an enlarged nasal cavity that he can inflate until it balloons up over his face like a lumpy black beret. The second is even stranger. He pushes part of the lining of his nose out through one nostril, and blows it up into a glossy pink and red bubble, then waves it around and shakes it at rivals and at females. Hooded seals also hold another strange record. Their pups drink milk for only about four days before being left to fend for themselves, the shortest nursing period of any mammal on Earth. Follow for more weird animal facts.
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“The Hooded Seal pushes part of the lining of its nose out through one nostril and blows it up into a glossy pink and red bubble.”
“The Hooded Seal is a striking crested bird found across Europe, Asia and Africa.”
“The Hooded Seal waves that red bubble around and shakes it at rival males and at females.”