I'm breaking my post-Christmas silence in order to add another Tongue Twister to my Groundhog's Day list. (See the Label entitled "Groundhog's Day" for a whole slew of them.)
How many seals can a coelacanth seal, if a coelacanth can seal a seal?
I know, I know, it's not rodent-themed like all my past alliterative snippets, but there IS a reason to use this living fossil. I went to Aquamarine in Fukushima several weeks ago and am finally getting around to writing about it. (I was at this very same aquarium in 2018, but these are NEW pic.)
Here, I pay homage to the Coelacanth King.
I've been a big fan of Coelacanths (シーラカンス) since I first heard of them as a wee lad when one was found off the coast of Newfoundland. What's not to love? A fishy from prehistoric days, thought extinct yet discovered swimming around today? Here's a plethora of pics of the pectoral piscine.
Before I get back to some more photos, here's an hour with Sir David Attenborough.
Too bad there aren't any live specimens at this aquarium. Then I'd make my own documentary.
These two seem to be the only extant species. For now...
Pretty cool fishy. (Here is a video I previously posted back in 2011 featuring Coelacanth Discovery Day.)
Since the coelacanth (Google does NOT like the spelling of that word) is one of those living fossils, here is a pic of my favourite amphibian and another living fossil, the Oosanshouo (Giant Salamander).
Since he's a shy lad, here's a cropped pic so you can get a better look at him.
Moving along from there, we checked out a special feature of the aquarium, a nifty little illuminated display down one hall.
Leaving that I came across another denizen of the deeps.
I survived that encounter and snapped a few more pics of snappers, etc.
What is that dude doing in the fish tank?
Now some non-fishies:
(Oooh, look at that ghostly visage!)
You may be able to watch a few seconds of these guys here.
And a couple of mammals: Featuring Fennec Foxes!
So cute yet SO sleepy. Try here for a few seconds of scratching.
A stellar Stellar Sea Lion:
Here they are in action.
Tufted Puffins and Common Murre.
So comical when floating/walking but so majestic when swimming.
On the way out, a couple of tanuki!
Finally, a couple of Hooters!
A Ural Owl at dusk. Here he flies aboot a bit.
That was a fun day (way back in JANUARY!?!), I scored a cool origami coelacanth and someday, I may even assemble it.
And in case you're wondering about the results of the Groundhog's prognostication...
Wiarton Willie has predicted an early spring.
The prognosticating groundhog did not see his shadow and an early spring has been declared.
Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte has made his prediction of Groundhog Day, calling for an early spring.
The famous groundhog in Quebec’s Gaspésie region reportedly did not see his shadow this morning.
One of Canada’s most famous groundhogs, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, did not go ahead with her typical prediction event due to a forecast that calls for yet another winter storm in her home province.
The Nova Scotia government announced the cancellation saying blowing snow could create unsafe driving conditions for people travelling to Sam’s home at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, about 50 kilometres north of Halifax. The provincial government said because she will not see a shadow today, folklore calls for an early spring.
Sendai was mostly cloudy today, so hopefully it'll be an early spring for us as well!
Happy Setsubun!
