Inflatable Pink Nose
Male hooded seals inflate their nasal cavity into a pink balloon AND can blow a red membrane out of one nostril — both used to impress females.
Male hooded seals have not one but two inflatable displays for attracting females, both involving their nose.
Display #1: The Hood Males have an elastic nasal cavity they can inflate into a large black "hood" on top of their head. This is what gives them their name.
Display #2: The Balloon Even more bizarrely, males can close one nostril and blow air into the other, inflating the nasal membrane outside their body into a red, balloon-like structure that shakes and wobbles.
During breeding season, males: - Find females on ice floes - Inflate both displays - Make loud pinging and whooshing sounds - Fight other males with aggressive displays
Females seem to prefer males with larger, more impressive nasal displays. The size of the hood correlates with body size and dominance status.
These Arctic seals have another superlative: the shortest nursing period of any mammal. Pups are weaned in just 4 days. During this brief time, mothers produce milk so rich (60% fat) that pups can double their weight.
Why such fast weaning? Hooded seals breed on unstable pack ice that can break up without warning. Getting pups independent as quickly as possible is a survival strategy in this unpredictable environment.
The combination of bizarre nasal displays and extreme reproductive speed makes hooded seals one of the most unusual pinnipeds.