Devonshire cup coral on the Knoll Pins
Purple stinger jelly at Gannet ’ s Bay
Plumose anemones on the ‘ Robert ’ wreck
Shark egg on pink fan coral
in rehearsal for the mating rituals of adult life ; males will also play with males as a foreshadowing of later territoriality . Seldom does the play result in injury ; knowing exactly where it sits in pinniped society will pre-empt serious fights with peers when they reach breeding age .
Seals and divers
Play is an important learning process for a developing seal , and the behaviour is sometimes extended to divers . We seem to provide a focus for their curiosity , a slowmoving , unthreatening presence that can be used for practice .
For the diver ’ s part , seals can either be a nuisance , or the ultimate wildlife experience . Dolphins and other cetaceans tend to keep their distance from us , but seals can provide an a truly interactive encounter . It ’ s tempting to think of them as aquatic dogs , but one look at those sharp
Panoramic composite of Lundy Island
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