Unexpectedly cute observations - what are yours?

[cosmiccat]

An alligator peeking at me: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) from Mineola, TX 75773, USA on March 16, 2025 at 02:50 PM by Cosmic Cat · iNaturalist

[danly]

Salamanders aren’t usually the first things that come to mind, but I think these are cute:

Spotted salamander
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56851368

Eastern newt
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56890146

[sedgequeen]

I’m not sure that seaweeds can be cute, but if they can, this one is. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/270552630

[ItsMeLucy]

Of course they can, especially when they look like tiny ruffles having a little party.

[screedius]

Salamanders are adorable. I’ve never really understood why some people have negative reactions to amphibians. I wish I could share video. I spent a good chunk of my day last Saturday sitting by a newt pond along a hiking trail watching them come up for air. I got a few good clips of them as they surfaced, blew a little bubble, took a little gulp of air, and swam back down to the bottom. A still doesn’t quite capture the wiggly way they paddle through the water with their tails.

[ra_teo]

Meet Jeff the Sun Spider: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/270845086, my house’s new resident

[giannamaria]

I saw this adorable fairy shrimp yesterday! Fortunately, I was already looking for macroinvertabrates, so I had a container, a macrolens, and a net. I think, considering how fast these guys can be, the picture turned out pretty good!

On the same day, I saw this cool guy too, I really like his eyes.

[Thunderhead]

I think this slime mold is cute… I love when Mother Nature slips me unexpected hearts.

[isopodguy]

I think this snailfish is cute. It’s something to do with their funny lips.

[danly]

I just did a quick search to see if those words have ever been uttered before.
Nope! But I agree, that’s the cutest slime mold I have ever seen…

[m_whitson]

This xkcd comic (Beauty) is close, though: https://xkcd.com/877

[erin-816]

I have a casual observation of a Cathartes aura (Turkey Vulture) (which was part of a rehabilitation program) that I think fits here…

[krismunk]

Well… since cockroaches are generally considered distinctly uncute, I thought one would make a good choice :-)

Heterogamodes hebraica (I think…)