also: はなもん
noun
nose print; nasal pattern
Zoological term for the unique pattern of ridges on an animal's nose, used for individual identification, similar to a human fingerprint.
犬の鼻紋は個体識別に使われる。
A dog's nose print is used for individual identification.
牛の鼻紋を採取してデータベースに登録する。
They collect cattle nose prints and register them in a database.
指紋 is a human fingerprint, while 鼻紋 specifically refers to the nose pattern of animals.
Compound of 鼻 (nose) and 紋 (pattern, crest). The term is a modern coinage for zoological identification.