Creature Feature #272: Giraffe

So today, due to reasons, I almost didn't make my "Animal a day". It is now 11pm, and here (after 3 episodes of Writing Excuses) he is. Although I may have to do a better illustration later (not happy with the face, dagnammit).

The Giraffe is the tallest living land mammal, with males growing up to 6m in height. These long legs and long neck enable him to browse higher in the trees than other herbivores, and also afford him a good view of the surrounding terrain. Other ungulates will graze near giraffes, knowing that their tall companion will alert them if danger is near. His blue tongue is up to 50cm long and prehensile, perfect to wrap around leaves, and he also has a prehensile upper lip.  Such a long neck and legs does come at a disadvantage, however. To drink, the Giraffe must splay his legs and bend awkwardly to lap the water.

Creature Feature #269: Ghost Frog

The Ghost Frog Family consists of seven species found in South Africa. He is typically found in or around fast-moving streams. His body is slightly flattened, allowing him to squeeze into cracks during the day. As dusk falls, he comes out to forage, using his has large toe discs to help him cling to the rocks as he hunts for insects, arthropods and smaller frogs. The tadpoles' mouthparts are modified into large suckers, so that they can remain in one place while feeding on algae. Due to their limited range, all species are threatened by environmental degradation and also the virulent fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, which is decimating frog populations worldwide.

Creature Feature #200: Elephant

It is time for the BIG #200!

The Elephant is the largest land animal, with African Elephant bulls weighing in at 7,000 kg. Cows are somewhat smaller. She is characterised by her trunk, actually an extension of her nose and upper lip, a most versatile appendage indeed. It is used for breathing, scenting, to manipulate objects, to inhale water for drinking and showering and also in communication, both verbal and physical. Elephant cows are social creatures, living in herds led by the matriach, usually the oldest and wisest of the herd and accompanied by their calves. Due to the nature of their foraging, African Elephants must lead a nomadic existence, travelling across the savannah and through marshlands, open forest and even up into the mountains or towards the coast. With their size and social behaviour they have few natural predators, but have been hunted extensively by humans for their skin, meat and their ivory tusks.

Creature Feature #119: Colobus Monkey

There are a number of species of Colobus Monkey divided into two Genus. The black and white are the most well known, but the Red (Piliocolobus) species are the most colourful, as well as being the most endangered: with three of the nine species classified as "critically endangered". These "Old World" monkeys live in troops, which can have up to 80 members, with twice as many females as males and a strong social hierarchy. Adolescent monkeys often leave their natal troop to join other groups, but other groups can be suspcious and violent, thus the "teenagers" will occasionally join up with a neighbouring green monkey troop and "spy" on the group they wish to join. Aside from the usual threats of deforestation and being hunted for bush-meat, Red Colobus are also predated by chimpanzees. Studies have shown that chimpanzees are responsible for 6-12% of female/infant deaths in some areas.

Creature Feature #67: Brown Hyena

Ever since I read the wonderful "Cry of the Kalahari" in my younger days, I have been fascinated by the Brown Hyena. I also saw a lovely documentary called "Survivors of the Skeleton Coast".

Hyenas have always been quite difficult for me to draw - with their short, round muzzles that are not quite cat-like, but not precisely dog-like either, somewhere in between. Despite their social structure, they are more akin to cats or civets. I am intending to draw all of the four hyena species - the other two being the spotted and the striped. The spotted will feature in "H" for "Hyena", as it is the species everyone immediately identifies with the word "hyena". The Aardwolf was #2.


The Brown Hyena lives almost solely on scavenged food, stealing it with some ferocity from lone leopards or cheetah. Her sense of smell is particularly powerful - and she can scent dead things from 2km downwind. Social in nature, she lives in a "clan" with a distinct social hierachy, particularly among the females. Clans do not maintain territories, and hyena forage alone, congregating together at the end of their hunting night. Normally it is only the alpha female that breeds, often mating with a nomadic male, although the males of her own clan help protect and raise the cubs. If a non-alpha gives birth, the alpha assists with her offspring and even orphans are well cared for and raised by the clan.

Creature Feature #64: Bongo

The Bongo is an attractive forest antelope species found in western, central and eastern Africa. There are two subspecies: the Lowland and the Mountain;  the latter is Critically Endangered and only found in an isolated pocket of forest in Kenya. Her chesnut coat and white stripes break up her form, providing camouflage. The Bongo lives in small herds of females and their calves, whilst the bulls remain solitary, only mingling with the females during mating season. She favours the denser undergrowth, browsing on leaves, using her long, prehensile tongue. She is most active at night,  with occasional forays during the daylight hours. If danger threatens, she is quick to flee and will then seek cover, presenting her less conspicuous hindquarters in the direction of the disturbance.

Creature Feature #40: Baboon

A large African monkey, the Baboon is characterised by her relatively short tail and heavy body. Unlike most monkeys, she prefers the terrestrial life and lives in the savannah and open woodland of Africa. One adaptation to this life are the fleshy calluses about the buttocks. These are nerveless and hairless and provide a sort of portable, built-in cushion.

She lives in a large troop, comprising of a mix of males and females, young and old, with a set hierachy. Together they forage across their range, feasting on a diet that mostly consists of vegetation, but also includes the occasional insect, reptile, lizard - or even other mammals, including vervet monkeys.

Rather long-lived creatures, baboons do not reach breeding maturity until 8 or 9 years old and can live to be 30.

Puppies, frog and the Ugly 5

As I mentioned, I've been away on vacation - my husband and I went to visit Auckland for the Battlecry Convention and also drove around the Coromandel. Alas, our spirits were somewhat muted for two reasons - the most serious of which was the tragedy of Christchurch Quake.

Anyhow, because I cannot travel without my art kit, I took with me a case of polychromos pencils (my favoured pencils, the prismas are too fragile to lug around the country, although the earthquake sent them tumbling to the floor at home...), a tin filled with blank white cards and a flash drive with some reference images on it. I was working on art for three different ATC swaps. Here are the pieces:

Whimsical Animals of Africa
When this theme came up, I jumped at the chance to participate. My animal art is whimsical by nature and I love African Animals. But what to draw? Everyone seemed to be drawing elephants and giraffes, and although I do like these animals, I decided on something different.

You've heard of the Big 5 of Africa, right? Well - now presenting the Ugly 5!

Marabou Stork, Vulture, Hyena
Warthog, Crocodile

Hand Drawn Dog Breeds
These pooches all belong to friends of mine. Although I'm thinking I might draw Nika again, as I am not happy with the "balance" in the image.

Nika - Mastiff/Staff/Black Lab
Rogar - Spaniel
Milly - Spoodle
Piper - Pekipoo

And last, but not least is Hochstetter's Frog

This piece is larger - A4 size in fact and has been commisisoned. He is a Hochstetter's Frog, one of New Zealand's primitive native frog species - and also found around the Coromandel (along with Archey's, whom I have drawn earlier). He is very rare and lives in damp forest, near streams. Of our four species, he is the most water-loving. He also has more warts than his other native cousins. His colour varies from green to brown, and gives good camouflage.