MAJESTIC MENAGERIE V
A menagerie can be defined as a collection of exotic and unique animals, and the term also refers to a precursor to modern zoos which also showcases exotic animals. In the 18th century, the term menagerie is used for animal collections by aristocrats or royals who seek to display their power and wealth because exotic animals are quite difficult to acquire and harder to maintain. The natural world, however, had a vast collection of diverse life which can be considered unique in their own ways.
Majestic Menagerie Vol. 5, acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8"
Elephant
Savanna Strongman, acrylic on canvas, 2021.
There are two kinds of elephants today: the African elephant (pictured) and the Asian elephant. There are more than ten physical characteristics that differentiate Asian and African elephants, and the most important difference is that African elephants have larger ears than their Asian counterparts. Both male and female African elephants grow tusks, while only some male Asian elephants have tusks. African elephants can also be classified into two subspecies based on their habitat: the savanna elephant and the forest elephant.
Galapagos Tortoise
Galapagos Tortoise, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) is the largest reptile in the Galapagos islands, a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean close to the country of Ecuador in South America. The tortoises living on each of the islands vary in shell shape which suit their lifestyles on their respective islands. The dome-shelled variety (pictured) is more well-equipped for the islands with more even ground, while the saddle-backed variety had a flatter shell which enables them to survive in the dry lowlands. The dome-shelled tortoises generally had shorter necks than the saddle-backed tortoises, which use their long necks to reach high-growing plants. The relationship between shell shape and lifestyle among the tortoises was discovered by English naturalist Charles Darwin.
Marine Iguana
Marine Iguanas, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The marine iguana (
Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is unique among lizards for its mostly aquatic lifestyle and its ability to feed underwater. They are only found in the Galapagos islands, where they live in colonies on rocky shores. Marine iguanas feed on algae that grow on the floor of shallow seas. The bird flying in the painting is a wandering albatross (
Diomedea exulans), known for having the longest wingspan of any seabird. They spend most of their lives on the wing, landing only to feed and breed.
Clouded Leopard
Clouded Leopard, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The clouded leopard (
Neofelis nebulosa; known as
Harimau Dahan in Malay) is a big cat that lives in China, eastern India and Southeast Asia. Named for its cloud-like spots, it is a solitary and arboreal predator that hunts its prey from the tops of trees. Unlike leopards, which they are more distantly related to, clouded leopards have darker fur. The clouded leopard is the state animal of the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a large species of sheep that lives in the mountains of western North America, named for its large horns. Males (rams) have larger horns than females (ewes), and have heavy-duty features on their heads to absorb impact and protect their heads when in combat. The bighorn sheep is the provincial mammal of Alberta, Canada and the state animal of Colorado, USA. The ram is being stalked by a mountain lion, the second largest cat in the Americas after the jaguar. Mountain lions are widespread across the Americas, ranging from southern Canada to Argentina.
Gharial
Gharial, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a species of crocodilian that is distinct from most other crocodilians for its long, narrow snout and needle-like teeth. These features do not suit the lifestyle of most crocodilians which hunt large prey, making the gharial well-adapted for catching fish. The gharial has 110 interlocking teeth lining its jaw which are adapted to impale and trap fish in its jaws. The gharial got its name from the unusual upturned pot-like structure on its nose which males have when reaching maturity. This structure enables male gharials to communicate with others of its kind. The gharial is regarded by Hindus as the vehicle of the river goddess Ganga, the personification of the Ganges river in India where it lived.
Lemur
Lemur Alert, acrylic on canvas, 2021
Lemurs are a group of primates that can be found mostly on the island of Madagascar. There are many kinds of lemur, and the most famous of them is the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta, foreground). Endemic to the island, it is Madagascar's national animal. It is a highly social animal that usually lives in female-led groups. Another species of lemur in the painting on the upper left is the indri (Indri indri), one of the largest in the family. Indris are vocal animals which communicate using a range of sounds, including specific warning signals for predators such as hawks and the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), the island's apex mammal predator. Lemurs are revered by the Malagasy people and play important parts in their culture and mythology.
Moose
Moose, acrylic on canvas, 2021
The moose (Alces alces) is the largest and heaviest species of deer. Known for its broad and flat antlers, they inhabit the cold regions of the northern hemisphere from North America to northern Eurasia. Unlike most other deer species, moose are solitary animals that do not form herds. They feed on both land and aquatic plants. The same animal is described as an "elk" in Europe, which is the name North Americans gave to the wapiti (Cervus canadensis).
Polar Bear
Bears and Lights, acrylic on canvas, 2021.
The fur of a polar bear appears white (or bright yellow as it ages) but is actually translucent. Polar bears are excellent swimmers, with their body fat providing buoyancy as well as insulation from the cold temperatures of its natural habitat. Their diet primarily consists of seals, fish and sometimes whales. The polar bear is a keystone species in the Arctic ecosystem, which plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance in the region by regulating the population of seals. The polar bear has been an icon in the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic, and is the official animal of Greenland. In the painting, a pair of polar bears stand under the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), which is a natural light display formed by the Earth's magnetic field. The star shining above is the Pole Star (Polaris), the brightest star in the Ursa Minor (Little Bear) constellation.
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