Hello everyone. I've decided to choose a creature that terrifies me. Somehow I've managed to stare at pictures of it on Google. Painting is somehow freaks me out less than researching it.
• Where does it live?
In yo house. Actually, most live outside, normally under rocks, piles of wood, or compost piles.
• How does that affect how it has evolved and looks?
It has evolved to be a fast moving predator of similar sized insects.
• How does it feed?
They feast on souls. Actually, they administer venom through modified legs. These are not part of their mandibles, so strictly speaking they sting rather than bite. They are mostly nocturnal hunters.
Despite their developed eyes they seem to rely mostly on their antennae when hunting.
When the centipede is in danger of becoming prey itself, it can detach any legs that have become trapped.
• How does it procreate?
They lay their eggs in the spring. To begin mating, the male and female circle around each other. They initiate contact with their antennae.
The male deposits his sperm on the ground and the female then uses it to fertilize her eggs.
• What are the differences between the male and female?
Females can be much larger than males. Females lay eggs and fertilize them with the sperm that males deposit on the ground.
• What might be its evolutionary ancestors- what other creatures is it related to now?
Centipedes are Arthropods. Small athropods have been found in fossible beds dating 541-539 million years ago.
It's said that there were three seperate groups of "arthropods" which evolved seperately from common worm-like ancestors.
More recent related creatures would be scorpions or crabs
• How do they usually die?
Sometimes I manage to vacuum them up. Other times they get into a tangle with a predator such as a bee or some other dangerous animal and loose a fight. They try and sting them and let their poison do the work. That doesn't always work out though.
• What are their predators and how have they evolved to escape them?
Creatures that are larger are considered predators. The centipede can detach any of its legs in order to get away from a predator.
My first layout of probably two. This centipede has an exoskeleton so not sure I can draw its skeleton. I'll try and find if it has some sort of internal structure.
Probably touch this up a bit later tonight. My soul's a bit weak from staring at centipedes all afternoon.
Drawings are looking good so far! Good foundation of color and value! Looking forward to seeing more! (of your drawings, that is. If I see a real one in my apartment I'm torching the whole building)
ReplyDelete~Emily