Well I never knew that!
Well, in keeping with the Australian theme, I present to you the duck billed Platypus.
The Platypus is what is known as a monotreme.
It's strange looking creature - a furry web footed
duck billed mammal that lays eggs.
So strange that when Europeans first saw it in
the 18th century, it caused quite a ripple in
Scientific circles.
Strange or not, as a mammal, it's one of our distant relatives.It's called a monotreme because in it's rear end (posterior to
be polite) it only has one opening. The monotreme part is
kind of like a USB port on the computer.
It comes in handy for everything -including laying eggs.
I guess they are mammals because they suckle their young. But apparently they have no nipples - which caused another ripple.
Neither do they have teeth - they kind of gum their prey to death I think.
(Lucky they only eat worms.) Apart from that the males have posionous
spines on their webbed feet - which makes them lousy pets for your
children; unless you like children as much as I do -------
But the most interesting thing about monotremes is their lack
of corpus callosum - which basically means that the connection
between their right and left brains is fairly minimal.
That means they have trouble doing things like playing the piano
or sewing on buttons.
I guess I should also mention that platapii (platapussys?)
spend most of their time in the water. When they swim
they keep their eyes closed, and that they detect their
prey by sensing the animal's electrical field..
Strange but true - I read it in Wiki.
spend most of their time in the water. When they swim
they keep their eyes closed, and that they detect their
prey by sensing the animal's electrical field..
Strange but true - I read it in Wiki.
The other most popular monotreme in Australia is
the Echidna.
It's a pointy nosed creature which, instead of fur,
has long quill spikes.
Echinas are well known for creeping into your
bedroom at night and crawling into any
trousers that might be lying on the floor.
So if you ever come to Australia, just remember,
always put your trousers away on a hanger
before you go to bed.
And if you ever see a platypus, don't forget
that they have an all purpose USB port in
their rear end and with this solitary titbit
of information, you will be ableto impress
your friends (and anyone else who is in
hearing distance.)
You may even get invited to a Platypus
barbecue.
Thanks again for looking. I'm sorry I have been away so long and thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. Be back tommorrow and thank you personally.
PS: if you click the pictures they get bigger.
Ah! As promised here you are! Hahahaha! And what a comeback!
ReplyDeleteStrange indeed but very interesting. There is no animal quite like it but then again Australia is a continent where flora and fauna look like no other. Ah wait, it also has beautiful skies and lightning and roll clouds...but I digress.
This is an excellent drawing. It almost looks like a scientific illustration plus your write-up from wiki makes you sound like Dear Professor Finnie. I am sure your students cannot get their eyes off you either. HAHAHAHAHA!
No seriously. I am thinking how the monotreme feature woul do with humans. Imagine. Ah but indeed some humans are like the platypus. Same things come out from whichever end.
I hope your break allowed you to sort things out and find you back on your right trail.
Welcome back Andrew.
Isn't it interesting that your first post after 'the disappearance' would be about a peculiar looking mammal with no nipples, lack of connection between two sides of the brain and a rear end vitally equipped with a 'USB port'?? But then I suppose, no one expects anything less of you, Monsieur. At least I know you and Wiki are back together again, I know it was quite forlorn without you...Hehehee. And I can see that a little break has added some more depth into your work. Such remarkable richness...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's wonderful to see the haunted blog is no longer without a master, providing you don't vanish into thin air again, of course! Welcome back... (^-^)
Helloooooooooooooo *waves*
ReplyDeleteHow are you? Ooo I looove these illustrations and enlarging them makes me see even more details hehe ^_^. Interesting post Monsieur! Thanks for sharing & I hope all is well!
Ciao!!
hola Andrew Finnie! I miss your art, Fantastic duck-billed platypuses!
ReplyDeletehi, Andrew! Welcome back. You were missed dear sir. So this is a very interesting come back piece. I learned so many things I never knew I wanted to know about this creature. A USB port huh, maybe you should teach middle grade science. The kids would remember this comparison for sure. No taking the males to school for the kids to pet though ;)
ReplyDeleteAndrew, wonderful illustrations,
ReplyDeleteit can feel the water and floating Platypus ...
and that is this strange creature, very curious description, I loved to know!
did not say a characteristic of the Platypus,
they are 'mutch beautiful' with those little eyes so sweet!
a big hug!
Very good, Andrew, your work, in some ways reminded me of Monet's Water Lilies. (But in Australia, with a platypus browsing there) (Maybe, Claude would have liked having them in your garden)
ReplyDeletecoucou andrew,
ReplyDeleteinteresting indeed, yes.
the duck looks like me.
but i dont have trouble playing piano.
welcome back!
av.
Hya
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the welcome back. I should go away more often. It makes me feel good when I come back :) :) :) :)
And thanks for being so kind about my work.
Platypusses are weird. You know, in the bush they are very timid and seldom seen. In the zoo they have them in dark rooms in aquariums. You never see them there either.
On the other hand, you know about Echidnas and trousers....
Good subject for a poem. "Ode to the Echidna I found in my Trousers one Hot Summer's Sunday Morning When I got Up Late with A Bad Hangover"
see you :)
sorry for being silly
Hey Andrew! Wow I always learn a lot or am completely entertained when I stop by. I've always wanted to go to Australia. Now I want to see a platypus! Your work is so amazing. Your style is so perfect for the platypus.... not that you're strange or anything :o) A lot of interesting facts ... especially that nipple-ripple. You made me want to draw a platypus... maybe sewing on a button or playing the piano :o)
ReplyDeleteBut I have sported a moustache once:
ReplyDeletehttp://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com/2009/03/attention.html
Andrew - how awesome to see your work..these are amazing to me...they have great light and depth..and how fun to read about this creature. Who knew?! Welcome back and many thanks for your kind visit!
ReplyDeleteP.S..Love your new blog header! Wow! The people/creations in your head are outstanding.
ReplyDeleteyou dont believe me do you...
ReplyDeleteWHAT????!!!!!!
ReplyDeletesorry, im talking about the site.
ReplyDeleteyou know what i mean.
bye.
Every time I see the duckbill, I keep thinking of nipple... Thanks a lot Andrew!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrew, I appreciate your comment, but I do not think I can give anyone lessons in watercolor, everything I do, I do very intuitively, and with total freedom because I do not want to be tied to any method, so my method is "no method."
ReplyDeleteThat's all I could teach.
Thank you very much
Here we said: "Buen finde" (Good weekend:Buen fin de semana..."Buen finde..."(Castellano lesson nª1, ja ja)
Thanks for the sweet comment Andrew. You guys are all so wonderful. I missed your comments while you were away. They always make me smile or think or both.
ReplyDeleteYou are just magical you are Andrew! Truly you are! How amazingly wonderful. Oh you tell the most awesome stories with your pictures. That's power! Hope I didn't ruin your shirt or pants with my post he he he he Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
ReplyDeleteV
Great atmosphere with the playful shadows.
ReplyDeleteEchidna & My Pants (Scene II)
ReplyDeleteBut, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the sun and that o'er there is the East
Arise fair sun, for I shall now find my pants
But what treasure do I have feasted before me?
It is the wild beast Echidna, tucked inside her forest of spikes
Lingering in the warmth of my poor, poor pants.
O, o, o,...bugger!
Heeheeheheheheee.... (^-^)
I worked with an analyst named Echidna. Oh wait, sorry, that was Edna.
ReplyDeleteAnd did Edna have spikes?? :D :D
ReplyDeleteI love the natural history lesson. I've always been fascinated by platypusses, but now I have so many reasons to be even more fascinated! Love the colors in the art. Makes them seem even more dark, hidden, and mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. I feel compelled to correct you here.
ReplyDeleteThe correct spelling of the plural would be platypussIES. Galore.
Ooooooh, Mr. Finnie! Your reappearance seems to have caused a ripple. I never knew about monotremes before. Sounds like budget cuts have reached farther than I originally feared.
A gorgeous comeback piece, sir. Well done! You are the master of layers, what with all the vegetation. And I love the variation between the calm waters and the rippled waters. Nice to see you again!
Hello!
ReplyDeleteHi :)
Gee, thankyou for all the comments. You know, I aways crack up so often when I read them.
Did I say that artists are obviiously more funny, more intelligent and more astute than other people?
As well as being better looking?
Heh :)
Thankyou again. Platypussies Galore? Shaskespeare? Spelling mistakes? Echidnas in pants. A Catellano Lesson?
I'm glad I blog.
See you on your own blogs soon :)
!!!!!!
I was trying to draw the duckbill the other day. Very strange creatures indeed!
ReplyDelete