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November 7, 2004
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:iconursulav:
Ambulocetus--lit. "walking whale"--is one of the great transitional forms, a critter partway between whales on land (more commonly known as "cows"*) and whales in the water. It's an aquatic beastie, it's got a lot of traits unique to whales, (mostly related to the teeth and teeny bones in the ear) it's got a very whale-like head, but it's also got feet and could wander around on land (albeit somewhat awkwardly.) It had powerful hind legs that didn't flex too well, (and ended in hoofy bits!) and probably moved very much like a sea lion, with the kind of gallumphing swinging-spine action that's so entertaining to watch, right before you realize there's a very large sea lion bearing down on you with two-inch canines, and despite its absurd gait, it can run faster than you can.

Ahem. Where was I?

The dodo, who was nothing like a contemporary of Ambulocetus, is nevertheless infuriated by his existence, and can be assumed to be saying "LA LA LA!" and hoping that the walking whale will go away. Dodos have a lot of issues.

Ambulocetus, wonderful critter that it is, doesn't get nearly enough love, so I figured I'd make a cuddly version. (Don't take this as a scientific illustration--it's pudgier and cuter and most likely didn't have spots--and they lived during the Eocene, well before dodos. It's more like my version of the hamsters than anything you'd want to use as an anatomical chart.)

Digital, Painter 7, about forty-five minutes of doodling.

*Okay, it's a gross oversimplification, but whales did branch off from the same trunk as ungulates did, many long moons ago
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:iconthemorlock:
~TheMorlock Sep 1, 2011  Student General Artist
Is the Dodo a Creationist?

--
Check out my gallery: [link]

I am about 99% sure that Judas wasn't thinking of evolution when he betrayed Jesus.
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:iconthemorlock:
~TheMorlock Aug 9, 2011  Student General Artist
Fun stuff. :)

--
Check out my gallery: [link]

I am about 99% sure that Judas wasn't thinking of evolution when he betrayed Jesus.
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:iconhitsuji16:
~hitsuji16 Nov 10, 2009  Hobbyist General Artist
Ambulocetus needs more love it's my fav

--
"Those of weak constitution be sure to wipe your feet on the way out."
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:iconhyphenatedsuperhero:
~hyphenatedsuperhero May 29, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
That's the cutest, cuddliest Ambulocetus I've ever seen!

--
"There is no evil people, only well-intentioned idiots"
-Myself.
Now itroducing the Open Ring! [link] [link]
"DEATH BY SNOO-SNOO!!"
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:iconfugnjoi:
~fugnjoi May 10, 2008
That is cute. That is amazingly cute. I think the dodo has a right to go "lalalala" though, the ambulocetus looks like he can't take a hint.

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"If I can't be beautiful, I want to be invisible. "
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:iconsaucylobster:
~SaucyLobster Sep 29, 2007
This is just brilliant, I love the ambulocetus especially. Very cute.

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Full view... its natures way.
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:icontehfuzzyduck:
~TehFuzzyDuck Sep 6, 2007
Ambulocetus had a tail, but this is still a very cute drawing. :)
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:iconadamcuerden:
*AdamCuerden Feb 15, 2007  Hobbyist Artist
Lovely! I do adore your work, and having it intersect with my biology classes is simply an added bonus. And I love the creationist dodo. So cute.
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:iconhankinstein:
~hankinstein Jan 22, 2007
I love this--caricatures of prehistoric creatures seem few and far between around here. I love your style! :+fav:
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:iconxbalanque:
~Xbalanque Jan 5, 2005
I think the nostrils were actually a bit higherup the snout than that.

Xbalanque

--
Sean Connery: What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck...I can't remember how it ends, but your mother's a whore.
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