rounder, fluffier, less spikey

They go into an intense mating frenzy lasting about two weeks, eating and drinking nothing, then dying of exhaustion. (Technically the elevated testosterone will kill them in captivity, even if they're not exhausted)

Did you know, that male antechinus, as well as the males of most other species belonging to the family dasyuridae (insectivorous and carnivorous marsupials, they got teeeeth!!!) die after mating?

Oh my gosh, loooook... antechinus! (A tiny rodent-like marsupial!) SO CUTE. I have never ever (not even in photos!) seen one with facial markings/colour morphing like this! That distinct V shape/inverted heart shape pattern on its face!

But I'll be honest with you, I did not learn, until about a month or two ago that Romanian had "masculine" and "feminine" words 🫪 I have grown up speaking this language and had no clue about it haha 🫣

That's right, hornet in Romanian is viespe! Gărgăun refers to European hornet and viespe is more broad (I believe!)
So I think Viespe would be fine ☺️ possibly Viespa?

Quick indulgent doodles (I want to keep drawing hollow knight things but my other artistic duties are calling)

I only ever heard the name 'jacana', so I went to spell it 'jarcana' which is apparently wrong. And I now have an experiential understanding of how people insist that aussies pronounce "r"s when there aren't any 🫩

A blurry image of a jacana, a wetland bird which walks across lily pads.

My partner is a few metres away from me, lying in the pine and bog, taking possibly the most beautiful photos of jacana, in the morning light, ever. But I have my phone 🙏

I'm glad that they are, thank you! 🩷

I'm glad, thank you! ☺️🩷

Pea flower, gouache (there are two mantises in this painting 🙂‍↕️)

Explorations of Monomon without her mask ☺️ the one with the star is my fav, and the direction I'll probably go in if i draw her maskless again

That's so kind of you to say, thank you so much! 🥹🙏🩷

Hahaha I'm not sure! My Romanian is not very strong 🫣 what does it mean?

Thank you! 🥹🩷

Thank you! 🥹🙏 I had a good time drawing them hehe

Thank you so much! 🥺🩷

Thank you!!! Really appreciate it 🥹🩷

Thank you Jami! ☺️🙏

Hornet in Romanian + Moldovan inspired outfits

Field naturalist Quirrel 2 🪲

Field naturalist Quirrel 🪲

Got to see and draw the best creature ever yesterday

Hahaha yesss! I like him as a very earnest and enthusiastic nerd 🥺 and whoever might be listening, they're very happy to be there ☺️

Thank you! I enjoyed drawing Hornet and Shakra so much, wanted them to have a quiet moment 🥺 I am glad that you like it!

Hehehe yesss I love them looking just a little bit alien... They would feel that way to us I reckon! I'm still trying to work out the bug feet designs though 🤔

Thank you!!! I accidentally drew him too small there but it worked out fine

Scholar of classification [colourised]

Hornet Silksong doodles