This project contains a selection of mixed media Animal Mating Habits from a university brief. Each illustration displays a certain peculiar behaviouristic that is displayed by animals, fish, insects etc. I was amazing by how diverse the mating patterns, and in some cases acts of reproduction could be. The series was originally designed as an eye-opener into this strange mating world, full of surprises and astonishing facts, designed to be displayed alongside descriptions of the different rituals, displays and activities of animals, insects and fish both large and small.
Praying Mantis
The female praying mantis first releases pheromones to attract a male and involves him in a courtship dance, if worthy, they will engage in mating. However the female praying mantis often turns cannabalistic against her male counterpart after, or even during mating and can bite the head off the male.
Grasshopper
The grasshopper creates the chirping sound it does through vibrating it's back legs. This sound or the different sounds it produces can be used for different types of communication among the species. The main use for this, however it to create an enchanting tune to attract a mate.
Galapogos Giant Tortoise
The female giant tortoise admires a mate with the longest neck, so while displaying by attempting to mount a female the male will extend it's neck as long as it can to gain approval and a partner.
Seahorses
The mating habits of seahorses are remarkable, firstly they partake in a display to attract a mate and attach to form a shape similar to that of a heart. Once joined, the female is the one that inserts the eggs into the male and then the male is the one that reverses the conventional role of a female and gives birth to the babies.
Butterflies
Butterflies literally connect to one another whilst mating facing opposite directions. The mating process can take hours while attached to one another in this fashion, still flying around as per usual.
Frigate Bird
The male frigate bird, like many other birds and mammals needs to impress the female by 'displaying'. Displaying gathers different meanings among wildlife but for the frigate bird it means it must inflate it's huge red chest like a balloon and in doing so, can attract a mate.
Toads
In order to mate with a female, the male toad will clutch onto the back of the larger female known as amplexus. A successful male will stay in amplexus for several days and, as the female lays a long, double string of small black eggs, he fertilises them.
Leopard Slug
The leopard slug's mating habit is so unusual and beautiful that, originally it was what attracted me to this mating habit project. First, they entwine around each other while hanging from something above and release their glowing sexual organs which come together in a fascinating display that can last over an hour, while doing so an amazing combination of blues, whites and acrobatics makes the activity seem almost alien.
Red Garter Snake
Through shedding skin and releasing strong pheromones, the female red garter snake attracts hundreds of males in the vicinity and they form a big swarm or orgy. The females then take on hundreds of partners from the swarm.
Honey bee
The honey bee performs sexual suicide, when a virgin queen bee flies into a nest of males they mate with her one after another. However, in doing so the male's endophallus is ripped from his body and they die, having fulfilled their purpose.
Gorilla
Dispite the strong, aggressive, intimidating apearence of a gorilla, an interesting fact is that the average penis size of an adult gorilla is only 1.5 inches (4cm).
Dragonflies
Dragonfly mating takes great flexibility and looks like a rough and tumble affair, often resulting in scratches and bites. The formation is reminiscent of a 'cirque de soleil' show, involving acrobatics and being connected to one another for hours on end.
Octopus
The male octopus's penis breaks off during mating, but don't worry, it will grow back the following season.
Giant Panda
Giant Pandas rarely mate in captivity and are very reserved when it comes to meeting a partner. To encourage the thought and desire of finding a mate, giant pandas in captivity have been shown x-rated videos of other giant pandas mating. This has been known to do wonders for their libido.
Fire Ants
The queen of a colony of fire ants is able to control the ratio of male and female fire ants because the fire ants are reproduced clonally from each gender of ant. For example a male can produce a male offspring and a female can produce a female. This allows the queen to have control over an even ratio of males and females for the colony.
Scorpion
In the scorpion family, the mating ritual is to involve the female in a 'courtship dance' in which the scorpions link claws together. The dance can go two ways, the female can participate and lead to obtaining a mate or it can be unwilling and end in a struggle and often one scorpion striking the other!
Red Garter Snake 2
Through shedding skin and releasing strong pheromones, the female red garter snake attracts hundreds of males in the vicinity and they form a big swarm or orgy. The females then take on hundreds of partners from the swarm.
Through shedding skin and releasing strong pheromones, the female red garter snake attracts hundreds of males in the vicinity and they form a big swarm or orgy. The females then take on hundreds of partners from the swarm.
Argentine Lake Duck
The Argentine lake duck has a penis which is longer than the entire length of it's body, it has also been compared to a corkscrew shape. This particular duck attracts a mate by flinging, waving and swinging it's penis close to a female until satisfied and the pair mate.
Anglerfish
The female anglerfish is the monsterous, fanged, fish luring creature we are aware of. However, the male anglerfish have a short life span dedicated to finding a female and attaching itself to her. In doing so, the male will decay, still attached to the female and release sperm. The female anglerfish rule the roost in this relationship!
Frigate Bird 2
The male frigate bird, like many other birds and mammals needs to impress the female by 'displaying'. Displaying gathers different meanings among wildlife but for the frigate bird it means it must inflate it's huge red chest like a balloon and in doing so, can attract a mate.
Grasshopper 2
The grasshopper creates the chirping sound it does through vibrating it's back legs. This sound or the different sounds it produces can be used for different types of communication among the species. The main use for this, however it to create an enchanting tune to attract a mate.
The grasshopper creates the chirping sound it does through vibrating it's back legs. This sound or the different sounds it produces can be used for different types of communication among the species. The main use for this, however it to create an enchanting tune to attract a mate.
Clown fish
Clown fish are sequential hermaphrodites and live in very regimented schools made up of all males and one female. The female is the largest and dominant of the group, however if the female dies a male will gain weight and size and change into the dominant female of the group. So a clown fish has the adaptability to even change it's gender.
Snails
snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female sexual organs, however they cannot self reproduce, so when together they release their sexual organs into one another from the neck like a dart which can fertilise the partner.
