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Gilding the Lilies
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Rob Mullen |
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African Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) Okavango Delta, Botswana
2012
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West Bolton, VT, USA |
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Acrylic 16" x 26" (40.64 cm x 66.04 cm) |
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This hippo had just tried to upend our skiff and seemed to be glaring at us. While working on the painting, I could not escape the hippo’s basic resemblance to another infamously dangerous denizen of these waters; the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).
The two species are only remotely related, yet they share a remarkably similar head design due to having to adapt to similar environmental conditions: an example of homoplasy (as opposed to homology; similar traits due to a common ancestor). Homoplasy is the result of convergent or parallel evolution.
 “Dozing Danger” 4”x 7” Acrylic – Rob Mullen |
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keywords (defined):
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keywords (additional): |
mammals, reptiles, hippopotamuses, crocodilians |
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