Written by I had actually intended to doodlewash a nautilus shell, but came across the actual creature inside it and was intrigued. So for our #NatureDoodlewash hike, we’ve plunged underwater to visit a living fossil. Nautiluses have been hanging around on this planet for over 500 million years without any changes to their appearance. They were actually here 265 million years before dinosaurs first appeared. They move around by jet-propulsion which is pretty cool, sucking up large amounts of water through a siphon and then positioning it in various directions to make themselves move around.
Even in my slap dash research, mating always seems to rise to the top. In the case of the nautilus, after see something about the male having a “couple” of tentacles that act as a sexual organ, I stopped reading. Well okay, there was another bit about delivering “sperm packages” but that really made me stop reading. Honestly, it’s amazing they can even have sex at all so bully for them, however it’s done. And the odds are interesting for courtship when you consider there are considerably more males found in nature – 75% are male and only 25% are female. Scientists are not really sure why this happens.
Oh, and they have horrible eyesight. They’re only able to detect light and dark, like someone waking up with a hangover. Lucky for them though, they were blessed with a great sense of smell and can then use that to ensure they don’t starve. I’m sure there’s much more interesting things to learn about these guys, but as is often the case I ran out of time to read about them. Also, it’s Friday, and time for another weekend! And I sincerely hope all of you have a great one!
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
World Watercolor Month is coming in July! Click here to learn more!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, Azo Orange, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
That’s lovely Charlie!
Thanks so much, Alex!! 😃💕Glad you liked this one!
Oh dear now I’ve got the image of them getting amorous with rocks if they have bad eyesight 😂
Yeah…it’s not pretty…that’s precisely why I stopped reading. Well, that…and the wine. 😉
Very cool critter! Great shadowing (as always) that really enhances your art! 🙂
Thanks, Jodi! 😃💕 I loves me some shadows…hehe… Kind of weird creatures though. Wasn’t even sure what I was painting half way through. Hehe
I have learned more from your nature walks! this guy is kind of cute, sexual appendages and all! Have a creative and fun weekend Charlie!
The weird part is…I have no idea if this should be censored or not! 😊 I may or may not have doodlewashed sexual appendages and I may never know!! Lol Thanks, Margaret! 😃💕Hope you have an awesome creative weekend as well!!
oh oh! I don’t think you have to put a rating on your doodlewashes as of yet, I hope not, what will this world be coming to if you had to! lol
Haha! I know, right?
Great doodlewash, and I think I now know much more about them than I ever wanted to know! TGIF, Charlie! 😄
TGIF to you too Carol!! Apologies for the TMI! Lol Thanks!! 😃💕
Great doodlewash! I love the funky, dare I say zonkey-esque markings on the shell – they got my hopes up higher than usual on first glance, I admit 😉 Another education and intriguing pick; a peculiar creature, but surely a natural masterpiece to have stuck around so long. They’re doing something right, and if it ain’t broke…! Awesome!
Yeah…interesting that they find themselves so perfect they never felt the need to evolve. Now that’s some fierce confidence. Kind of envy them! 😊Thanks Jacob! (But nothing beats a Zonkey!!)
Ha! Gives new meaning to “see” shell – for those creatures who are blind in a shell! 😉 Another AMAZING doodlewash with interesting facts, Charlie! Happy weekend, friend! 💕😃🎨
Haha!! It totally does!! And Awww thanks so much, Jill! 😃💕I was happy with how this little blind guy turned out! Hope you have a great weekend as well!!
What a cute sea creature, and 100% yay from me, being fossil mad, you have hit tops choosing to paint the live version ( I had been meaning to paint a fossil on my nature trail for June, but I have been so busy, we have our hospice family fun day today, after lots of arranging, I hope to paint tonight, if I am not too tired)?
Thanks so much Rebecca!😃💕 This was really fun to paint. Hope the day went well!
Thank you it did go very well, between the rain down pours! Lots of face painting done…I hope the rain didn’t wash all the butterflies. And Spider-Man away? Lol
haha! Let’s hope not!
I love your nautilus shell. Fabulous colours. They are amazing creatures, almost prehistoric. Have a lovely weekend!
Science Lesson: So let’s see, lots more boy nautiluses than girls but the boys can smell the girls a mile away cuz of their Sea Salt perfume, no one can see anything in the dark, the nautilus has sex somehow, deliverance of sperm, and, oh boy, it’s the weekend already! Naughty nautilus!
Your Doodlewash is fan-n-n-ntastic.
Haha!! Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕Both for the compliment and perfectly illustrating exactly why I don’t teach science! Lol 😊
Love these animals! Also turtles Sharks and horseshoe crabs, they are here for a long long time! I have a very old Nautilus in my room! maybe a 400 million years old! haha! a Ammonite they call it! Love your doodle Charlie!
Wow!! You have ammonite! Cool! I’ve always wanted one! Thanks so much Edo! Glad you liked this! 😃
Wow, Charlie. I am so enjoying these nature experiences every time I visit your place! 💜 You so rock the details, bro!
Awww thanks, sis!! 😃💕Hehe… so glad you’ve been liking these!
Love the painting but love your commentary as much. You are a hoot!
hehe… thanks so much, Teri! Glad ya liked it! 😃💕
You’ve captured the floating perfectly! (K)
Thanks Kerfe!! 😃💕I really enjoyed doodlewashing this one!
I can tell!
I’m always amazed at how beautiful a shell is but how strange the critter that reside in it really is. Wow! Great doodlewash!
Totally strange, but really kind of cool at the same time! Thanks Cathe! 😃💕
Nice
Thanks so much!
Just gorgeous! Love it, and I wish to see one some day