Inktober Week 2 – A Recap

Inktober Week 2 Research Roundup

As we wrap up Week 2 of Inktober, Artsefact has added seven more illustrations to the collection! From the sky to the sea, we’ve captured each animal’s unique charm on paper. Discover the fascinating stories behind these animals in our Inktober Week 2 recap!

Table of Contents

Pathfinder

Inktober Week 2 – Day 8 – Hike: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Ink Painting of a Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Scientific Name: Ovis canadensis sierrae

Common Name:  Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status ENDANGERED
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: exclusive to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California

Quick Info: These bighorn sheep seasonally migrate up and down the mountain for food. In the winter, they graze the early growth in lower elevations. As the seasons change, they slowly trek toward the mountain peaks to eat the later growth. They are uniquely adapted to travel up these rocky mountain paths, with short, muscular feet. In addition, adhesive soles help to provide traction while climbing slippery rocks.

Threats to Conservation: disease spillover from domestic sheep, inbreeding, hunting

Fun Fact! As the seasons change, the color of fur does too. Generally their coat gets darker in the summer and lighter in the winter.

Sun Warrior

Inktober Week 2 – Day 9 – Sun: Sun Bear

Ink Painting of a Sun Bear

Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanus

Common Name: Sun Bear

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status VULNERABLE
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: tropical forests of Southeast Asia

Quick Info: This cute creature is the smallest member of the bear family, standing at only around 28 inches at the shoulder. It gets its name from the distinctive cream-colored patch of fur on its chest. While not always a perfect circle, the color of that patch, as opposed to the black of the rest of its body, is certainly reminiscent of the sun. No one is quite sure why that patch is there, but some scientists hypothesize that it serves as a warning sign to other animals.

Threats to Conservation: habitat fragmentation, deforestation, hunting

Fun Fact! It has several adaptations for climbing, such as inward facing front paws and a flattened chest.

Spirit of the North

Inktober Week 2 – Day 10 – Nomadic: Caribou

Ink Painting of a Caribou

Scientific Name: Rangifer tarandus

Common Name: Caribou, Reindeer

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status VULNERABLE
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live:  taigas and tundras in Siberia, Northern Europe, and North America

Quick Info: Caribou, also known as reindeer, actually contain two types. Forest reindeer, and the much more widely known tundra reindeer. Most reindeer are of the tundra variety, who migrate in massive herds from tundra to forest depending on the season. Tundra reindeer have many adaptations to survive the harsh Arctic environment, including hollow hairs to better trap heat and fur on the bottom of their hooves to prevent them from slipping on icy surfaces.

Threats to Conservation: climate change, habitat encroachment by human infrastructure

Fun Fact! Unlike other deer species, female reindeer can grow antlers just like their male counterparts.

Sapphire's Song

Inktober Week 2 – Day 11 – Snacks: Sapphire-Bellied Hummingbird

Ink Painting of a Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird

Scientific Name: Chrysuronia lilliae

Common Name: Sapphire-Bellied Hummingbird

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: found only in the coastal wetland Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta in northern Colombia

Quick Info: These iridescent birds might look plain and dark in the shadowy forest, but once the sun shines on them, their feathers glitter with beautiful greens, purples, and especially blues, hence its name. They sometimes feed on small insects like spiders, but most of their diet consists of nectar from various types of flowers. In the process, these hummingbirds spread pollen from flower to flower, making them important pollinators.

Threats to Conservation: habitat destruction, urbanization, deforestation

Fun Fact! Sapphire-bellied hummingbirds mainly feed on the nectar of tea mangrove flowers.

Gentle Devil

Inktober Week 2 – Day 12 – Remote: Tasmanian Devil

Ink Painting of a Tasmanian Devil

Scientific Name: Sarcophilus harrisii

Common Name: Tasmanian Devil

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status ENDANGERED
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: island of Tasmania

Quick Info: Although the Tasmanian devil once lived on mainland Australia, it went extinct there a few thousand years ago. Now, they only exist on the remote island of Tasmania. These strange creatures look kind of like dogs but are a type of marsupial, just like kangaroos and wallabies. They get their name from their scary appearance and behavior, like their sharp teeth, red ears, and especially their loud, blood-curdling shrieks.

Threats to Conservation: road accidents, devil facial tumor disease

Fun Fact! When threatened, tasmanian devils can emit a strong, pungent odor that rivals that of a skunk’s.

Deep Horizon

Inktober Week 2 – Day 13 – Horizon:
Porites horizontalata

Porites Horizontalata Sketch

Scientific Name:
Porites horizontalata

Common Name: Hump Coral

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status VULNERABLE
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: shallow reefs in the world’s oceans

Quick Info: Part of the Porites genus of hump corals, the structure of the Porites horizontalata, like other corals, is made up of a colony of small coral polyps. This species has a bumpy texture and is light brown, with white tips where it branches out into fingers or plates.

Threats to Conservation: climate change, ocean acidification, destructive fishing practices

Fun Fact! Though adult polyps are anchored to the coral structure, baby polyps can actually swim around.

Dragon of the Seas

Inktober Week 2 – Day 14 – Roam: Marine Iguana

Ink Painting of a Marine Iguana

Scientific Name: Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Common Name: Marine Iguana

IUCN Redlist Status:

IUCN Status VULNERABLE
File:Status iucn3.1 EN.svg via Wiki Commons

Where they Live: beaches, marshes, and shallow waters of the Galápagos Islands

Quick Info: Marine iguanas have plenty of variety in their lives, spending their time roaming around in both the land and sea. The sandy shore is where female iguanas dig their nest holes to later lay eggs in. The ocean is equally important. Marine iguanas spend time foraging in the cold waters for red and green algae, their main source of food. In times when there is no algae, some subspecies will also eat land plants, crustaceans, and octopuses.

Threats to Conservation: climate change, invasive species, oil spills, disease

Fun Fact! Marine iguanas are the only reptiles that spend some time in a marine environment.

Who is your Favorite?

Seven new choices! Which of these illustrations revealed during Inktober Week 2 did you like the best? Vote below!

supersurvey.com

How to Help

Lots of the animals above have developed adaptations that aid them against challenging conditions. However, some human threats are just too big for even their adaptations to tackle. Here are some ways you can help them overcome these obstacles:

Want to keep up with Inktober?

We’re halfway through the month of  Inktober! To stay up to date with Artsefact’s artworks for the rest of the month as well as find out the results of the poll, follow our social media, where we post daily updates!

Resources

Picture of Chloe Huang
Chloe Huang

E-mail Marketing Specialist Intern, Freelance Blog Author

Picture of Nina Garza
Nina Garza

Conservation Artist, CEO of Artsefact LLC