amcattos

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Vulnerable Animals Week 2023

My submissions to last year's #vulnerableanimalsweek2023:

Day 1 (Tundra): Pribilof Island Shrew (Sorex pribilofensis)

Day 2 (Wetlands): Laos Warty Newt (Laotriton laoensis)

Day 3 (Desert): Leleup's Darkling Beetle (Tarphiophasis leleupi)

Day 4 (Alpine): Alpine Bumblebee (Bombus alpinus)

Day 5 (Ocean): Dusky Sea Snake (Aipysurus fuscus)

#catto #illustration #entomology #digitalillustration #digital illustration #digital art #endangered species #vulnerable animals #bee #bumble bee #sea snake #shrew #wildlife conservation #conservation #beetle #insects #newt #art event #art

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Black Swalloyowler

Another, even creepier, cattofish inspired by the black swallower (Chiasmodon niger). This deep sea critter is found at depths of 700 to 2,745 m and is most known for its ability to swallow creatures far bigger than itself. A binge-eating adaptation to food scarcity which evolved to make the most of almost any potential meal it encounters.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #fish #fish art #fish are friends not food #black swallower #deep sea #deep sea fish #sea creatures

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

DTIYS

Rafiya & Lionattos.

My entry for @sempiternal_illustrations' DTIYS

I love Rafiya as a character, especially her badass-ness and maned design which reflects the natural variation in sexual dimorphism in lions! So, when @sempiternal_illustrations announced she was hosting a Rafiya DTIYS I knew I had to participate. I thought this was also an excellent time to digitally illustrate my little lion boi who's been hiding in the corner of my sketchbook for years ... and triple them! They aren't very good at displaying emotion but they have no trouble causing mischief.

#sempiternalillustrations800 #catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #dtyis #dtyischallenge #dtiys entry #lion #lionness #lionesses

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Squish

I have no more to say except "I'm sorry Gingy".

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #squish #pet portrait #pet #cat drawing #seal #sealed #pun

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Opawh

Yet another cattofish because people keep suggesting fish to me and I keep listening. Opah (or moonfish) is the common name given to fish in the small family Lampridae. They are unique among fish in that they can maintain the core of their body up to 5 °C higher than the surrounding water. Very little else is known of their biology and ecology but they are thought to be solitary and live out in the open ocean at depths of 50 to 500 m.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #fish #fish art #opah #moonfish #lampriformes #Lampridae #orange #ocean

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Cattolotl (CR)

Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) may be pretty popular pets and internet stars with their silly antics and strange appearance but unfortunately in the wild, they are now critically endangered. They remain at only three sites and their population is estimated to be between 50 to 1000 individuals. Their decline has been mainly attributed to the increasing urbanisation of Mexico City resulting in pollution and desiccation of their aquatic home. Previous collection for the international pet trade, local consumption, and the introduction of invasive carp and tilapia have also threatened the species.

Find out more on the IUCN RedList website.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #axolotl #pink #iucnredlist #iucn #iucn red list #endangered species #endangered #critically endangered

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Rhinochimaeratto

Another cattofish but this time - spoooooky. These cheeky little lads are inspired by fish from the family Rhinochimaeridae, known as longnose chimaeras, made up of 8 species across 3 genera. The name comes from the Greek words "rhinos" and "chimaera" which mean "nose" and "monster" - they are literally "nose monsters". Their noses are a bit funky, especially the paddle-nose chimaera, but it still feels a bit rude. They are found scattered across the earth's temperate and tropical seas, at depths ranging from 200 m to more than 2,000 m. Their dorsal fin has a toxic spine. I'm not sure they are actually this ghostly white colour but many images of them online have been taken in darkness whilst they are illuminated by a very bright light. However, I really love how eerie this makes them look so I decided to go with that colour scheme. See examples below.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #fish #cattofish #rhinochimaera #rhinochimaeridae #ghost

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Rainbow Mimics

A mimic trying something a little different by covering its ... tendrils? (eye stalks?) in pigment in order to look like different coloured cattos ... or a rainbow. They've got my attention, perhaps long enough to grab and eat me, so I guess it might work. I've officially moved now and will be more settled for a few months so hopefully cattos can be consistent again XD. This piece was inspired by a lovely little illustration in a charity shop. I did not buy it but I did enjoy it very much. I cannot read the signature so unfortunately I have no idea who made it but click below to see it.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #dark forest green #rainbow #mimic #love is love #subtle gay #mimicry #charity shop #charity shop finds

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Stressed Pawssum

Why are they so stressed? Maybe because they keep being confused for a raccoon for some reason. Which they are not. Also, their career as an actor isn't going well.

#catto #illustration #cat #alien #monster #digital illustration #art #theatre #possum #brush tail #stressed

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

CA.I.tto Art 3

Prompt: "a slime cat with beetles crawling over it"

Another catto and some kittos based on Midjourney AI's response to the above prompt. Does this suggest they reproduce like bacteria? I have no idea but they are SQUISHY. LOOK AT THEM.

I am in the middle of exams (at time of scheduling) please help.

#cat #catto #art #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #ai #ai art #midjourney #slime #kittens

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

CA.I.tto Art 2

Prompt: "kitten hugging a dinosaur" This silly illustration was based on a piece of AI art produced by Photoleap that Steph sent me. I found the dinosaur just too derpy and ridiculous to resist drawing it so here we are: a budding purrlaeontologist kitto riding on the head of a non-specific carnivorous bipedal dinosaur. The dino seems more delighted about it than the kitto. Don't worry about the kitto being eaten - even if the dino had any malicious intent, cattos are not made of meat so would be unappetising and indigestible to a carnivore anyway.

#cat #art #catto #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #ai #ai art generator #dinosaur #ai art #paleontology #dinosaur day #kitten #photoleap

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Commission

Francattos.

Another planty commission for a botanist - the myth, the legend, the tall, Frances. Any commission including a phrase like "Plants, leaves and plants" is always a joy to do. Even if you did choose two eyes (do you know what account this is?), I had fun drawing this longue plantto. Thank you for the laughs, the company, the hugs and the emotional support, especially during the emotionally draining time that was the Wilson's Prom camping trip. You are an icon and a star.

#cat #art #catto #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #art commisions #comissions #commission #commissions #plant #plants #plantto

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Commission

Amcatto I.

A commission for my incredible mother, the reason I am such a crafty/arty person today (and also one-half of the reason I'm a biologist XD). There are few people who deserve my thanks as much as she does. Feliz dia de la madre, mama. Te quiero. Siempre tu bicho.

#cat #art #catto #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #art commisions #comissions #commission #plant #plants #mothers day #mother

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Mecapttera

I drew this scorpion fly for the beautiful Miles for our anniversary and because I spent so long on it, it felt like a shame to not share it. Hence, here it is along with its catto-fied counterpart. Scorpionflies are not true flies, which belong to the order Diptera, and instead form their own order: Mecoptera. They are actually more closely related to fleas! Not all scorpion flies have the stinger-like appendage seen in my illustrations. This stinger is an enlarged reproductive organ, possessed by the males within the largest family in the order Mecoptera, Panorpidae. They cannot actually use these to sting. Most species of scorpionfly are predators or scavengers and are often the first to colonise a cadaver, making them useful in forensic entomology!

#cat #art #illustration #catto #alien #monster #digital illustration #entomology #mecoptera #scorpion fly #scorpionfly #bug #insect #insect art #entomology art #invertebrates #bugblr

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Commission

Steph Nicattols.

A commission for another wonderful Australian human. Thank you, Steph, for everything you've done for me, including driving me to adventures, helping me replace my laptop and sending me adorable bug photos. You are a wonderful, kind and very fun bug person. Hence, you are also a bug cat. Makes sense.

#cat #art #catto #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #entomology #spider #wasp #iridescent #bug #art commisions #comissions #commission #jumping spider

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Commission

Jacat Meowre.

A third commission! This one is for the fantabulastic botanist Jacob. Thank you for your part in what was the best, most beautiful PowerPoint presentation ever. We couldn't have done it without you magically going from 6 to 3 minutes of talking time. Also, thanks for making me lose my mind in class because of LinkedIn's suggested replies.

#cat #art #illustration #catto #alien #monster #digital illustration #art commisions #comissions #commission #avatar #avatar the last airbender #swamp bender #atla fanart #green #vines

[amcattos]

© LIA 2023

Commission

Lucattos.

Another commission, this time for the lovely Lucas, entomologist extraordinaire, artist and one of the best people to exchange arthropod pics with. Thank you so much for being someone to talk bugs with. I have learnt a lot identifying invertebrates with you. However, I will never understand mites, though I'm not sure anyone does.

#cat #art #catto #illustration #alien #monster #digital illustration #turquoise #green #commissions #art commisions #commission