A TRICK OF TAIL - BLUE-CROWNED
MOTMOT &
LANGSDORFF'S CORALSNAKE (2008)
Acrylic on
illustration board 15" x 20"
| Cousins
of kingfishers, the motmots comprise a family of inconspicuous
tropical American forest birds. Except for one uncommon species,
they are notable for their two elongated central tail feathers,
the barbs of which are loosely anchored and quickly fall away,
leaving naked shafts and a characteristic racket-tail. The most
widespread motmot, the Blue-crowned (Momotus momota),
ranges from Mexico to Trinidad and northern Argentina. Like all
motmots, it feeds on some fruits and a variety of arthropods
and small vertebrates, including snakes. Research has shown that
motmots shun the bold black, white and red pattern typical of
highly venomous coralsnakes (Micrurus spp.), but it has
yet to be determined how they react to the unusual pattern of
Langsdorff's Coralsnake (M. langsdorffii) of the northwest
Amazonian Basin, which lacks black bands. This painting displays
a hypothetical take on this situation while depicting a common
defensive tactic of coralsnakes. Here the subject, half buried
in leaf litter, raises and writhes its boldly barred tail, confusing
its antagonist, who has trouble deciding which end to strike |
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