#sexual dimorphism

Today’s warm up is a bunch of sketches of biology inspired were-creatures! 

The goal was to make sure everyone looks true-to-biology (size difference etc.), but still look dangerous to a human.

So, the Male Werelion is a hulking mass of muscle, but the female is every bit as formidable, muscular in a wiry sense, like  kickboxer. She’s a leader and hunter, while the male’s a last resort fighter.

Meanwhile the spotted hyenas are obvious. The lady is ginormous, while the dude… not so much.

Again, thanks y’all for the support in my previous Mermay batches!
Part 1
Part 2

This week, I wanted to explore the various forms of sexual dimorphism in Merfolk, ALSO inspired by real life Biology! From the massive size of differences between male and female Blanket octopus and Angler fish to the almost non existent size difference in Oarfish and Beaked Whales!

It was also neat to explore various cultures from outside of Kara’s (The Great White from Part 1) town, for example the Narwhal and Salmon folk are northern adjacent nomadic tribes.

And unlike their IRL animals, even after pairing up or having kids, these Merfolk still get to live their lives (so the Salmon and Octopus folk get to live long lives here!)

Looking the White Lady in the eye is not without risk, even on a sunny day and on a blue flowering bush
(Misumena vatia, Thomisidae)

But this time it was her male who captured prey in the wild grass nearby


A concept of some sexually dimorphic Nothronychus. Colors were based on a lot of geese, bears, and a sloth. Seemed fitting. Also a laid-back scale guy for the casual office-bound paleontology nerd to relate to.

I probably got more detailed than I should have gotten, but I do like how it looks.