Dusty
by AnnaJo Vahle
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Dimensions
30.000 x 15.000 x 1.000 inches
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Title
Dusty
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Painting - Acrylic On Canvas
Description
The otter rolled around in the dry dust of a dirt road atop one of the levees. It flipped the dirt into the air all over himself for quite a long time. He made a large dust cloud. He paused for a moment. He stood up on his stumpy short legs and scampered and slid down the side of the levee and dove into the swampy water.
I searched the internet trying to find out why the otter gave himself a dustbath. I have witnessed this behavior a couple of different times in the Viera Wetlands near Melbourne, Florida.
I found this information on the internet...
Dust bathing is also called sand bathing. It is an animal behavior characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand. The likely purpose is to remove parasites from fur or skin. It may be a way of transmitting chemical signals or pheromones to the ground which marks and individual's territory. It has been suggested that wallowing in the dust may leave a “pungent odor in the dust bathing area.”
This water-loving animal is found throughout Florida except in the Keys. River otters usually prefer fresh water and can be found in rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and swamps. Otters live in burrows on the bank of the water body, often under tree roots. They may dig their own burrow or remodel a beaver's burrow.
Flexing their long bodies up and down, paddling with their webbed hind feet, and using their feet and strong tails to steer, river otters are underwater acrobats. They can stay underwater for up to four minutes.
While river otters spend most of their time in water, they do travel across land as well—often in search of a mate. Otters even make their land travel look playful. They run a few steps and then slide on their bellies. Clearly, otters know how to have fun!
Uploaded
September 25th, 2021
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Comments (74)
Anne Gifford
Where I live we have very few otters, so I have never seen one. I love looking at this sweet otter as portrayed through your artist's eye. I like the rich, unfocused colors of the background.
Hanne Lore Koehler
Magnificent painting of this sweet otter, AnnaJo! Beautiful detail, expression and composition! Marvelous informative description! L/F
Gary Richards
One summer I had the opportunity to track a family of otters in the wild. Love those animals and I love your artwork of them as well.
Brian Tada
A very beautiful painting of this endearing otter, with great composition and informative backstory. Magnificent work of excellence, AnnaJo. F/L
Gary F Richards
Excellent otter design and composition, lighting, shading, lovely colors and artwork! F/L voted for this piece in the contest FAVORITE PAINTINGS 2021
Dr Debra Stewart
Very interesting painting and narrative about the dust bathing! The balance in the composition is also amazing with the tail of the otter leading the viewer to the rocks and foreground and back to the body of the otter. Very skillful!