Details: 2005, acrylic on illustration board, 50.5 x 36 cm.
Description: Thousands of years ago, one of this creature's ancestors received a terrible wound that resulted in permanent blindness. All her descendants have since sported white, clouded eyes that possess no optic sensitivity. In the interim, the mane encircling the creature's neck and shoulders has evolved, lengthening into a series of whip-like tentacles that bear large lidless eyes. With these, the animal may see in a full 360-degree field, with various eyes within the mane specialised for daylight, nighttime, ultraviolet light, etc. To keep them moistened, the Lamarck's Beast will periodically bring the eyes forward into the mouth and lick them gecko-style.
Note: I've received a few comments from people telling me that genetics doesn't work in the manner described above... my response? The secret is in the title of the painting.
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