March Mash-Up Days 2-5 (Patreon)

...looks like I'll be ambitious and try to draw all of the mash-ups after all as coloured sketches...! But I'll draw them whenever I have the motivation and time - now the first five have been finished. :)
If you want to see your own character as a crazy mash-up like this, claim your mix here:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/march-mash-up-34299257 

Next, some explanations behind these creatures!

Day 2, Orangutan-Fern: This was actually a difficult mash-up. I didn't feel like drawing an orangutan covered in fern, so it actually became a work with a deeper meaning. As you might know, orangutans are critically endangered species because of humans. So here's a (heavily referenced) sad orangutan body growing fern. :C

Day 3, Bat-Fox: I loved working on this one! This mash-up was claimed by Zipler, so the bat-fox got his colours. Instead of drawing a fox with bat wings I tried to think further. The bat-fox is a nearly blind species of fox that is active during the night. It uses echolocation like bats to move around and catch prey when it glides from tree to tree with its wing-like folds of skin. Their long tail balances them in flight as well as helps them to steer. They're skilled climbers and make their nests in hollow trees.

Day 4, Turtle-Seagull: Okay this one's hideous... Anyway, this very unique looking bird has developed a shell around its body to protect it from predators under water. The turtle-seagull gets its food, which mainly consists of fish, by diving. As the shell adds to the weight of the bird, it is unable to fly. Therefore its wings have developed to something that are more like flippers than wings.

Day 5, Rhino-Whale: These gentle giants can be met in shallow waters. They feed on seaweed that they digest directly form the sea floor. The horns, which are bigger in males, are used to fight over females, and also to protect the herd. The rhino-whales use a complicated set of whistles to communicate under water, and they move around in tight family groups.