The painting represents the circle of life, with reference to the symbol of ouroboros depicted as a millipede. The plants and constellations represent the cycle of the seasons, depending on what season they can be found in or what time of year they are visible. There are smaller portraits of other animals which all play a role in one ecosystem, singular species forming a greater whole. The prominent animal in the painting is a vulture, a metaphor for the final stage of the circle of life.