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Biodiversity Pics

@biodiversitypix.bsky.social

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The Biodiversity Heritage Library contains thousands of historical illustrations of flora and fauna. This unaffiliated bot shares random images from the collection.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 27m

🐉 Animate creation
New York, S. Hess[c1885]

[Source]

Detailed black and white historical illustration titled "Dragon-flies, Laying Eggs" from "Animate Creation" (c. 1885), showing several dragonflies in a marshy, water-filled environment. Dragonflies are depicted perched on and flying around reeds, some in pairs, engaging in the egg-laying process. The background features tall grasses and water lilies with visible water ripples. The image focuses on the intricate wings and segmented bodies of the dragonflies, capturing various stages of their reproductive behavior in a natural wetland habitat. The composition is rich in botanical and insect details, emphasizing the life cycle of dragonflies in their environment.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 2h

🗿 Illustrations of British Fungi (Hymenomycetes), to serve as an atlas to the "Handbook of British Fungi"..
LondonWilliams and Norgate1881-91.

[Source]

Ancient illustration from historical archives

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 4h

🐉 A list of the fishes of Hawaii
Pittsburgh, Board of trustees of the Carnegie Institute, 1922.

[Source]

Historical black and white scientific illustration from 1922 showing three detailed fish species from Hawaii. The first two fish on the left have elongated bodies and large, dragon-like fin structures with intricate patterns of spots and stripes, giving a winged appearance. The third fish on the right is rounder and more compact with small fins and a textured, scale-covered body featuring a dotted pattern. Each fish is numbered and labeled with scientific names alongside fine linework emphasizing their unique anatomical features. The image conveys a dragon-like aesthetic in the fin shapes and markings of the first two fish.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 6h

📯 Entomological news, and proceedings of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
Philadelphia[Entomological Rooms of the Academy of Natural Sciences]

[Source]

Sepia-toned historical portrait of Dr. George H. Horn, a middle-aged man with a full, bushy beard and neatly combed hair. He is dressed formally in a dark jacket, vest, and tie, facing slightly to the right with a calm, composed expression. The image is framed by a simple rectangular border on a plain background. Below the portrait is the printed name "Dr. George H. Horn." The image is from a scientific publication titled "Entomological news, and proceedings of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," indicating Horn’s association with entomology.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 8h

🦘 A hand-book to the marsupialia and monotremata
London: E. Lloyd, 1896.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 10h

🌼 Curtis's botanical magazine..
London ; New York [etc.]: Academic Press [etc.].

[Source]

Illustration from Curtis's Botanical Magazine depicting a cluster of vibrant red lilies with long, curved petals and prominent green stamens. The flowers are dense, showing rich texture and detail in the petals and stamens, accompanied by broad, green lance-shaped leaves at the base. The background is a plain, aged parchment color, emphasizing the striking red and green hues of the lily blooms. The style is detailed and botanical, typical of 19th-century scientific flower illustrations.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 12h

🐍 Forest and jungle, or, Thrilling adventures in all quarters of the globe
Chicago ;The Werner Company, 1896.

[Source]

Historical illustration titled "An Effective Shield" from the 1896 book "Forest and Jungle," showing a group of three armed men, two with hats and one aiming a rifle, positioned on the right side in a jungle landscape with tall grass and palm trees. On the left, a man on horseback carries another person, rushing toward the armed men, with another group of figures in the distant background. The scene is framed by hills and cloudy skies, conveying a tense moment of confrontation in a jungle setting.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 14h

🌹 Historia naturalis ranarum nostratium: Nürnberg: gedrucht bey Johann Joseph Fleischmann, 1758.

[Source]

Historical illustration from 1758 showing four frogs in various poses surrounding a central flowering plant with small pink rose-like blossoms. Nearby are detailed clusters of frog eggs and developing tadpoles. The frogs exhibit naturalistic textures and colors, with some showing blue and orange markings. The plant and the frogs are depicted on a natural ground surface with sparse vegetation, emphasizing their ecological connection. The title and artist's signature are visible, indicating the illustration's scientific and botanical context.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 16h

🐟 The freshwater fishes of the British Isles
London: Methuen, 1911.

[Source]

Fish illustration from historical archives

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 18h

🍁 The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: .
London: printed for C. Marsh [etc.]1754..

[Source]

Historical botanical illustration from 1754 depicting a gray and yellow bird perched on a bare maple tree branch. The maple branch features clusters of red samara seeds and small flowers on a separate twig. A large, green, lobed maple leaf is displayed below the branch. The detailed artwork emphasizes natural elements typical of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 20h

🐰 Scientific results of the Second Yarkand Mission
Calcutta: Printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1878-1891.

[Source]

Illustration from the Second Yarkand Mission depicting two rabbits labeled as "1. Lepus hypsibius" and "2. Lepus pallipes, var." The rabbits have soft brown and gray fur, large eyes, and prominent upright ears. They are shown on a naturalistic ground setting with rocks and sparse vegetation. The style is detailed and scientific, typical of late 19th-century natural history prints. The image serves to document and differentiate species of rabbits found during the mission.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 22h

🏔 Forest creatures
London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861.

[Source]

Black and white engraving of a capercaillie bird perched on a gnarled tree branch in a dense forest. The bird is shown with its tail feathers fully fanned, displaying a detailed, textured plumage. Surrounding the tree are other tall coniferous trees, rocky terrain, and a faint crescent moon in the background, suggesting a mountainous woodland setting. The intricate engraving emphasizes the natural ruggedness of the forest habitat and the majestic presence of the bird. The image is titled "The Capercaillie" and is from an 1861 publication on forest creatures.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🦭 Flowers of the field
London, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1911.

[Source]

Illustration of Solomon's Seal (Polygonum multiflorum) from 1911, showing a single stem with alternating, elongated green leaves that have prominent veins. Small, bell-shaped white flowers hang in clusters beneath the leaves along the stem. The botanical style is detailed and naturalistic against a plain, light background, capturing the plant’s delicate structure and subtle color variations. The image includes a printed label identifying the species by common and scientific names.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🐟 Ichthyology
Edinburgh, etc.: W.H. Lizars, etc., 1852-1854.

[Source]

Illustration of a Prochilodus rubro-ventralis fish with a large, rounded body covered in detailed scales. It has distinct fins colored with shades of red and blue-green, and a prominent round eye with a dark pupil. The fish is positioned against a finely detailed natural background featuring flowing water, rocks, and aquatic plants with long, thin leaves. The scene is rendered in a vintage scientific style with subtle hand coloring, highlighting the fish's anatomy and habitat. The artwork is from the mid-19th century ichthyology publication by W.H. Lizars in Edinburgh.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🐻 Thomas Pennant's Allgemeine Uebersicht der vierfüssigen Thiere
Weimar: Im Verlage des Industrie-Comptoir's, 1799-1800.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🐳 Histoire naturelle des cétacées
A Paris, hez Plassan, L'an XII[1804]

[Source]

Detailed black and white engraving from 1804 showing two anatomical views of an orca whale's skull. The upper part depicts the side view of the complete skull including the upper jaw with numerous sharp teeth and cranial bones. Below it is a separate illustration of the lower jaw with its distinct curved shape and aligned teeth. Fine shading highlights bone texture and contours. The illustration is labeled in French, identifying the parts as the upper skull and lower jaw of the “Dauphin Orque” (orca). The image has a scientific and historical style typical of natural history documents of the early 19th century.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🦗 The living world: .
Boston: Samuel Walker & Co., 1868-1870, c1868..

[Source]

Historical illustration titled "The living world," showing nine detailed, colored drawings of various insects. The central figure is a mantis labeled "Empusa," depicted with a slender, segmented body, long legs with spines, and delicate, patterned wings. Surrounding the mantis are other insects including beetles "Callichroma" and "Prionus Demicornis," large moths "Attacus Luna" and "Attacus Cecropia," dragonflies "Aeschna Junia" and "A. Ferruginata," a bee labeled "Centris Grossa," and a green and red grasshopper labeled "Rutidoderus Squarrosa." The insects are arranged against a plain background with their names printed below each drawing.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🦣 The Mastodon giganteus of North America /.
Boston: J. Wilson, 1852..

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Illustration of the fossilized bones of a Mastodon giganteus foot from the 1852 publication. The detailed black-and-white drawing shows large, rugged bones including the ankle and toe joints, labeled with letters for identification. The bones appear textured with visible surface irregularities, highlighting the massive structure of the extinct prehistoric mammal. The image is set against a plain background with the title "Mastodon Giganteus" below.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🐑 Das Thierleben der Alpenwelt
Leipzig: J. J. Weber, 1865.

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Historical illustration titled "Bergamasker Schafe" from "Das Thierleben der Alpenwelt" (1865), depicting a large flock of Bergamasca sheep resting and grazing on rocky Alpine cliffs. The sheep have thick, curly wool and long ears, with one prominently wearing a bell around its neck. In the upper left, a shepherd stands on a ledge, leaning on a staff, accompanied by a seated dog. Rugged mountain peaks and steep cliffs form the detailed background, emphasizing the sheep’s natural, mountainous habitat in the Alps.

Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🌼 La flore et la pomone francaises
Paris: Chez l'auteur, rue Furstemberg, 1828-1833.

[Source]

Illustration of a "Violette de Montagne" (mountain violet) plant with slender green stems, elongated serrated leaves, and delicate light purple flowers with five petals each. The flowers hang gracefully from thin stalks. Below the main plant image are five small botanical sketches showing detailed anatomical parts of the flower and seed structure. The background is an aged beige paper with slight foxing, typical of 19th-century botanical prints. The image combines scientific detail with aesthetic presentation, reflecting the historical botanical study titled "La flore et la pomone francaises" from 1828-1833.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🍐 The butterflies of North America
Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1884.

[Source]

Historical illustration from "The Butterflies of North America" (1884) showing ten finely detailed butterflies of the genus Chrysophanus. The butterflies vary in color from pale yellow and cream to deep orange and dark brown, with distinctive black spots and markings on their wings. The image includes numbered figures with corresponding species names: Rubidus, Cupreus, and Sirius, differentiating males and females. The artwork is lightly set on a cream background with delicate shading and fine line work, attributed to Mary Peart. The keyword "pear" likely relates to the historical use or habitat of these butterflies near pear trees or related fruit-bearing environments.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🍎 La flore et la pomone francaises
Paris: Chez l'auteur, rue Furstemberg, 1828-1833.

[Source]

Illustration of Arnica montana, a flowering plant with a bright yellow, daisy-like flower head and large green, serrated leaves on hairy stems. Below the main plant, detailed botanical sketches show the flower’s calyx, seed head, and individual floral parts. The image, from an early 19th-century French botanical book, highlights the plant's root system and floral structure for identification purposes. The background is plain with some age-related discoloration. The text below identifies the species as "ARNIQUE A RACINE NOUEUSE."

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 1d

🍎 Dragon flies vs. mosquitoes
New York, D. Appleton and company, 1890.

[Source]

Illustration titled "Dragon flies vs. mosquitoes" from 1890 showing five detailed black-and-white drawings of dragonflies and damselflies labeled 1 through 5. The top figure (1) is a large dragonfly with broad wings featuring dark patches. Figures 2 to 5 are smaller damselflies with slender bodies and delicate wings depicted from various angles. The illustration emphasizes wing structure and body shape differences among species. The page is marked "PLATE VI." No visible connection to the keyword "apple" beyond the publisher's name.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 2d

🐼 The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839-1843.
London: Reeve Brothers, 1844-1860..

[Source]

Illustration of the plant Richea pandanifolia featuring long, wide green leaves, and clusters of small flowers on a tall, slender stalk. The drawing includes close-up botanical details of the flower’s structure, seed pods, and cross-sections. At the bottom left, a smaller scene shows two Richea pandanifolia plants growing near a body of water with hills in the distance. The style is a detailed, scientific botanical print from the 19th century.

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Biodiversity Pics @biodiversitypix.bsky.social · 2d

⭐️ Harriman Alaska series
Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1910-1914.

[Source]

Historical scientific illustration from the Harriman Alaska series (1910-1914) depicting detailed anatomical parts of different starfish species, including Asterias victoriana, Orthasterias biordinata, and O. gonolena. The image is a sepia-toned, labeled plate showing close-up views of starfish arms, spines, and skeletal structures with magnification indicators. Various shapes and textures of the starfish components are rendered with fine line work, highlighting distinctive features like spines, grooves, and tube feet. The illustration is annotated with letters and numbers to identify specific parts for scientific study, offering a detailed examination of starfish morphology.

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