Biodiversity Pics
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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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🐚 Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes
Paris: Chez Rousseau: [1834-1880]

[Source]
Illustration from a historical 19th-century French shell taxonomy book showing seven detailed drawings of Scalaria shells. Each shell is elongated and spiraled with pronounced, ribbed whorls creating a lattice-like structure. The shells vary slightly in size and rib prominence, with soft beige and brown shading highlighting their three-dimensional form. Labels identify specific types, including "Scal. lamelleuse," "Scal. couronnée," and "Scal. monocycle." The delicate pencil and watercolor technique emphasizes the shells' texture and curvature, presenting accurate natural history specimens for scientific study and classification. The pale background enhances focus on the intricate shell details.
December 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🌴 Histoire naturelle des perroquets /.
A Paris: chez Levrault ... ;an IX (1801)-an XIII (1805)..

[Source]
Illustration from "Histoire naturelle des perroquets" (1801-1805) depicting a female Amazon parrot perched on a short tree branch. The bird features predominantly green plumage with detailed feather textures, a distinctive yellow patch on its forehead, red and blue markings on its wings, and a strong, curved gray beak. Its eye is red with a white ring. The parrot is shown in profile against a plain background, emphasizing its natural form and coloration. The image is labeled "L’Amazone femelle Pl. 85" in fine script below the branch.
December 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🦎 North American herpetology: Philadelphia, J. Dobson;1842.

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Illustration of the Kinsternon Pennsylvanicum turtle showing two views: a side profile highlighting its dark, domed shell and sharp claws, and a bottom view displaying its pale plastron with distinct segmented plates. The reptile's head features a slightly open mouth with visible teeth. The detailed, precise drawing emphasizes shell texture and limb anatomy, characteristic of 19th-century herpetological documentation.
December 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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🦡 Wild life of the world: .
London ;F. Warne and co., 1916..

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Illustration of a European badger standing on a forest floor covered with dry grass and leaves. The badger has a stocky, rounded body covered in coarse gray fur with distinctive black and white facial markings—white stripes running from nose over head, with black patches around the eyes and down the sides of the face. Its short legs have visible claws, suitable for digging. The background depicts an earthy, natural woodland setting with roots and soil, highlighting the badger’s natural habitat. This vintage 1916 artwork emphasizes the animal's characteristic shape and markings in a realistic style.
December 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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🐒 Animal portraiture
London: Frederick Warne & Co., c1912.

[Source]
Illustration of two vervet monkeys perched on tree branches amid dense green foliage. One monkey sits holding a small red fruit, looking directly forward, while the other reaches toward it, standing on a nearby branch. Both have grayish fur with darker faces and white fur framing their faces. The detailed background features large tropical leaves, emphasizing their natural habitat. The artwork, dated circa 1912, presents a lifelike and vibrant portrayal of these primates in the wild.
December 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🦒 Life-histories of African game animals
New York, C. Scribner's Sons, 1914.

[Source]
Illustration from 1914 showing a reticulated giraffe lifting a front leg in a defensive stance amid sparse trees and tall grass. A man wearing early 20th-century safari attire, including a pith helmet, stands nearby leaning against a tree, holding a rifle and observing the giraffe cautiously. The giraffe's distinct patterned coat and long neck are clearly detailed. The scene captures a tense moment of wildlife behavior and human encounter in an African landscape.
December 7, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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🦜 A monograph of the Ramphastidae, or family of toucans
London: Published by the author, 20, Broad Street, Golden Square, [1852]-1854.

[Source]
Illustration of two Andigena laminirostris toucans perched on leafy branches. The birds have striking black heads, large curved black beaks with yellow markings, and vibrant blue-grey underparts. Their wings and backs are brown, with vivid orange patches on their sides and yellow at the base of their tails. The background is a soft, pale sky, highlighting the detailed feathers and colors. The toucans are positioned facing left with strong claws gripping the branches, showcasing their distinctive toucan features and colorful plumage in a natural setting.
December 7, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🙊 The handy natural history
Boston, R.G. Badger, The Gorham press, 1910.

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Historical illustration titled "Plate VIII" from "The Handy Natural History" (1910), depicting five animals: 1. A spotted civet with a long striped tail, standing on a branch. 2. An ichneumon (mongoose-like) with a dark body, open mouth, and long tail, on sandy ground. 3. A mongoose with a sleek dark gray body and bushy tail, shown in profile on grass. 4. A common fox with reddish-brown fur, white underbelly, and bushy tail with a white tip, standing on grass. 5. An arctic fox with thick white fur, crouching in a snowy environment. Each animal is labeled numerically beside it.
December 7, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🐅 Descrizioni degli animali
In Venezia: Nella stamperia di Carlo Palese, 1771-1775.

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Historical illustration titled "Tigre Rossa" from 1771-1775, depicting a cougar standing on a small patch of earth adorned with green foliage and colorful flowers. The cougar is shown in profile, walking with its left front paw raised, featuring reddish-brown fur with darker spots, a long tail curled at the tip, and alert yellow eyes. The background is plain, emphasizing the animal and natural elements beneath it. The engraving style is detailed, reflecting 18th-century zoological art.
December 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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🐜 Johnson's household book of nature, .
New York, H.J.Johnson, [1880].

[Source]
Illustration from 1880 depicting members of the order Edentata. It features two sloths hanging from tree branches with brown fur and long curved claws; a great anteater on the ground with a long snout and bushy, striped fur; a smaller anteater climbing a tree with its tongue extended; a scaled armadillo with a broad, armored body; and a pangolin-like creature with overlapping scales and a curled tail. The animals are shown in a naturalistic jungle setting with leafy branches and ferns. Labels identify each animal and the plate focuses on toothless mammals known for insect-eating habits.
December 6, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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🙀 British mammals...by Sir Harry Johnston.
London, Hutchinson, 1903.

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Historical illustration titled "British mammals...by Sir Harry Johnston, London, Hutchinson, 1903," showing two black-and-white images. The top image features a ferret, described as the domesticated form of the polecat (Putorius foetidus), standing on grass, with a light-colored, slender body and an elongated shape. The bottom image depicts a wild cat (Felis catus), curled up and alert, with a striped coat and intense gaze. The ferret is the main subject related to the keyword, shown in natural surroundings highlighting its fur texture and posture.
December 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🕷 Die Arachniden: .
Nürnberg: In der C. H. Zeh'schen Buchhandlung, 1831-1848..

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Detailed historical illustration of a tarantula (Mygale erichsonii) from "Die Arachniden" (1831-1848). The image shows a large, hairy spider with a dark brown to black body and distinctive orange-brown hairs on its abdomen. The tarantula has eight long, segmented legs with thick bristles and lighter joints. Several smaller scientific sketches accompany the main figure, including close-ups of body parts and an egg sac with visible eggs. The drawing highlights anatomical details such as the spider’s eyes, leg segmentation, and hair texture in a naturalistic style typical of 19th-century arachnid studies.
December 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🥗 Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara
Wien, Kaiserlich-K1861-75.

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Historical scientific illustration from the "Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara" expedition, depicting detailed black-and-white drawings of various fossilized algae specimens labeled with numbers. The algae structures have diverse forms, mostly branching and tubular, with distinctive porous textures and patterns resembling colony or skeletal remains. Some include close-up cross-sectional views highlighting internal cellular or porous structures. The page is titled "Novara Expedition, Neu Seeland. Abth. Palaeontologie, Stoliczka: Bryozoen," indicating a paleontological focus on bryozoans or algae discovered in New Zealand during the mid-19th century Austrian scientific expedition.
December 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🦋 The butterfly book / The moth book
Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, Page & Co., 1914.

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Illustration from "The Butterfly Book / The Moth Book" (1914) showing thirteen detailed moth and butterfly specimens, numbered 1 to 13, arranged in rows. Each specimen displays distinct wing patterns and colors, ranging from brown and yellow with eye spots to orange and black with scalloped edges. Some moths have wings spread open highlighting symmetrical patterns, while others are shown in side view or partially closed to reveal textured wing edges. The image emphasizes variety in wing shapes and markings typical of moths and butterflies, serving as a scientific plate for identification. The page is titled "The Butterfly Book" and marked Plate XX.
December 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🦝 Transactions of the Zoological Society of London..
[London]: Published for the Zoological Society of London by Academic Press.

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Illustration of a complete wombat skeleton (Phascolomys Wombat) shown in a side view. The detailed drawing highlights the distinctive broad skull with strong jawbones, a robust ribcage, and sturdy limbs with well-defined joints and claws. The skeleton is positioned as if the wombat is standing or walking on all fours, emphasizing its compact, muscular build typical of the species. The image is from a historical zoological publication, presented on a plain background with minimal shading, focusing entirely on anatomical accuracy.
December 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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🦝 The class Mammalia /.
London: Printed for Geo. B. Whittaker, 1827..

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Illustration from 1827 showing detailed black-and-white sketches of the upper and lower teeth of four marsupial species, including the wombat. Each set consists of incisors, canines, and molars with distinct shapes and textures, highlighting variations in tooth structure. The teeth are drawn with fine shading to emphasize their contours and ridges. The species names—Petalurus, Hypsiprymnus, Macropus, and Pheloscolomes—are labeled beside the sets. The image focuses on dental anatomy as a means of classification within the class Mammalia, emphasizing the functional and morphological differences among these marsupial mammals.
December 6, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🦃 The gallinaceous game birds of North America, .
New York, F.P. Harper, 1897..

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Illustration showing two Mexican turkeys standing in a natural landscape with distant hills and sparse vegetation, including a cactus on the left. The larger turkey in the foreground is detailed with patterned feathers, a long neck, and a small head featuring a beak and wattles. The smaller turkey in the background appears to be calling or vocalizing, with its beak open. The drawing emphasizes the birds' plumage texture and posture, characteristic of gallinaceous game birds of North America, around the late 19th century.
December 6, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🦆 Commissioners' report
Toronto, Printed by Warwick & sons, 1892.

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Black and white historical illustration of a Gadwall, Gray Duck (Chaulelasmus Streperus), standing near water with surrounding grass. The detailed drawing shows the duck's textured feathers and distinct bill shape, typical of the species. The image is titled "Commissioners' report, Toronto, Printed by Warwick & sons, 1892."
December 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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👾 The wild beasts of the world /.
London: T. C. & E. C. Jack, [1909?].

[Source]
Illustration of a Common American Opossum perched on a tree branch at night under a full moon. The opossum is depicted with dense dark fur, a pointed snout, and clawed hands holding an object close to its mouth. The background shows a dark, cloudy sky and a forested landscape with windswept trees. The artwork conveys a quiet, nocturnal scene with detailed textures and a muted color palette, emphasizing the opossum’s solitary behavior and natural habitat.
December 5, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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🐼 Spicilegia zoologica
Berolini: Prostant apud Gottl. August. Lange, 1767-1780.

[Source]
Illustration from "Spicilegia zoologica" (1767-1780) depicting a side view of a stout mammal resembling a badger or wolverine, with a dark head and lighter body fur. The animal stands on all fours on grassy terrain with trees on the right and a cloudy sky above. Below it are detailed drawings of the animal’s skull and three bones, highlighting anatomical features. The scene is rendered in fine linework typical of 18th-century scientific illustrations, aiming to provide accurate zoological representation.
December 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🦭 The naturalist's library..
Edinburgh, W. H. Lizars; [etc., etc.]1833-.

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Illustration from 1833 depicting a group of walruses resting on and near rocky, icy shores. The central large walrus is shown lying on a rock with prominent long tusks and whiskers, flippers visible. Two smaller walruses appear partially submerged in water next to the rock, also showing tusks. In the background, a polar bear is climbing on ice-covered rocks, with additional icebergs and rugged Arctic terrain visible. The detailed engraving captures the natural Arctic habitat of the walrus, labeled "The walrus or sea-horse, Edinr Roy. Mus. North Seas."
December 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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🍄 The mushroom book: Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page, 1904.

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Historical illustration from "The mushroom book" (1904) showing two Amanitopsis parcivolvata mushrooms. Both mushrooms have tall, thick white stems with a bulbous base partially covered in soil and grass. The caps are reddish-brown, with the left one dome-shaped and the right one wider and more flattened, revealing the white gills underneath. Surrounding vegetation includes thin blades of grass and a muted background, highlighting the fungi's natural habitat. The image is detailed, emphasizing the texture and coloration typical of this mushroom species for botanical identification.
December 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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⭐️ Harriman Alaska series
Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1910-1914.

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Historical black-and-white illustration from the Harriman Alaska series (1910-1914), depicting two detailed views of the starfish species Distolasterias chelifera. Both views show close-ups of the starfish's five arms covered with numerous spiny, tubular structures and rough textures. The upper image presents an underside view highlighting the ambulacral grooves lined with tube feet, while the lower image displays the dorsal surface with clustered spines. Each starfish is magnified approximately 2⅔ times. The illustration emphasizes the intricate surface anatomy and spination characteristic of this Alaskan marine species.
December 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🌎 The butterfly book / The moth book
Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, Page & Co., 1914.

[Source]
Illustration from "The Butterfly Book / The Moth Book" (1914) showing 61 numbered North American moth species arranged in rows on a pale background. The moths display diverse shapes, sizes, and colors including yellows, browns, whites, and reds, with patterns ranging from solid to striped and spotted. The plate includes very small to relatively large moths, each depicted with wings spread to show distinctive markings and anatomical details, aiding identification. The top left title reads "The Moth Book" and the plate number "XXVII" is at top right, indicating this is a scientific reference illustration from early 20th-century American entomology.
December 5, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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⛰️ North American wild flowers.
Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1925..

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Illustration of an alpine North American wildflower branch from 1925, depicting a small cluster of slender green leaves and four elongated, pointed seed pods or buds. The pods have a reddish-brown hue with subtle green accents, hanging delicately from the thin green stem. The background is plain and off-white, highlighting the detailed botanical features of the alpine plant.
December 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM